Mi Crimen

I've always preferred Francois Ozon when he's in a playful mood and he's certainly in a playful mood here revamping a creaky old play by George Berr and Louis Verneuil that's already been filmed twice before and giving it a bright new glow, dispensing with realism from the start. "Mon Crime" is definitely an old-fashioned comedy-thriller with nary a thrill to be found, silly enough to keep a soppy grin on our faces for most of its running time.

The daft plot has young actress Nadia Tereszkiewicz accused of murdering an over-sexed producer only to be defended in court, in something of a parody of "Roxie Hart", by her roommate and best friend Rebecca Marder and that's just the half of it. It's totally daft and thoroughly delightful with a superb performance from Fabrice Luchini as the investigating judge and if that's not enough there's always Isabelle Huppert as a wildly over-the-top actress insisting on her day in court. Minor Ozon but even minor Ozon can be a real treat.

Directed by Francois Ozon, it makes you look forward to seeing the film. Does it work? Yes, mostly. The cast is fantastic, down to the smallest part.

A young actress is being promised a part in a play, but she has to indulge the producer's wishes to be his lover. He tries to make advances, but she runs and escapes the mess.

The next day the police arrives at the apartment of the actress, where she is living with her friend, who's a lawyer, and have practiced for one year. The producer havr been killed.

To advance her career the two girls makes a plan, where she confess to his murder, counting on being acquitted, and then she'll have a name and be successful.

But then something unexpected happens, the real murder contacts the girls. She's an actor, out of luck getting parts in films, it's the era of films with sound, it's 1935. She was big in the silent film years, not now. She's demanding 300.000 Francs to keep quiet.

Now, the rest you must see for your self. It's a quite entertaining and fun film. It's not amongst the best, and it wouldn't even have been as good as it is, if Isabelle Huppert, one of the very finest actors in the world, wasn't playing thr real murderess. In fact all the actors do a fine job. Plus, it's always a pleasure to see Andre Dusollier.

A character piece from well-known and much loved French cast, with witty scripting and well crafted twists.

Charmingly shot and well edited, the costumes and make-up reflect the period. The individual players are well matched and clearly defined, very much within the scope of French culture. One aspect that this film scores highly on is that it is not too long - unlike many Hollywood films which are overpadded with repetitious effects.

Cinema is a medium that targets particular audiences and this film hits the bull's eye. If you instantly forget 90% of a particular genre, then don't watch it. If you don't watch it, don't comment...

I laughed out loud almost in every scene, it's so simple and funny! Just loved it!

The feel is similar to Eight Women, even feels like it is a sort of a sequel, however the setting is different. The storyline turns unexpectedly, it's in a way similar to those absurd theater comedies though it doesn't look so. The acting is superb, grotesque-like style, especially when Isabelle Huppert appears all of a sudden, and then André Dussolier. And of course, under this being pseudo-light and superficial, there's definitely issues raised (and mocked, Ozon style): gender stereotypes, corrupt judicial system, personal values, etc. Enjoyed every minute of it and highly recommend!

It is the movie which looks as a theatrical play and finely frame we will see it will become that. There is a lot of humor and beautiful costumes related to that time when it happens and there's no doubt that you will enjoy in it. Everything is stunning and shiny, but culmination arises in the moment when comes Isabelle Huppert in the role of poor silent actress at the end of her career. With her appearance she steals all your attention. Anyway, everyone in it is charming and in a kind of seductive approach and by that it will fill your attention. The creator, François Ozon, of it made adaptation of a Parisian play from 1934 by Georges Berr and Louis Verneuil and he did it very well!!!