Once you've accepted that you're not going to watch an episode of _Absolutely Fabulous_, you will enjoy this film. The two actresses are hilarious and the spirit and the decadence of the series is totally present. This film is very entertaining: I wasn't bored for one second!
Reviews
12 Reviews
Quiet Days in Clichy
(1990)
Very nice portrait of the thirties...
23 April 2002
Different from many other Chabrol movies that follow "Hitchock-like" patterns, _Jours tranquilles à Clichy_ relates the days a young American writer (Henry Miller) spent in the Gay Paris of the early thirties, with his polish-descent friend and their young Colette, a 14 years old-ish girl with whom they both fall in love. The story in itself doesn't send us from a surprising even to another but slowly lifts the curtain over the prostitution, pornography, libertinage and partying that seemed to oppose Paris so much to New York, in the eyes of Miller, searching for a change from the dull like he lead before. The story is a quest for Proust and his lost time, a quest for a new life, for thrills, for truth in forgetting oneself...
L'ange de goudron
(2001)
Other realities
9 October 2001
An Algerian immigrant, few days before receiving his papers to become a Canadian citizen finds out that his 19 years old son has erased all the data from government offices, as a terrorist action, and has disappeared somewhere in Northern Quebec.
With Huguette (his son's girlfriend, a tattoo artist), he leaves in a truck, "borrowed" to his former employer, for the Temiscamingue region where they try to convince this 19 years old revolutionnary not to destroy, with twenty guys, a bunch of passports.
Even if the terrorist underscore of the film sounds weak, it is a great motor of emotions beautifully delivered by the actors. Anger, compassion, love, all leading to a very touching - tear-pulling - ending for the movie, on an almost caricatural national anthem sung by immigrants.
This film is at the image of the new Québec cinema, new faces, new themes, new realities, a new form for the poetic languages, with it's strengths and weaknesses, with a great sense of reality, leaving enough space for the mind to travel.
With Huguette (his son's girlfriend, a tattoo artist), he leaves in a truck, "borrowed" to his former employer, for the Temiscamingue region where they try to convince this 19 years old revolutionnary not to destroy, with twenty guys, a bunch of passports.
Even if the terrorist underscore of the film sounds weak, it is a great motor of emotions beautifully delivered by the actors. Anger, compassion, love, all leading to a very touching - tear-pulling - ending for the movie, on an almost caricatural national anthem sung by immigrants.
This film is at the image of the new Québec cinema, new faces, new themes, new realities, a new form for the poetic languages, with it's strengths and weaknesses, with a great sense of reality, leaving enough space for the mind to travel.
Les acteurs
(2000)
A Tribute to French Actors and French Cinema
24 July 2001
_Les Acteurs_ is the absurd story of Jean-Pierre Marielle desperately waiting for a cup of hot water, the story of a conspiracy against actors, the story of aging actors whose careers are slowly less active than they used to be, but a stunning tribute to French actors and their cinema.
Supported by a solid reflection about cinema and acting (the fourth wall, the hidden cameras, to play or not to play), the story of this film in which most of those famous actors play their own role (not to be mixed up with living their life in front of the camera - the film is not voyeur) is quite vague, and follows the actors in series of episodes which make the film quite amusing. As André Dussolier quits the film and leaves Josiane Balasko to play his part (great actress, she's hilariously serious especially when, in Dussolier's role, she bitches about herself), as actors run in each other on the street, asking for autographs, as fights and gossip happen, we recognize pastiche of other scenes in which each (or others) have played.
Actually, for whoever does not know the actors (most of them being at least in their 50s) or does not know French Cinema, this movie has less interest, since most of the references will be missed, but it will still offer a good track of reflection on aging, on acting, on public life...
Supported by a solid reflection about cinema and acting (the fourth wall, the hidden cameras, to play or not to play), the story of this film in which most of those famous actors play their own role (not to be mixed up with living their life in front of the camera - the film is not voyeur) is quite vague, and follows the actors in series of episodes which make the film quite amusing. As André Dussolier quits the film and leaves Josiane Balasko to play his part (great actress, she's hilariously serious especially when, in Dussolier's role, she bitches about herself), as actors run in each other on the street, asking for autographs, as fights and gossip happen, we recognize pastiche of other scenes in which each (or others) have played.
Actually, for whoever does not know the actors (most of them being at least in their 50s) or does not know French Cinema, this movie has less interest, since most of the references will be missed, but it will still offer a good track of reflection on aging, on acting, on public life...
Good, but too hollywoodian
16 February 2001
It's not a bad movie: it's biggest problem being it's title. During the movie, one can understand the relation to Dosteiovsky's masterpiece, but the links are too thine. The story in itself, the transposition, would have came out better if they didn't have the pressure that provide the shadow of the original novel.
