Mille milliards de dollars

A journalistic thriller that aims to expose to the world the power of multinationals and the lack of scruples with which they operate.

The theme was very relevant at the time, and continues to be, even though, in the globalized world in which we live, no one anymore has illusions about the power and interests of money. At the time, there was a cold war and Nazism was still locked in the closet, a ghost of the dubious past of many political and economic protagonists. Today nationalism has become history and the only surviving nationality is profit, everything else is a mere curiosity, for those nostalgic for the era of ideologies.

Cynicism no longer embarrasses anyone and no one expects more from others than to protect their own interests. There is a fine line called legality that, if crossed, can cause scandals and sanctions. But ethics and morality have nothing to do with the law. Almost everything can be done under the cover of the law and its gaps and convenient interpretations, without remorse or punishment.

The more I see of Patrick Dewaere's starring vehicles the more I see why his early and tragic death was a loss to the continuation of the French film legacy. Verneuil's direction and film adaptation are on the level of Lumet's Day of the Condor. A complex story that unfolds as the suspense and tension build. There's a superb cameo by Jeanne Moreau. With a few subtle jesters, she conveys abandonment and loneliness while leading Dewaere toward her real goal and the gist of the story. Dewaere as the earnest muckraker has found a character he could have relied on but his audience will be forever disappointed. The rest of the cast is solid with mention to the smooth, icy corporate globalist played by Mel Ferrer.

Not quite what you would expect from someone like Henri Verneuil. Patrick Dewaere does indeed rescue the film from complete oblivion. While Robert Lattes' novel makes pleasant reading (if you read French, that is), the movie adaptation doesn't amount to much. Denouncing the ills of "big business" is certainly laudable, as is placing the action if the larger picture of "economic history". But is this sufficient to keep an audience spellbound from beginning to end? All the ingredients are there for the taking. But Verneuil never seems to be willing to go all the way, and he simply leaves you high and dry. Enrolling a better- than-average cast of actors is no guaranteed recipe for success. If all you're looking for is just to sit back and relax because you've nothing better to do than watch a movie, OK -- go ahead. But if you're looking for a good French movie, skip this one. A sheer waste of time. (But read the book by all means).

I expected far more, far better from the director of I COMME ICARE, another political thriller which was in the PARALLAX VIEW line, whilst this one, starring Patrick Deweare, looks like a Sidney Lumet or Sidney Pollack's film. I am deceived because it is not dark, nor gloomy enough, it deserved a more complex and shady atmosphere, with a gloomy ending. It is too "soft", too smooth. Yes, sorry, I waited for some more action in this Henri Verneuil's film. Patrick Dewaere is of course as fantastic and convincing as ever, no problem, but he can not steal the whole film either; I saw this movie several times since forty years and my feelings are still the same. Sorrry.

With "I comme Icare",Heni Verneuil whose know-how was never called into question became more ambitious ; although handicapped by a thoroughly implausible ending ( an easy way out "I comme Icare " avoided ,and in a stunning way at that) and a cliché used for the umpteenth time : the divorced couple who through danger and trial , ultimately fall in love again .

But all that remains is successful ; the depiction of the schemes used by an American multinational to take over French (among others) industries is a difficult subject , not spectacular at all .Mel Ferrer's genial and cynical speech (which must not exceed two minutes, because" I do not want to bore my audience") reveals,behind the façade of respectability an adamant icy personality ( see how Michel Auclair is fired) , the huge meeting ,around the table looks like a Maffia reunion .

The flashbacks are ,like in "I comme Icare " , smartly introduced ;sometimes it's a "enough is enough" feeling when they turn black and white to describe GTI 's involvement with the Nazis and their ruthless opportunism ,but thanks to the actors , the movie survives the heavy intentions .

The sadly missed Dewaere ,unlike Belmondo in "peur sur la ville" ,never hogs the stage and ,as he is the only main character in the whole movie,he carries it on his shoulders ,without overplaying ; Jeanne Moreau makes her one and only scene count;so do, in their small parts ,Anny Duperey ,Michel Auclair and veteran Fernand Ledoux whose career began in the silent age ; On the other hand ,Caroline Cellier,an excellent actress, is given a cardboard character and cannot do anything with it .

Verneuil was always despised by the highbrows ; but his best works must be restored to favor.