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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
12 of 12 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
A property developer on the fringes of legality rediscovers his talent for the piano and seeks a career in music rather than as petty gangster. Sounds unconvincing on paper but onscreen this is a story that is engaging throughout. There are occasional bursts of violence but this story is character driven. The main character initially appears unsympathetic but the viewer is soon willing him on in his determined pursuit of a career which those around him, including his father, tell him is a distraction from the realities of life. Right to the very end of the film, he is pulled between the artistic and the violent.
I cannot recommend this highly enough.
I cannot recommend this highly enough.
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
I picked up the region 1 DVD a few days ago, I was surprised it was on DVD as it is was fairly recently released. I had high hopes for this and it didn't disappoint. Everything about this is masterly.
The hand held camera work is brilliant particularly during the removal of squatters on the estates, especially the night sequences and the claustraphobia it creates makes it intense and unnerving.
The editing is wonderful, it keeps the pace going, the estate agents always seem to be on the move day and night and it creates that non stop energy about it but also allows the quieter more pensive moments to breath and reveal so much more.
The acting particulary Duris as Tom is brilliant and as often quoted is very reminiscent of early De Niro or Keitel. His father is a horrid old man who is out of his depth and I thought that perhaps they could have fleshed out why he had such affection for the old man, I couldn't see why Tom had such love for him after he screwed him up so much. Of particular note is the Asian piano teacher who does an incredible job given the repetative nature and restriction on her early scenes. She has great presence and uses her body brilliantly.
The music is probably the best use of music I have seen in a film for a while. There is a wide scope of genre's here as well suggesting Tom's appreciation for all types of music and the use of it in particular scenes is so well selected that you hardly notice the transition from Bach to Bloc Party it is so seemless and on point.
Audiard does a great job here in allowing things to feel as if they have developed naturally and with the roving camera it often felt like I was watching a documentary.
I would definitely recommend this and as such I will be checking out Audiard's previous films Self Made Hero and Read My Lips.
The hand held camera work is brilliant particularly during the removal of squatters on the estates, especially the night sequences and the claustraphobia it creates makes it intense and unnerving.
The editing is wonderful, it keeps the pace going, the estate agents always seem to be on the move day and night and it creates that non stop energy about it but also allows the quieter more pensive moments to breath and reveal so much more.
The acting particulary Duris as Tom is brilliant and as often quoted is very reminiscent of early De Niro or Keitel. His father is a horrid old man who is out of his depth and I thought that perhaps they could have fleshed out why he had such affection for the old man, I couldn't see why Tom had such love for him after he screwed him up so much. Of particular note is the Asian piano teacher who does an incredible job given the repetative nature and restriction on her early scenes. She has great presence and uses her body brilliantly.
The music is probably the best use of music I have seen in a film for a while. There is a wide scope of genre's here as well suggesting Tom's appreciation for all types of music and the use of it in particular scenes is so well selected that you hardly notice the transition from Bach to Bloc Party it is so seemless and on point.
Audiard does a great job here in allowing things to feel as if they have developed naturally and with the roving camera it often felt like I was watching a documentary.
I would definitely recommend this and as such I will be checking out Audiard's previous films Self Made Hero and Read My Lips.
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
In this fascinating and absorbing film, we follow the lead character's dodgy dealings in Paris, as he (Tom) works with his associates to swindle his way to riches from seedy property transactions.
In a similar manner to Harvey Keitel's character in Mean Streets, we soon start to see that Tom does in fact have a moral compass underneath, and is a complicated individual with cravings not just for power, but also for music, and women. Of the latter, we see the full spectrum of his traits and emotions, from womanising, to insecurity.
It is gripping to follow Tom as he is torn between his gangster-style life and his rediscovery of music. Scenes where his petite Chinese tutor is first scared of his outbursts of impatience, and then finally snaps and tears into him, add to the charm and symmetry of the film and its characters.
Tom seems to make the right decisions in the end and has a new, pleasing life, when he suddenly comes close to losing it all in a moment of madness, when his past turns up to haunt him one last time. I will leave the reader to discover whether Tom can control his urges, or whether we see a sad ending.
A marvellous film, and just to add, Amazon's review mentioned that the film might have risked being a "hokum tale on the power of art" - but as films like this prove, in life, art is absolutely very real and genuine to those who feel its importance and beauty.
In a similar manner to Harvey Keitel's character in Mean Streets, we soon start to see that Tom does in fact have a moral compass underneath, and is a complicated individual with cravings not just for power, but also for music, and women. Of the latter, we see the full spectrum of his traits and emotions, from womanising, to insecurity.
It is gripping to follow Tom as he is torn between his gangster-style life and his rediscovery of music. Scenes where his petite Chinese tutor is first scared of his outbursts of impatience, and then finally snaps and tears into him, add to the charm and symmetry of the film and its characters.
Tom seems to make the right decisions in the end and has a new, pleasing life, when he suddenly comes close to losing it all in a moment of madness, when his past turns up to haunt him one last time. I will leave the reader to discover whether Tom can control his urges, or whether we see a sad ending.
A marvellous film, and just to add, Amazon's review mentioned that the film might have risked being a "hokum tale on the power of art" - but as films like this prove, in life, art is absolutely very real and genuine to those who feel its importance and beauty.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Solid character study of a man torn between two very different sides...
Intelligent, complex character study of small time hood with musical talent trying
to balance his hard and soft sides. Read more
to balance his hard and soft sides. Read more
Published 10 months ago by K. Gordon
Classic and original French ganagster film
On the face of it, the subject of this film seems too improbable and such a bizarre juxtaposition of themes that you can understand why it would be easily over-looked. Read more
Published 14 months ago by Ian Thumwood
A GREAT FILM!
GREAT FILM - GREAT STORY - GREAT ACTING - SHAME IT'S IN FRENCH BUT IT HAS SUBTITLES!
RECOMMENDED VIEWING!
RECOMMENDED VIEWING!
Published 15 months ago by Mrs. L. R. Saadi
By the skin of his fingers
Romain Duris is a brooding character living in the shadows of his father's life since his concert-pianist mother died. Read more
Published on 8 Jan 2010 by technoguy
When is it too late to start again?
This film about a young man who has chosen to live outside the law. A chance meeting with his old piano professor leads him to take up playing piano again; something he had given... Read more
Published on 8 Jan 2010 by Mrs. M. Daly
Brilliant, brutal character piece
Fantastic acting from the lead, great supporting cast, gritty visuals make seemingly untouchable subject matter have real kick. Beautiful.
Published on 17 Dec 2005 by Jessica Granger
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