Author Archive

The French, more than any other culture, seem to have a natural flair for complicating things. From their fabled bureaucracies to the myriad ways of properly tying a scarf, one would almost suspect that they enjoy the enigmatic air fostered by such a reputation. This is clear when watching some French films. There are...
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I love the inventiveness of this animated short.
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When I first started working on this website I took the lazy way out and posted quite a few (okay, all) of the reviews straight from Amazon.com, with the intention of coming back later and writing my own, in-depth takes on these French films that I love so well.  After all, a critique is...
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Each of the films I’ve listed on this site now feature a star rating just below the title of the movie. I’ve only listed movies that I’ve watched, and the ratings are just my opinions. You may love a movie that I detested, and you may absolutely hate a movie that I loved (although...
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This years Cannes Film Festival runs from May 12th through the 23rd. The official selections will be revealed in a few weeks, but for now enjoy this beautiful poster featuring the luminous Juliet Binoche.
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Starring: François Berléand, Thierry Lhermitte, Sami Bouajila, Fred Testot, Virginie Efira The synopsis: Cannes, the French Riviera. Armand Teillard is happy with life; a busy store downtown, a delightful girlfriend, a magnificent record collection and lunch every day at Sofia and Martial’s family restaurant with a perfect sea view. So when Sofia tells Armand...
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Jacques Audiard’s Godfatheresque prison drama “Un Prophete” (A Prophet) won big Saturday night at France’s version of the Oscars, taking home nine of its record tying thirteen nominations for the coveted César Awards. Here’s the list of winners for Un Prophete: Best Actor in a Leading Role: Tahar Rahim Most Promising Actor: Tahar Rahim...
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Chances are you’ve seen at least one of his movies. As a director Jean-Pierre Jeunet is the man behind Delicatessen (1991), The City of Lost Children (1995), Alien Resurrection (1997),  Amélie (2001), A Very Long Engagement (2004), and the soon to be released in the U.S. Micmacs à tire-larigot (2009). Of those films, Alien...
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An unintended but not unexpected consequence of running this website is that it makes me want to go back to France now. Traveling via cinema, at least for me, is a second-best option, and some days I prefer to remember a favorite trip rather than experience a new film. Today is one of those...
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We’ve all heard the stories. A friend returns from Paris smitten with the city but completely turned off by the inhabitants. “They were so rude! Everywhere I went they were mean to me, and I’ll never go back! Paris was beautiful, though.” Sound familiar? Ever think that it’s possible that it is sometimes us...
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Un Prophete has received an Oscar nomination for Best Foreign Language Film and will be released in the U.S. by distributor Sony Pictures Classics on Friday, February 26th. Click here to watch the trailer. Also released by Sony Pictures Classics (limited release on May 28th, 2010) is Micmacs. Jean-Pierre Jeunet, the man that gave...
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The dollar is taking a beating against the euro, airline seats are shrinking, and you’re just too dang busy anyway. What’s a Francophile to do? Break out the wine, warm up the DVD player and conduct your own mini filmed in France festival with these five American movies shot on location in France, with...
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A Prophet (Un Prophete) didn’t win the Golden Globe, but did just garner an Oscar nomination for “Best Foreign Film”. Here, again, is the trailer: U.S. release date is February 26, 2010, in New York and Los Angeles.
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As a writer and/or director, Luc Besson is responsible for quite a few of my favorite films (Nikita, Angel-A, The Fifth Element, the Transporter franchise) so I’m looking forward to the release of this Besson-penned film. Opening in the U.S. on February 5th, this action flick is a future entry in the “Filmed in...
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If you think Jerry Lewis is the only thing the French know about being funny, and Amelie was a fluke, read on. Here are three other diverse, hilarious French films. 1.  Après Vous (2003) Daniel Auteuil is one of the finest comedic actors of all time. He possesses a willingness to completely inhabit the...
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France’s entry for Best Foreign Language Film at this year’s Golden Globes  is A Prophet (Un Prophete), the Grand Prix winner at the 2009 Cannes Film Festival. Here’s the synopsis: Condemned to six years in prison, Malik El Djebena cannot read nor write. Arriving at the jail entirely alone, he appears younger and more...
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