O Magnífico

Bob Sinclar (Jean-Paul Belmondo) is a superspy in a ridiculous spy world. He's actually the central character in a book series written by François Merlin (Jean-Paul Belmondo). In his imagination, many people in his real world are incorporated into his spy fantasy.

This film announces itself as a ridiculous spoof right from the start with the giant claw lifting up the phone booth. There is nothing funnier than the translators scene. I like to stay in the spy universe and keep it as ridiculous as possible.

This movie is a story about a writer which is maintaining and developing a character, which is a lot in contrary of himself. As a viewer you follow the man when he is writing the book, and you can follow all of his sometimes funny, sometimes exaggerated fantasies by the creation of the story.

It must have been a challenge for the script writer(s) to make this film not too difficult to follow, because it depends on good timing when switching the roles as they are growing during the story.

When you place the movie in its own time, it was one of those real Belmondo's: cleverly written, and full of terrific action, with often surprising acts. A nice movie!

There are some cornball aspects to this film, but it also incredibly inspired in many ways. It is best not to read a bunch of summaries of the plot, just watch it and revel in the imagery which is fantastic in many parts. Belmondo is fantastic as is Jacqueline Bisset. If you already found sixties spy/agent films campy, this film will be a wonderful release, but also a haunting pastiche of dark humor on the whole genre. The jokes are layered very thick, not all of them hit, but compared to the campy schtick done in hollywood, this is shakespearean.

In kanopy as the man from acapulco, but in imdb as le magnifique. Jacqueline bisset, vittorio caprioli, jeanpaul belmondo. Francois is a writer who has created a suave, sharp spy hero, who is all the things the writer is not. Francois uses people and events from his own life in the spy's adventures. Lots of fake blood and guts, but it's so over the top, it's more comical than scary. The running gag where the plumber and electrician are waiting for the other to work in francois' flat before they will start their work. Fun scenery from all over the world, as the spy saint-clar chases the bad guys. Paris, puerto vallarta, orly, acapulco. It must have been really fun making this film! In french, with english subtitles. It's a fun parody of spy thrillers, with sight gags keeping us entertained. Some repetition. Mostly good stuff. Directed by philippe de broca, who has been nominated for an oscar and a bafta! It's a fun one. One forgets that it was made back in 1973.

Seriously underappreciated comedy with one of the finest and funniest opening "twists" this filmgoer has ever seen. Belmondo is at his comic and athletic best and Bissett is gorgeous and perfectly cast as a student doing a research paper on pulp-fiction authors (Belmondo). To say much more would spoil the imaginative twists and turns in this film. If you can find it, watch it!

If you like Belmondo in this you might also enjoy "Up to His Ears" (1965)

The CineZonk