Podium

Podium. Directed by Yann Moix. ***

I haven't had this much fun for a while!

Courtesy of the 8th French Cinema Tour, "Podium" just hit theaters in a festival-like run here; Oh! I got so lucky! It's such a funny comedy, one of the best I've seen coming out of La France, and one of the best of the year for sure.

Benoit Poelvoorde is Belgium's national treasure for sure. He's performance is outstanding; he played Bernard Fréderic with such emotion, wit and realism that I'm gonna be real mad if he doesn't get a Best Actor nomination at the Cesars. The thing that is so great, is that his character is hateful and charismatic at the same time. He believes he's a star, so he starts acting like one: mean and rudely. He's a great singer and dancer too (maybe Kevin Spacey could borrow him some ideas).

Great writing, solid direction, hot French chics (or according to Bernard, "sexual bombs") in a comedy that smartly explores the obsession for fame, celebrity and pop idols. You won't regret if you watch it. Believe, it is worth it.

The tribute to French super star, Claude Francois is there, making the whole thing nostalgic. And one more thing... perhaps Americans should keep their hands out of it, and not starting to think about a remake. I suppose it will start its international commercial run in 2005, so where it's available, don't miss it!

7/10

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.

When a friend of mine told me about Podium she said that the movie was about a legendary french singer Claude Francois. Personally I love the movies based on bios, so I have nothing to said against it. In fact I had another good experience watching a French comedy (Gregorie Moulin vs Humanity). Not in the mood of that movie, Podium, instead of the Claude biography shows the life of Bernard, a banker that in his teenage years used to love everything about Claude, but his girlfriend made him let things down about his hero. In that time the only choice was his idol or her. Years later motivated by an imitators challenge Bernard suddenly begins to rise as Claude Francois and in the middle of his hallucination, everything begins to make sense. Or isn't it? In my humble opinion Podium goes further than its firsts goals. It doesn't have only good comedic moments, it also has very touching moments that goes around the main character, explaining the suddenly change in Bernard. A good comedy and although is long, the direction of this is really impressive. It makes you feel like the main character, his happiness, his sadness, even his loneliness. In some part of the movie I can also guarantee that you'll feel even like Claude. Have a good time watching this piece of art.

Rating: 10 of 10.

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 !

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 !!