L'innocente

I read critics lauding this film using superlatives like 'amazing', 'hysterically funny' and 'a delight'. With great hopes we handed over our money and went in. I enjoy French comedies but they have proven to be hit and miss over the years. This one is a big MISS. It's also a mess. The acting was fine, as was the plot, so what was it? I can only put it down to the script, direction and editing, which is pretty much most of how a film is made. Apart from not being even mildly humorous it was just so disjointed. Some scenes made little sense. I do give it points for the scene in the diner. That was quite well made and hinted at a completely other film the director might be more proficient at.

Even though the movie is rated as a comedy, 90% of it is drama, with only 2-3 scences with medium laugh. The action is surrounding the main character Abel, through the life of his newly married mother with an ex prisoner.

There are a few scenes that showcase love and appreciation, especially between elder people, which I find great because not a lot of movies are doing that.

The only funny character was Clemence, which is a secundary character with not a lot of screen time, but she ends up an important part in the plot.

I was expecting a lot more funny scences, as I had great experiences with some French movies, but even the music and the way it was filmed reminded me of a drama waiting to happen.

A lighthearted effort that manages to work as a comedy, romance, and heist film, which isn't easy to do. There are absurd moments but the plot is cohesive, flows well, and has no wasted action. What won me over were scenes like the acting lessons given by ex-convicts, which was funny, and the distraction ploy that suddenly got very real, which was unexpected and emotional. Anouk Grinberg is a delight and has a fine scene during a confrontation at the hospital too. And my goodness, there's Noemie Merlant again being amazing. Isn't she one to keep an eye on? Entertaining stuff from Louis Garrel.

... and then I discovered he was the Director as well! It probably explains why he got the job, but not really why he'd want to come across so badly in this. He was so awful that I nearly gave up about 20 minutes in, but stayed around for Noemie Merlant - who really makes this film - and Roschdy Zem, who I'd not seen before but does a very nice turn as the errant (but convincingly loving) husband.

As a variant on the "heist caper" it's quite nicely done, with some humorous moments, but because I didn't empathise at all with Garrel's character it was hard to see the ending as "happy" - as I'm sure was intended.

If you can cope with Garrel, I'm sure it's fine.

I've never seen any of the movies Louis Garrel has directed but I think he is a competent actor in every movie I've seen him in. I finally watched one of his movies as a director and it was really good.

"The Innocent" succeeds at being part funny part emotional. The story is interesting with efficient moments of tension that would make you unable to look away or feel-good moments that could make you smile.

The story is a bag filled with a wide range of emotions but it works mostly due to the actors' solid performances. Noémie Merlant in particular did a great job. She was effortlessly funny, her crying was believable and her character always felt natural. The only other role I've seen from her was Marianne in "Portrait of a Lady on Fire", where she did a good job as well but in this movie it felt like she was held back for a bit. In "The Innocents", she steals the show by delivering the best performance of the movie.

The editing was kind of sloppy at first but it got better as the film progressed. Every actor did a good job, the story is engaging, Noémie Merlant was great, it was well shot, well edited... A very good movie.