|
General Review:
This is a terrific film, one of my favorite Depardieu movies for any number of reasons. It happens to be one of my favorite genres, a noir, Hitchcockian, deftly-crafted psychological drama. The action mostly takes place between the Inspector and Onoff: a web of questions and lies that simultaneously explores the depths of these characters and builds the mystery to a fever pitch. The focus on intimate dialogue in a narrow setting, of minds at work rather than a lot of superfluous action, is similar to a movie like My Dinner with Andre or 12 Angry Men. The intensity of the interrogation scenes is released with a variety of interludes: an escape attempt, a brief sleep, a change of clothes. But there is no ultimate escape for Onoff. He always finds himself back in the Inspector's spotlight as the Inspector, and the audience, tries to dig to the heart of the mystery. Did Onoff kill someone that night? If so, who?
The direction by Tornatore is superb, with beautiful camerawork that provides a rich frame for these two great performances. Both Depardieu and Polanski have rarely done finer work, thanks in part of a tight screenplay and excellent dialogue. And Sergio Rubini as the sympathetic young clerk has a lot of chemistry on screen as well. The atmosphere Tornatore creates, with the rain and the mousetrap and all of the rest of it, has the quality of a film of the golden age, rarely seen today.
Yes, there is a twist ending, but while many reviewers panned it, I loved it. It fits the movie to a "T".
Depardieu Review:
This is a great film to share with someone who is not a huge Depardieu fan and who doesn't typically like subtitled movies. The action captures you from the start, and after watching this film no one could come away without being moved by Depardieu's performance. Tornatore, the tight script, and the small cast pulled out the best of Depardieu. He is alternately the large, angry bull of a man, furious with the police and fighting for his sanity, and a man who is vulnerable, facing his own demons with a gaze so internal and reactions so delicate and subtle it is almost impossible to believe they were done for the sake of a camera. Poetry in motion. Hunt this one down if you haven't seen it.
|
|
