The Eavesdropper

A French thriller; A story about an unemployed man who is hired by a mysterious organization to transcribe intercepted calls. This shadowy spy story has a theme about one who places trust in those who don't trust others and places the viewer in the predicaments about telling the truth and how it feels to be trapped with seemingly no way out. The film mounts tension very well in the first act, producing intrigue and paranoia thanks to a minimalist style of direction. But, it fails to sustain the tension at the introduction of a plot change, and plot convolution thereafter. There are are a some implausible details like the use of the scribe's old fashioned typewriter in a modern setting and his easy trust of a strange, anonymous employer who he would have vetted. All in all, it is overworught and lacks substance but it is made very watchable for its lead performance and some brilliant sound design.