Le dernier tunnel

Okay, guys, maybe I am a little too harsh on this movie, but what is that all about? Okay, it is realistic material that is filmed, but still... First of all the introduction of the main character takes very long - and it's not worth it! There is no struggle to be seen in his way through the movie. He is not changing anything although one thinks something would change in his mind. This love-story of his is sooooo boring, 1000 times to be seen before and flat as a sheet of paper! The other three guys introduced are of perfect stereo-type of a robber's movie: we have the old veteran, the main character's best friend and somebody who wouldn't let him down; the 'oppponent', a very aggressive and not to be believed in type; last but not least 'Smiley', an old acquaintance of the main character; he organizes the money for the deal. The lightning, the cut and the camera and most of all the music are so tension-seeking it really gets on my nerves: e.g. Smiley's face is ALWAYS lightened up only from one side to give him a "dubious" touch - very clever! But back to the content. Why do we like to watch robber movies? Right, the preparation, the exact planning, the carrying out of the plan in detail. The movie lacks in all of these categories. All this is replaced by a - as already mentioned - extremely boring love-story, probation-assistant fooling-around ("Why didn't you meet me?" - "I hit my head" - hahaha) and the relation between the four gangsters; that at least could have been an exciting study to see - but it isn't at all. The 'turning points' (if one can call them so) are somewhat predictable it hurts! I'm really sorry but that movie is a certain '1' or '0' if that existed. It may be thrilling if you are 15 of age or a total entertainment-dependent junkie with an IQ of less than 70 - or it is your first movie you ever watched... for everybody else: HANDS OFF!!! One good thing about it: it made me register at IMDb because I was so upset and wanted to write a review so that nobody else makes the mistake and spend a cent seeing this movie...

One of the best heist movies I've ever see in my whole life!

Michel Cote and the other actors are really intense. The thrill, the presentation and story are really captivating and get your hair straight on your head! Even the special effects are great!

This movie as been inspired from a real heist that happened in Montreal in the 90's, a story really incredible. This movie have something different from the other heist movie, it is more realistic, and then more captivating! A movie everybody must see!!

Quebec movie are beginning to kick a**!! This movie is almost as powerful as the Barbarian Invasions!!

When le Dernier Tunnel failed to get important nominations at le Gala des Jutra ( Quebec's own Oscars ) Éric Canuel, director of Le Dernier Tunnel, said that the genre movies ( horror, thriller, etc. ) were not appreciated as more serious movies like The Barbarian Invasions. Well maybe so, but what Canuel is forgetting to mention is that his movie, genre movie or not, is one of the most uninspired thriller in years. I'm from Quebec so I already know all the actors in Le Dernier Tunnel and they are usually among the best ( like Michel Côté ) but Canuel's movie manages to make them look pretty stupid and artificial. Besides that the omni-present music is absolutely annoying, the camera work tries to be cool but only look clumsy and, worst of all, the ultra-conventional script and pretends-to-be-tough dialogues. So unless you've seen less than 10 movies in your life or if you are a teacher who wants to show an example of a bad bad movie stay away from Le Dernier Tunnel. One more thing: Quebec's critics rarely say bad things of Quebec's own movies because of the small market and that they want to protect themselves but even Le Dernier Tunnel got bad reviews so believe me when I say it's worst than bad !

Reading review here before watching the movie on TV got me unsure about it. However, this is a very decent movie that I really enjoyed watching. Anybody rating it under 4 stars or 10 (!) lacks credibility.

It is far from perfect, but it is a nice try at showing this interesting true-story that I did not know of. Good actors were used and they offered what we can expect of them. The movie started a bit slowly but I did not mind. This is not your usual Hollywood movie, not as fast moving, but to me that's not bad. It was realistic (much more than most Hollywood movies of the genre). I think the end could have been better, but it was acceptable.

In Montreal, the middle age thief Marcel Talon (Michel Coté) has spent a great part of his life in prison. When he leaves his confinement on probation, he promises to his beloved girlfriend Magdeleine "Maggy" Fortin (Marie France Marcotte) that he will find an honest job and have a decent life with her. Indeed Marcel has schemed the greatest heist to a bank ever happened in Canada, and he joins his old friend Fred Giguère (Jean Lapointe) and his non-reliable pal Smiley (Christopher Heyerdahl) and proposes to dig a long tunnel underground Montreal along the sewers for three months to reach the cellar of the Montral Bank. Fred's grandson and a friend of Smiley join the gang and along the robbery, an unexpected betrayal of his accomplices Smiley and Savard destroy the retirement plan of Marcel.

"Le Dernier Tunnel" is a very good movie based on a true heist of Montreal Bank called "the heist of the century". The realistic dramatic and suspenseful story of loyalty and betrayal has excellent performances and direction and is a great entertainment. I have never heard anything about this robbery, but this unknown little gem deserves to be discovered by fans of the genre. The shameful DVD released in Brazil does not offer the option of the original audio in French, only in English or Portuguese. My vote is seven.

Title (Brazil): "O Último Túnel" ("The Last Tunnel")