Tired of all kind of crappy flics you can’t get past the first 10 minutes or require serious therapy if you do ? Need some proof - try watching Duplicity (starring Julia Roberts & Clive Owen) or a bunch of others that make up for the vast majority of the movie factory output worldwide. Looking for the kind of movies that make you hang on to your seat getting thrilled about what the next scene would bring ? I know it sounds like a cheap infomercial introduction, but you’ll be happy you read this once you watch and discover what this outstanding French director got to showcase.With all the talk around “Un Prophete”, winner of the Cannes Film Festival and nominated for the Academy Awards for the best foreign film category, I got really interested about what all the talk could be and researched some web content about Jacques Audiard, the film’s director. Another drop-out (he studied literature and philosophy at the Sorbonne but didn't finish his degree) that makes it big you would say, but I think it’s another brillant
example where someone finds his real call and goes for it, glad he did.Not really attracted by “Un Prophete” ‘s plot (prison drama) I was looking up his previous work and discovered a little gem “De battre mon coeur s'est arête” (The Beat my Heart Skipped) that really makes you happy about watching movies again. Introducing Niels Arestrup, a Dane turned French right from the birth that had raffled up twice Cannes award for best supporting actor for both movies (Prophete and De battre..) And Romain Duris that you might remember from L’Auberge Espagnole series among the most popular movies he starred in, he’s actually on the short list of contemporary top French actors.
Sur mes levres highly recommended as well with an early impression of Vincent Cassel, good plot, great acting and interesting movie to see.
Finally, once I’ve watched the 2 above-mentioned movies, got intrigued enough to want to get to “Un Prophete” and while I had found it to be extremely well done and acted, you really have to get past the movie start (at least the first half hour or so) in order to get hooked up. Even when you do, it is a quite lengthy exercice, you know one of those that makes you happy you took the time, especially with an ending that rewards you for the time spent. Arestrup does his magic again and the young Tahar Rahim drives this movie up there among the best of 2009.
His quote while quite inspiring sounds a bit corny, however it only suits his character and the way he delivered it:
“I was watching three or four movies a week, every week. And after a while I was unselfconscious enough and pretentious enough to think that, yes, I could be up there on the screen too. That could be me.”
In case you had any doubt, Audiard has become my new hero since I had discovered his art.
Finally, once I’ve watched the 2 above-mentioned movies, got intrigued enough to want to get to “Un Prophete” and while I had found it to be extremely well done and acted, you really have to get past the movie start (at least the first half hour or so) in order to get hooked up. Even when you do, it is a quite lengthy exercice, you know one of those that makes you happy you took the time, especially with an ending that rewards you for the time spent. Arestrup does his magic again and the young Tahar Rahim drives this movie up there among the best of 2009.
His quote while quite inspiring sounds a bit corny, however it only suits his character and the way he delivered it:“I was watching three or four movies a week, every week. And after a while I was unselfconscious enough and pretentious enough to think that, yes, I could be up there on the screen too. That could be me.”
In case you had any doubt, Audiard has become my new hero since I had discovered his art.
