:
Jamel Debbouze,
Rie Rasmussen,
Jamel Debbouze,
more...
:
Luc Besson,
Luc Besson
see all cast/crew...
: 
: Sony Pictures
: Drama, Foreign, France
: 91 min.
: French
: English, Spanish
see additional details...
|
|
A desperate man in serious debt attempts to wipe his account clean in the most permanent way imaginable, only to find himself saved from a grim, self-inflicted demise by his selfless attempt to rescue another would-be suicide in director Luc Besson's tenth outing as a director. André (Jamel Debbouze) is a debt-ridden 28-year-old who has until midnight to pay back 40,000 euros to one of Paris' most ruthless gangsters. When the menacing Franck (Gilbert Melki) has his thugs dangle André over the edge of the Eiffel Tower soon thereafter, the debtor who views himself as an American on a technicality seeks the help of the U.S. Embassy to no avail. After failing to convince the local police to lock him up for his own protection, André, sensing death is eminent, determines to end his life on his own terms. As André steps over the edge of the city's most awe-inspiring bridges and prepares to take that fateful plunge, he suddenly notices a statuesque blonde in a little black dress preparing to meet her maker in a similar fashion. As the woman leaps into the Seine, André instinctively jumps in to rescue her. Resting safely on the shore after looking death straight in the eye, the sorrowful pair soon finds their fates inexorably tied. Though André initially scolds the ravishing Angela (Rie Rasmussen) for attempting to deprive the world of such stunning beauty, she bitterly assures her one-armed savior that her physical perfection is without question only skin deep. Nevertheless the aggressive blonde betrays her own negative self-image by pledging to stick by André through thick and thin, and the unlikely duo soon sets out on a mission to solve André's formidable list of problems and get his life back in order again. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
|
| Besson finally strikes gold
by MKaliher
January 18, 2008 - 9:11 PM PST
|
|
|
2 out of 2 members found this review helpful
|
| For me, after months of viewing mediocre international films and sleep-inducing independents, this film struck me between the eyes: it is, simply, the best Besson film I've seen, surpassing all the Jean Reno shoot-em-ups, including the highly regarded La Femme Nikita. Jamel Debbouze's performance is truly over the top, and, by the way, quite reminiscent of Charlie Chaplin. Rie Rasmussen rises to Debbouze's outstanding level--handily proving she has much more to offer than the quasi-lesbian eye candy presented in Femme Fatale, and has genuine talent. In this little gem, Besson provides yet a new twist on the subject of Wenders's Wings of Desire/Faraway, So Close--as well as Capra's It's a Wonderful Life--in a film filled with humor, pathos, and a little romance. Congratulations to these fine actors, the casting director, the film editor, and Besson. If it forever remains a sleeper, and never achieves the status of cult classic, so be it. But don't say I never told you. And Hollywood, eat your heart out. |
|
|
GreenCine Member Rating
(Average 7.53)
19 Votes
add to list 
|
|
|
Your cart
ABernstineIII
© 2006 All Media Guide, LLC. Portions of content provided by All Movie Guide®,
a trademark of All Media Guide, LLC.