Coupez !

I saw this during a sneak preview, so I had no idea what this movie was about. It was lots of fun.

It starts off bad. Really bad. Like they tried to go for "so bad it's good" but then failed at that. If it weren't for the fact that I was sitting in the middle of a row with people on either side I would have just left.

But after half an hour, there's a change of pace, and yet another 'what am I watching' moment, but then it all starts making sense, and it becomes really funny and easy to watch.

I must admit that I did not have the greatest expectations for this because it is a remake of a Japanese film - One Cut of the Dead - so recent and with such quality. Still, in order not to have too many spare hours in my day, I decided to watch it. The story doesn't change much. A production team shoots a movie about zombies and then they start being attacked by zombies but... that's also part of the movie. Anyone who has seen the original knows that this ends up working well, being basically a comedy - with meaning and social messages included - about doing a lot with little in cinema. The film seeks to bring something new to the table, by using the original film, making it part of the same universe, which ends up encapsulating some of the novelties and more comical scenes of this remake, but still fails, as it replicates too many scenes that are not the film within the film, which ends up making little sense (for example, the director's motivations, his career, the various behind-the-scenes conversations...).

As in the original (which I loved much more on a rewatch), the first act is weird and doesn't work that well, but that's where the fun begins. The range of actors - which even includes the same actress playing the same character as in the original! - does an excellent job and it is clear that this is also a more expensive production than the Japanese one (which makes us wonder if it will go against the spirit of the original...?).

I confess that I don't quite understand why a renowned director - like Michel Hazanavicius - decides to make a remake of an acclaimed film that is only five years old. However, the truth is that Final Cut is quite funny. I would say just as or even funnier than the original. It is, even so - and despite trying some innovation by incorporating the first film into its universe - too close to the original in 80% of the scenes, so the advantage has to be given to the film that gave us something innovative.

COUPEZ! - The movie with the zombies

It's quite a cross with all these new films. Whether Italian and Spanish successes are being remade in Germany, Swedish films in the USA or Japanese films in France: the directors and producers can no longer think of anything new. But you shouldn't fall for the ACADEMY AWARD winner Michel HaZanavicius (for THE ARTIST) so quickly. Even if his film refers to an original bravura piece from another language area, it is also a clever comment on the tendency to copy successful foreign language films for the respective language area if possible. But with this material it fits perfectly. Pure joy to see France's superstars in such a turbulent action. Romain DURIS (nominated for the EUROPEAN FILM AWARD in the 2000s) and ACADEMY AWARD nominee Berenice BEJO act full of joy. Matilde LutZ (the Italian has been familiar with fake blood since REVENGE) and Finnegan OLDFIELD shine as young actors. The music by two-time ACADEMY AWARD winner Alexandre DESPLAT is also beautiful. I haven't laughed like that in a long time! A blood-red fun that was also the opening film at the Cannes Film Festival last year. The festival bunker must have been shaking with laughter. Do not miss!!!

'Final Cut' may be a rare case where the more you know going in the more you're likely to enjoy it. Because of the way the film is structured, the first 30 minutes are very sloppy and poorly put together. We as an audience don't know why yet, so we are just left to think that the whole film is going to be poorly made like this. There is of course a reason for this, which makes the film quite brilliant in the second half. But I fear this one could lose a lot of people in those early minutes, which would be a shame.

This is such a good idea for a movie. I understand it is a remake of a Japanese film with some clever tie-ins. I've often watched one-take films and thought about all the things that could (and potentially are) going wrong behind the scenes that we will never know about.

As I said, this isn't the worst film to know a thing or two about before going in. When I read the synopsis for the film it didn't sound like my thing at all. It really isn't anything like what is described there. This one was a lot of fun. 7.5/10.

One of those films where you soon realise and appreciate the 'one take' aspect but once the 'scene' had been completed, it really takes-off big time.

I couldn't stop laughing - giggles and the belly sort - when all is made clear. The only language I have is English (at a push) so the subtitles were imperative. All the actors threw themselves whole-heartedly into the mayhem with the initial commissioning to the rehearsals then the actual filming of the film all made glorious sense!

Goodness knows how long it took.

Getting passed the first 30mins turns into another movie entirely and the viewer is amply rewarded.