Podium

Now this is a movie that you would enjoy, if it were achieved. Somehow, the writers seem to have been afraid of upsetting the Cloclo fans, which leads to an average story, with ingredients such as cheap emotion, irregular characters, endless dancing. It reminds me of a '50s science fiction movie, in which the whole plot was actually based upon the disguise of the stunt (aka the extra-terrestrial usually). In the case of "Podium", the over-exploited leitmotiv is two dressed up characters being stupid. The first comedy without a gag, if not the first, the most over-rated surely. BUT, the actors do a great job, the special effects (actually "effect") are convincing. Not a total waste of time.

This movie came out in Belgium in 2003 but I waited to see this wonderful movie until now. The story is simple but the movie is great. Benoît Poelvoorde is playing Bernard, a bank clerk of the greatest dullness. A job he had to take 'cause his wife couldn't stand living with a dual-personality (or as she's called NO personality). So he promises her never to do the man again. His great obsession is the french star Claude François. Bernard is the perfect double of the star, no, resurrection is the better word. When there is a competition 5 years after the Promise, there's a competition for doubles on television and the best claude françois wins 100000 euro (125000 dollar) Bernard wants to compete and starts his old routine but he thinks he IS the star and starts acting on it. The actors are one for one top quality but the star is indeed Benoît Poelvoorde from my beloved country. His splendor, to be able to show a character that you can hate and love at the same time, is remarkable. I really can recommend this one Some pointers for the people oversees (United states): If you don't know claude françois it's easier to look at the movie like Claude = Elvis. Then it's easier to understand the hype If you look carefully: you can notice the original french version of 'my way' by Frank Sinatra or in this case 'comme d'habitude'

This movie is a wonderful tribute to who is, in my humble opinion, the most brilliant singer AND dancer of all time in France aka the legendary Claude François. A consummate performer and perfectionnist, Claude enlightened and impressed forever millions of french people with his feel good, entertaining and ahead of its time blend of music inspired by the US music from both the 60s and 70s. He was way more than a musician in France, a super popular icon of french culture. His tragic death at age 33 in 1978 made millions of people bleeding around the world and achieved to make him entering Musical Hall Of Fame forever.

With this in mind, french writer Yann Moix wrote a compelling book (released at the start of the 21th century) about a clone of the late Claude called Bernard Frederic.

Somebody that was literally a "reincarnation" of Mr François. The book met great success and the french writer became a director to adapt his own creation in 2004.

Podium was the name of an avant gardiste magazine about french musical stars of the 60s created by Claude François himself so the name of both the book and the flick is a great tribute to him as well.

Talking about tribute, this movie is a wonderful tribute to any "Cloclo" (his legendary nickname) fan. It features prominently a lot of his best to most obscure work like "Chanson Populaire", "Si j'avais un marteau" as well as his disco era "Magnolia Forever" and of course the masterpiece he gave to Paul Anka and Frank Sinatra in his latter days, "Comme D'Habitude" (known as "My Way" in the US).

Not only Mr Moix is showing a great knowledge about Cloclo universe and music but he is also got tremendous flair when it came to cast the one actor that could fill Mr François legendary shoes.

He picked Belgium prodigy Benoit Poelvoorde and what a perfect pick it was !

In Fact, Yann revealed he wrote the role while thinking about Benoit and he personally asked Mr Poelvoorde to re-record himself the songs of Claude as well as taking hard working dancing lessons !

First unsure about this since he has never ever sang at all in his whole life, Benoit finally accepted, under French Singer professor Richard Cross and Dancing teacher Mia Frey to do so.

Being the perfectionnist and crazy talent he is, Benoit Poelvoorde ended up giving me massive chills on any of his singing-dancing performances that are enlightening this wonderful homage to one of my fave musicians EVER.

Like another Cloclo impersonator in the movie stated (his main nemesis who is jealous of him) "he is not an impersonator ! he is a REINCARNTAION ! ".

Benoit didn't play Cloclo here, He was him from the first to the last shot.

This is the performance of a lifetime that should have gotten him many awards , especially the equivalent of the Oscars in France (called "les césars") but he only got a nomination and lost the trophy to someone less deserving...

The rest of the cast is extremely good, especially one Jean Paul Rouve as another french legendary musician impersonator, Michel Polnareff (if Benoit sounds and dances like Claude, Jean Paul totally looks like Michel , body and face wise !).

The direction of the movie is top notch and the costumes, locations and choregraphies are perfect.

For his first time behind a camera, Yann Moix shows a lot of panache and flair with very original shots angles and a lot of dynamic.

It's something to write an entertaining book but it takes a lot of guts and virtuosity to adapt it visually and musically like he did !

Mad props to anyone involved here, this is easily the best french movie of the 21 century not called "Rio Nest Of Spies" and Amelie !

A timeless classic that surely made dancing and singing Mr Claude François in the deep blue sky in Heaven !

Magnolia ? Forever !

It's an excelllent comedy! Benoit Poelvoorde is totally amazing, the script is intelligent, smart and funny. Julie Depardieu is beautiful and a good actress and Jean-Paul Rouve from the Robin des Bois is excellent as Michel Polnareff! If you like Claude Francois this film is made for you!

Well done.

This movie is one the greatest comedy I've ever seen... The actors are so good, I can't compare it with any other movie. The singing performance by Benoit Poelvoorde is perfectly incredible too ! Nevertheless,I guess american audience would not understand this movie, as it deals with a french music symbol, Claude François...

That's why I let myself dream of an american transcription of "Podium"... imagine Adam Sandler or Bill Murray play some unlikely Elvis double... If some producer could read it :)

Congratulations, Yann Moix !!