The situation, even if we feel that it has been re-chewed for teen aged public, is interesting. It is believable that the death of the father will only be profitable to all and, then again, that murder bring horrendous thoughts...
In the end, I am still praying for the American Movie Industry to stop easing things up for their audience, to stop showing them only what they want to see (Crime and punishement happens in a VERY poor context... the murder is for money), to start respecting the original context of the art pieces they are copying, they are adapting, they are showing.
The situation, even if we feel that it has been re-chewed for teen aged public, is interesting. It is believable that the death of the father will only be profitable to all and, then again, that murder bring horrendous thoughts...
In the end, I am still praying for the American Movie Industry to stop easing things up for their audience, to stop showing them only what they want to see (Crime and punishement happens in a VERY poor context... the murder is for money), to start respecting the original context of the art pieces they are copying, they are adapting, they are showing.
The Ring
(I) (1927)
Astonishing! In my top five Hitchcock movies!
29 January 2001
At first, I thought the Ring would be a more than normal movie with it's ordinary plot. How surprised was I! Of course, the plot is simple - one girl is in love with two men - but Hitchcock brings it to us on a silver platter, with laughter and fear, with compassion and anguish. The way he depicts the popular crowds of the fair, the strength of the attraction of the girl to both men, the tragic elements that come together with techniques that open the mind to most of his greatest movies(North by Northwest, the Rope, etc.). The master did it great even before his thirties!
The Fury
(1978)
Well... I expected more!
13 January 2000
As the movie begins with an excellent shocking scene, we are carried in a world which we don't clearly understand. The main problem of this movie is that we never do! Certain parts, certain actions, behaviors are never explained! Kirk Douglas plays an ex-agent something who survived an attempt of murder. His son is then used to some experiment because of his supernatural powers. Douglas, with the help of a young girl who has the same powers, tries to find him. Even if we have clues, we never find out what tests really took place, what job did Douglas have beforehand, who the abductors exactly were, and so on. To sum it up, the basic idea is quite interesting but the scenario is way too weak and loose!
Well... I loved it!
6 December 1999
Some loved it, some hated it. I heard strong comments on both sides. "Can't understand anything, too complicated" I must agree that it is complicated, but worth it. At some times, it is hard to recognize the characters and their background (there are many characters and the intrigue unveils itself very slowly), but the movie deals with strong emotions. Mainly, it shows everybody's need to feel recognized by those they love and the competition they go through to get more love and attention.
I say "Rent it, and in French if you can!"
I say "Rent it, and in French if you can!"
La femme de l'hôtel
(1984)
Thank you Léa Pool
1 November 1999
Very touching, nuanced and sensible film. Beautiful scenes, slow moving action that allow the feelings to come out during all the silences... It touched me. It's a movie about despair and human relationships... Once again, Léa Pool has made an excellent film about people and their lives...
The Velocity of Gary
(1998)
Sexual and sensual...
28 October 1999
I liked this movie. I liked it's simplicity, it's elegance and it's maturity. Very sensual scenes that show the strong feelings that drive characters in their love, in their desire. A movie about energy, about love between two individual, no matter what sex, a movie about death.
Set Me Free
(1999)
Merveilleux... as we say in French!
12 October 1999
This movie is just great!
It explores with subtlety the very complicated emotional relations between a young girl, her catholic depressive mother, her jewish father, her brother, her new "girl" friend. Entangled in her newborn exploding sexuality and her rebellious thoughts, she tries to deal with the great issues of life in 1963.
The acting is so precise and touching, and the direction, efficient and delicate, it's a must see movie. A great one.
It explores with subtlety the very complicated emotional relations between a young girl, her catholic depressive mother, her jewish father, her brother, her new "girl" friend. Entangled in her newborn exploding sexuality and her rebellious thoughts, she tries to deal with the great issues of life in 1963.
The acting is so precise and touching, and the direction, efficient and delicate, it's a must see movie. A great one.
Unmade Beds
(1997)
Very interesting, entertaining, true movie!
4 October 1999
I really liked this movie. Unlike some other viewers, I thought that it was very true movie. It sure shows the reality of lonesome hearts and of celibacy. The actors are very comfortable with the camera and very natural, which is very refreshing.
This movie talks about a very sad, depressing topic on a light mood, which brings a nice contrast. The images are beautiful and the scenes of the city, all those people behind windows, just as if we were voyeur is really fascinating. Just in the same mood than _Dreaming with the fishes_ or _Happiness_: good american cinema (please, not hollywoodian!)
This movie talks about a very sad, depressing topic on a light mood, which brings a nice contrast. The images are beautiful and the scenes of the city, all those people behind windows, just as if we were voyeur is really fascinating. Just in the same mood than _Dreaming with the fishes_ or _Happiness_: good american cinema (please, not hollywoodian!)
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