Barracuda

In another review of this film the writer claimed the film was boring, where as upon seeing the film I was very impressed that the film sustained my interest for the full length, despite the fact that is was all set in the one apartment.

It was very well acted and made, and the the story and ideas were incredible.

Abandon any ideals that this film is boring, as it is one of the most interesting films I have ever seen.

(and that includes 'Psycho')

I am sad to have to comment this French movie, but : Guillaume Canet is bad as actor and bad as director, everyone knows that here in France. Jean Rochefort is a well-known good actor: why did he accept to act in this crap??? Only for money i suppose. Director Philippe Haim heavily underlines every action with a heavy music of composer Philippe Haim. Splash splash splash... Poor screenplay (the idea is not bad, but his treatment is boring), poor, even ridiculous French dialogs, heavy and pompous staging, please avoid this very bad movie. This is not French cinema, just a bad taste farcical "grand-guignol" waste of time and energy.

This is a rather creepy black comedy about madness and deceit. After seeing this film you won't be so trusting. It makes me think of that saying '"come into my parlour" said the spider to the fly.'

The story begins in an apartment occupied by an eccentric old man named Clement. On nearly every wall of the apartment are portraits of Fred Astaire. It soon becomes clear that Clement is a mentally unbalanced recluse living in a fantasy world.

Luc is a young cartoonist who has just moved into an apartment across the hallway. With grand plans to sail around the world and start a family, Luc's life is normal and happy until he makes a fatal mistake. He runs into his elderly neighbour and agrees to meet his "wife".

"Barracuda" follows Luc's plight as he becomes the unwilling "son" of Clement. The film is quite engrossing as we see how Luc tries to escape from his tap-dancing captor. We see what goes on in Clement's mind as he has conversations with Fred Astaire, and get some insight of his lonely, empty life.

"Barracuda" has some chilling moments. It might seem far-fetched, but it's entertaining nevertheless. Although if you watched it over and over again you can imagine the story losing its suspense.

One of the things I like best about the film is the dance music. It's quite catchy. Beware of your neighbours.

This impressive debut feature from Philippe Haim is a stylish realisation of one of our worst nightmares, that of being trapped and at the mercy of a lunatic.

Just as Kathy Bates was inspired casting as Annie Wilkes in Rob Reiner's similarly themed 'Misery' so Haim has the great good fortune to have secured the services of veteran Jean Rochefort as Monsieur Clément. The character is a monster to be sure but as one would expect from this superlative artiste he has succeeded in arousing our sympathy. We do not know the source of his particular brand of insanity and are left to conjecture whether it be caused by protracted solitude, excessive loneliness or the desperate need for love. Some have detected a hint of homoeroticism but that of course is down to the individual viewer.

Guillaume Canet plays the hapless victim and one cannot fail to sympathise with the physical pain, mental torture and all-round debasement that he is obliged to endure.

The director's own score together with excellent art/production design, an all pervading sense of claustrophobia, touches of black humour and the dynamic between the two principles combine to make this piece eminently watchable.

I advise to all the people who could see this film to do not miss it. The story gives a very good character for Jean Rochefort and the best that Guillaume Canet has ever had. I prefer to dont say anything about the story of the movie, the surprise will be greater !