Language: French
Genre: Thriller/Crime
Runtime: 1hr 57mins
Rating: 3/5
So before I go on with this review I feel like I need to admit that while this film is originally released in French, I did watch a badly dubbed English version. And the dubbing was BAD. So I will try to not let this effect what my overall thought were of the film, as shoddy translation, and improperly acted dialogue abounded in the version of this film that i watched.
The film opens with our soon to be main character Jules, sitting and making a recording of an operatic performance. He is completely enraptured by the singer. This is one strand of the storyline that we are attempting to follow in this film. The other happens shortly after, when outside a train station we witness a woman be murdered by two men, after dumping a cassette tape in the mail bag of a random Moped by the side of the road. This moped belongs to Jules. He then becomes involved in a hunt for the leader of a prositution ring and a music piracy plot. He is clearly having a very challenging week.
So, as far as I can tell, this is a very average film. The twist reveal of the head of the prostitution ring was quite predictable. Once you see or read enough crime thrillers, you start to see similarities between them all that makes shocking you kind of hard.
The side storyline of an opera singer that doesn’t want her voice put onto records because it damages the art, and is the storyline that the film is named after seems a lot less important when you actually watch the movie, and feels like the movies focus really should have been on the crime storyline as in execution this was what the film really focussed on. And was the story that was told most effectively.
The relationship that develops between Jules and the Opera singer Cynthia is a little odd to me and doesn’t really seem age appropriate. It also seems to border on something close to obsession on the part of Jules who goes so far as to steal her dresses to feed his obsession. Not exactly healthy.
The jewel of this movie has to be the philosopher and his asian protege. They are by far the most entertaining characters and although not exactly essential to the plot, they have a large enough part to play that they leave a lasting impression on the viewer. They are both crazy eccentric and talk like those stereotypical 1960s hippies from movies of the time. They add both enjoyment a little humour to the story, and both those things are sorely needed.
The two hitmen that work for the prostitution ring are also more comical than threatening. With one of them commenting “I don’t like…” in reference to whatever it is they are dealing with whether its cars, elevators, guns… I don’t know of the humour is intentional, but it is their either way.
Not a bad storyline really, but the side story was not as well developed, and made our protagonist look like a bit of a creeper.
Cinema Craz'd 