Femme Fatale (2002)

A woman tries to straighten out her life, even as her past as a con-woman comes back to haunt her.

Director:

Brian De Palma

Writer:

Brian De Palma

Stars:

Rebecca Romijn, Antonio Banderas, Peter Coyote

2 wins & 4 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Rebecca Romijn	...	Laure / Lily (as Rebecca Romijn-Stamos)
Antonio Banderas	...	Nicolas Bardo
Peter Coyote	...	Watts
Eriq Ebouaney	...	Black Tie
Edouard Montoute	...	Racine
Rie Rasmussen	...	Veronica
Thierry Frémont	...	Serra (as Thierry Fremont)
Gregg Henry	...	Shiff
Fiona Curzon	...	Stanfield Phillips
Daniel Milgram	...	Pierre / Bartender
Jean-Marc Minéo	...	Seated Guard (as Jean-Marc Mineo)
Jean Chatel	...	Cannes Commentator
Stéphane Petit	...	Bodyguard One (as Stephane Petit)
Olivier Follet	...	Bodyguard Two
Éva Darlan	...	Irma (as Eva Darlan)

Storyline

The thief Laurie Ash steals the expensive diamond jewel called 'Eye of the Serpent' in an audacious heist during an exhibition in Cannes 2001 Festival. She double-crosses her partners and is mistakenly taken as Lily, a woman who lost her husband and son in an accident and is missing since then, by an ordinary family. One day, while having bath in Lily's bathtub, Lily comes back home and commits suicide. Laurie assumes definitely Lily's identity, goes to America where she marries a rich man, who becomes the Ambassador of USA in France. When Laurie returns to France, her past haunts her.

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Plot Keywords:

full frontal female nudity | breast play | lesbian sex from behind | female protagonist | sex on a pool table | 

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Taglines:

Nothing is more desirable or more deadly than a woman with a secret

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Genres:

Crime | Drama | Mystery | Thriller

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for strong sexuality, violence and language

Did You Know?

Trivia

Producer Marina Gefter said of the film's femme fatale' title character: "The role of Laure is a formidable challenge, demanding that the actress portray two very different women, as well as assume several other identities throughout the film. Rebecca [Romijn-Stamos]'s very beautiful, very Hitchcockian...".

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Goofs

In the shot of Bardo's apartment, with the computer saying "new e-mail", right before he enters the room, the camera shadow moves over the paper cutter,.

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Quotes

Nicolas Bardo: I have never kidnapped anyone you bitch.

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Connections

Referenced in Film Geek (2005)

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Soundtracks

Opening Titles
From the movie Est - Ouest (1999), directed by Régis Wargnier
Composed by Patrick Doyle
Published by Air Edel Associates Ltd.
© 1999 UGC YM - France 3 CINÉMA - NTV PROFIT - GALA FILMS Ltd. - MATE PRODUCTIONS

User Reviews

FEMME FATALE (DIDIER BECU)

Since De Palma directed the debacle that was Mission Impossible, it seemed like a genius director has lost it all but this latest movie by the "new Hitchcock" is perhaps one of his strongest since "Carlito's Way" and the masterpiece "Body Double". The story itself is quite simple : during the filmfestival of Cannes is a bunch of diamonds stolen but then the fun begins...you really have to be attentive during the whole movie as every minute De Palma puts you on a wrong foot just like we're used to by the master of the black thrillers... An absolute must!!!!

Details

Official Sites:

Warner Bros.

Country:

France Switzerland

Language:

English French Spanish

Release Date:

6 November 2002 (USA)

Also Known As:

Femme Fatale

Filming Locations:

11 Rue d'Eupatoria, Paris 20, Paris, France

Box Office

Budget:

$35,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$2,776,248, 10 November 2002

Gross USA:

$6,630,252

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$16,838,910

Company Credits

Production Co:

Quinta Communications, Epsilon Motion Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

114 min

Sound Mix:

DTS Dolby Digital SDDS

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1