Le Jeu

For the first time I watch a creative french movie ! I think we all have secrets living in our phones but the scenario has lost us at the end sadly :(

People lead interesting secret lives. We think we know each other but when the phones are out and the texts and calls start coming all bets are off. You hide your truths from the people you think you love but when the truth starts coming out, wow. Good movie, very truthful.

So I found out after watching this French film that it is a remake of the an Italian film; Perfect Strangers - English title. So while I can't really assess the movie based on how its been remade into a French version, I can say I loved the script, the plot and the acting. It is simple films like these which show you that you don't need an outrageous movie budget to thoroughly captivate an audience. I'm still feeling 'giddy' from watching it!! Finally, Apologies if this comes off somewhat pretentious but there is a quote from F. Scott Fitzgerald's novel, tender is the night, that provides the perfect synopsis for this movie; "I want to give a really BAD party. I mean it. I want to give a party where there's a brawl and seductions and people going home with their feelings hurt and women passed out in the cabinet de toilette. You wait and see." I choose to think if Dick Diver (I.e. Scott Fitzgerald) had to throw a party in this day and age, he would throw the party portrayed in this movie. (But perhaps with a bit more alcohol involved...)

If you've seen the original Italian film Perfect Strangers, this movie would seem like a cheap remake with a couple things that have been changed. However, if you haven't seen the original, it is a decent movie.

The movie starts off well enough, the characters trickle into the dinner party and during their meal they decide to play a game where everyone has to put their phones on the table and read aloud everything that comes up. The night then descends into chaos.

While the premise is decent, the message is a little heavy handed with characters saying what the audience should be left to determine.

The movie seems to drone on for a bit as things begin to unfold, but does pick up as the characters' secrets are revealed. The drama gets to be a little much, but nothing outside of modern cinema.

The ending itself would have been great if it was original. However, because this is a remake, I knew what was going to happen. And the audience doesn't have to find the message because the characters already did that for us.

That's why I gave this movie 7/10, most people probably have not seen the original, so it would come across as good. But for those of us who have seen it, it does not change enough in order for it to be anything else but a simple remake.

Nothing to hide is a truly terrific film, it was fresh, imaginative and funny. It featured truly interesting characters, and dealt with a subject that most of us wonder about, but generally never act in, 'what if we could read the messages of our partners.'

I can't always cope with films when they're dubbed into English, but this is that good, I found myself not even taking any notice. The actors are all hugely charismatic and believable. The writing is smart, and delivers plenty of twists to throw you off guard. I also loved the what if ending.

A triumph. 9/10