Échappement libre

Big-name cast mostly wasted on pointless fluff (the ending only confirms the pointlessness), though Jean Seberg is a knockout and there is one good action sequence (the car escape down the mountain). ** out of 4.

Lighthearted mixture of thrills, laughs and romance, done in the fizzy style that seems unique to the 60's. Diamond smuggling in a loaded Triumph sports car provides the action, as the protagonists go from Barcelona to Beirut, from Athens to Bremen, accompanied by an exhilarating jazzy score by Martial Solal.

The fun is aided immeasurably by the charisma and chemistry of the two stars: Belmondo, full of bravado and charm, displaying his full star power; and Seberg looking impossibly glamorous and cool, showing toughness and vulnerability. Gert Frobe and Fernando Rey lend their strong personalities to several scenes.

It's astonishing that this heady entertainment is barely known, given that it's a reunion of the stars from the famous "Breathless". A must-see for any fan of 60's caper movies, and of the two stars.

Seen at MoMA, NYC, on June 16, 2008.