Le jeu

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.

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.

Nice movie, didn't know it was a remake of a italian movie from 2016. Made me think of "what's in a name" from 2012, a dinner party that starts off innocent but ends up in revealing secrets. Because of the similarities I felt I had seen this before, and it was better executed in "what's in a name". They were however differnet enough for me to enjoy both, but I feel I will be revisiting "whats in a name" but not this one. Anyway, good but not great.

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...)

I love European films, and this didn't disappoint. The French language adds a certain artistic element to the English viewer, and Gregory Gadebois adds his understated excellence to it. The dining around the table is both reminiscent of times in France and so "every day" that is sets the backdrop really well. I take it from other reviews that this is a remake of another film, one I'd like to see, if this is anything to go by. Funny, realistic, well acted, emotional, and passionate in equal measure.