Overdose

Well, I certainly don't agree with the majority of reviews here. OK, this is as far as I know the first film directed by Olivier Marchal that I have seen BUT I can compare this with some others of a similar nature like Heat. I'm not saying this is as good as I personally thought that was though this was fast-moving. Had a good plot/storyline and was without any CGI or similar. Drugs received/transfered/undercover cop/ unnecessary murders/investigation. A few sex scenes - nothing excessive but a violent film but nothing really gratuitous, although it did receive an R18 rating. Stars Sofia Essaidi, Nicolas Cazalé, Alberto Ammann. Dubbed into English from French Original.

Over the time Olivier Marchal created his own sub genre of gritty French movies and some of them could be treated as niche classic. The formula of success was quite simple: down to Earth cops who often forced to work with the criminals in one way or another to stop the bigger evil, dark story, complete disregards for happy endings and visually dark cinematography. You can find sun in some of his movies, but it always feels like a dark cloud forms above the character on the screen even if action is set in Nice or Marseille.

Sadly, this one is never going to be one of his best films, neither will it be even close to pieces like MR 73 or 36 Precinct. First of all, story. It feels like the script was made from some leftovers and it lacks common sense. Criminals could be stupid, but organized crime, the focus of this movie, usually is not. Their complete disregard of operational security, useless violence, reckless behavior are only serving as reasons to provide the viewer with dramatic, clip-like scenes of fast cars and automatic weapons in action. While some action scenes are quite decent, the story feels nonexistent and the script feels incoherent to the point of discomfort and total disbelief. I will not spoil the story, but it is as unrealistic as it even could be and any Marchal fan will spot it after first 10-20 minutes of runtime.

If you are in the market for a good French action, check out Stronghold (2020), Les Miserables (2019) or Athena (2022): all of them are doing better what Marchal have started while maintaining a good, believable story.

The only reason Overdose exists is to make cash to its creators and you can do much better with your time.

I really enjoyed this predictable but pretty well drug crime drama. It is below of masterpieces like Sicario, but still watchable.

The storyline is based on the usual crime drama's that include some action here, some violence there and not really any great twist or surprise here.

Best here are some of the characters that you can root for. So it is interesting to know more and more about them and how the story ends. I think the story is quite decent and the conclusion obvious but pretty well executed.

So, overall good but not great, it could have been far better with a more risky script. I don't know why movie's directors are always using the same formula, an acceptable 6/10.

Not best Olivier Marchal's movie but action in all scenes, good young actors for a classic drug / go fast movie.

Nice to watch, not a master piece but a good moment front of TV. Not that all scenes are making sense or a bit twisted but you let the adrenaline making you float through the movie. Alberto Amman is what you can expect from him if you saw narcos.

It's dark, a bit violent, typical Marchal and that's why you came for.

Just sit, turn the light off and watching a drug movie. Do not consider people talking non sense or being arsh with 4he movie, they overthink the idea of entertainment.

Whilst French cinema likes to tend to the philosophical, French action films are often well watchable and underrated.

Overdose is well written, acted, directed and edited, and provides a satisfying drama. The villains are villainous, and the cops determined, and although this is only going to end one way, the turns along the way keep you entertained.

In places, it is not an easy watch (I said the villains are villainous), and there is little relief from the relentless focus of both sides. There is a little bit of sex, but it is not very sexy, rather unlike a French film in that respect.

The pacing of the film is enjoyable, through the borderlands between France and Spain, and the camerawork is hard to fault.

Definitely worth a watch if you like action crime drama.