Tag: Romain Duris

NIGHT CALL (2024)

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Directed By: Michiel Blanchart 

Written By: Michiel Blanchart, Gilles Marchand and Laurent Brandenbourger

Cinematography: Sylvestre Vannoorenberghe

Editor: Matthieu Jamet 

Cast: Joanthan Feltre, Natacha Krief, Jonas Bloquet, Romain Duris, Thomas Mustin, Sam Louwyck, Nabil Mahat 

This night is like all the others for Mady, student by day, locksmith by night. But Claire, the enigmatic young girl he helps out that night, is not who she claims to be. Mady has only one night to prove his innocence in a city in turmoil.

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This is a film I pretty much went in blind and so happy I did. As this film stays lively throughout.

This is one of those films and thrillers where it takes place all In One evening that seems endless. As a character had until dawn to get themselves out of trouble or else they are doomed. It is an International release from Belgium. Where you can recognize some of it’s Influences. 

The film offers the usual double crosses. Not truly being able to trust anybody. The cops are vicious as the criminals. So where do you turn.

The film also has the chaos of a Black Lives Matter protest with people and police filling the streets, as a background that they are operating in. Which are some of the elements that keep it from playing basic or typical. Truly the only innocent character is the lead who is desperately trying to get out of trouble. Though even he gets some blood on his hands. It also helps that the pace is rushed but doesn’t feel that way. it’s heart is always beating fast, but perfectly timed.

It also helps that the lead is African American who is being hunted and preyed upon by all these Caucasian characters throughout, which works as symbolism. As they are hunting and exploiting him, while he is the true innocent.

It’s so exciting and well put together. Offering very little fat. So that it stays quite lean and keeps moving. No time for side stories or any romance that might be hinted at in the beginning. it’s shocking that it was the directorial debut of Michiel Blanchart 

One thing I appreciated about this film is that it isn’t sentimental at all. It is rough and tough, dog eat dog. No last minute acts of mercy. 

It also stays gritty And believable. As the cast is newcomers and unrecognizable from any previous roles except for Romain Duris as the big bad. Not to mention a henchmen who looks like a scarily tough version of Jesse Eisenberg

if anything by the end you are left with some questions. As you know for the most part what happened, but you care so much you want to know what is next for the characters. Which shows that the film has grabbed you. Though to keep up it’s tough skin it stays a bit ambiguous.

Grade: B- 

DOBERMANN (1997)

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Directed By: Jan Kounen

Written By: Joel Houssin

Cinematography: Michael Amathieu

Editor: Benedict Brunet and Eric Carlier

Cast: Vincent Cassel, Monica Bellucci, Tcheky Karyo, Romain Duris, Antoine Basler, Dominique Bettenfeld, Francois Levental, Ivan Marat-Barboft, Pascal Demolon, Marc Duret, 

The charismatic criminal Dobermann, who got his first gun when he was christened, leads a gang of brutal robbers. After a complex and brutal bank robbery, they are being hunted by the Paris police. The hunt is led by the sadistic cop Christini, who only has one goal: to catch Dobermann at any cost.

This film is definitely a byproduct of the 1990’s. It had plenty of energy and played like a hyper-Tarantino crime tale with way more action. That seems like it retains a villain more over the top than the anti-heroes.

Actually, it plays more for an audience who loves Writer-Director Quentin Tarantino’s films that take too long and are too slow to get to the action. Even though this film builds over its running time to a big climax filled with tension. 

The film feels like it is on drugs at the speed it goes through and lacks certain details. It feels cruel in a sense yet tries to be fun In other ways.

Tchkey Karyo is way over the top and means just to be. Think Gary Oldman in THE PROFESSIONAL, but miles past him in strangeness and chewing scenery.

Though that is the main problem of the movie is that there seems to be a lack of motivation or explanation for most of the characters or much of the action. Half the time it seems random or as a result of an extension of a character.

As it is based on a graphic novel, maybe it is better explained in the source material. As here it seems to be a greatest hits quality. That plays exactly like a comic book in feel and texture. Even though the supporting characters are quirky and have their defects. They carry the film over more. As the leads seem there more to look cool.

While it’s nice to see Vincent Cassel and then wife Monica Belluci together and in love on screen. Even Belluci seems to do more acting than Cassel here as he seems more to be the lead and there to look cool and be a mastermind over all else.

 it feels like a down-and-dirty popcorn movie. That would have gone even further in popularity if it had a better soundtrack. 

It’s a film that is a nice try as it is stylish all over the place, but once you get over it. There isn’t much there except to wonder. If the director had better material would this be much better? 

Grade: C

DANS PARIS (2006)

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Written & Directed By: Christopher Honore
Cinematography: Jean-Louis Vialard
Editor: Chantal Hymans 


Cast: Roman Duris, Joanna Priess, Louis Garrel, Guy Merchand, Alice Butand, Marie-France Pisier 

Anna has just left Paul who, annihilated by the separation, moves back with his father in Paris. His younger brother Jonathan, a casual student, still lives in his father’s apartment and spends most of his time womanizing and fooling around. But what this apparent lightness conceals is a deep wound. Jonathan, in fact, has never been able to overcome the death of his beloved sister. Meanwhile Paul sinks into depression.

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