O Inocente

I really don't know what to think about it. What's this, a comedy, a thriller, a drama? It hesitates between all of those elements and that mixes me up. Good directing, good acting, but you always wonder what are you going to see, but this time in the not so good way. Because, I know, that most of time when you don't know what to deal with, it may be exciting. Not here. Sorry. But honestly, it is a good entertainment, it's impossible to get bored and that's the most important, no matter my sensitiviy and taste. After all, there is no rule in story telling, nothing at all prevents a story to be a mix up between comedy, horror, drama, crime, science fiction.... Nothing.

I like Louis Garrel - he has something about him that I usually find engaging to watch on screen. Here, though, the story is all just a little too far-fetched! He ("Abel") takes his mother "Sylvie" (Anouk Grinberg) to prison where she runs an acting class and where she has hooked up with "Michel" (Roschdy Zem). Now "Abel" is a bit sceptical about his mother marrying an ex-con and soon he and his best mate "Clémence" (Noémie Merlant) and carrying out some fairly clumsy surveillance on the man. "Michel" is no fool though and before we know it, the spying pair are mixed up a plan to pinch a great supply of caviar from a van in a petrol station car park! What ensues here does raise the odd smile and is generally an adequate little drama - but it still tends a little too much to weak slapstick inso far as it's a comedy. It's also a love story and a family drama that is better than soap, but only just - it's like we are watching an incomplete episode in the lives of people that we don't really know - nor get to know, either. Merlant is a breath of fresh air and she gels well with her increasingly hapless pal "Abel" as we head to a denouement with a few twists to keep us guessing. I did quite enjoy it, but it's totally forgettable fayre, sorry.

An excellent crime comedy with elements of drama, which keeps the viewer's attention throughout the movie. It is interesting to watch how the relationships of different characters develop and what it all leads to.

This movie is quite funny and at the same time serious. It skillfully mixes these parts and it turns out pretty seamlessly. I also liked the romantic and criminal parts. It all comes together into one plot as well. What's interesting is that all these genres appear in the right places.

With good music in context and some pretty good acting, I have faith in this movie. It's really not bad at all.

... and then I discovered he was the Director as well! It probably explains why he got the job, but not really why he'd want to come across so badly in this. He was so awful that I nearly gave up about 20 minutes in, but stayed around for Noemie Merlant - who really makes this film - and Roschdy Zem, who I'd not seen before but does a very nice turn as the errant (but convincingly loving) husband.

As a variant on the "heist caper" it's quite nicely done, with some humorous moments, but because I didn't empathise at all with Garrel's character it was hard to see the ending as "happy" - as I'm sure was intended.

If you can cope with Garrel, I'm sure it's fine.

A bit of delicacy, a bit of mystery, a bit of emotions, a bit of laughter and a bit of spontaneity. A movie that doesn't pretend to be something it's not, bringing a nice story with talented actors (I discovered here Noémie Merlant who is sparkling and heady just as champagne: super talented and refreshing persona!). Probably has this very French « je ne sais quoi » that some reviews here couldn't catch, nothing tacky but nuances that you quietly get in their finess. It can be a bit uneven at times particularly at the beginning but everything holds nicely in the end.

I would say it's a movie about family, it is entertaining and of good taste.