Money Money Money

I watched this movie in French without subtitles, and I have to admit that my French isn't up to such a challenge, so I missed much of the discussions which are quite crucial for understanding.

But from the visuals alone, this piece offers quite a lot - and what I liked most: the period cars. Fiat 500.. Renault Dauphine.. Citroen ID/DS.. that alone made me very happy :)

This movie is old, politically somewhat dated since the early 1970s, and not much commented on here. But it's not forgotten - according to French Wikipedia, Claude Lelouch announced in January 2007 that he will make a sequel to this, "L'aventure sera toujours l'aventure", to be released in 2009 or 2010.

Five lousy gangsters are sick of constantly stealing money from banks and decide to specialize themselves in abduction of celebrities or important people. First, they kidnap Johnny Hallyday (who in the film sings the song that is sourced from the title of the film), then they fly down to South America where they confine illegally an ambassador for a revolutionary. Thus, they pocket enough dough to go on holiday in the Carabbean.

This comedy from Claude Lelouch bears his trademark. Everything is conceived and made with a naive perspective from the steps of the narration which seem sometimes approximative and lame in spite of its simple linearity to the moral of the film that celebrates complete disengagement in favor of money. The filmmaker didn't jettison gratuitous effects and sometimes, the actors don't properly pronounce their cues; so you have to be very attentive to decipher what they say. But, the film has funny moments and Lelouch wields nonsense with quite efficiency. His virtuosity with camera makes up a bit for the drawbacks of the story aforementioned and I will add this extra one: the cast is patchy. Lino Ventura is as usual great but Jacques Brel... well I largely favor him as a singer, songwriter. His talent in acting is another story.

Lelouch is Lelouch and this cynical comedy will rejoice his fans. If you're looking for a film rigorously made, it's not the right one.

I have seen this film a few times in the 50 years since its premiere. This time I just wanted to have a few laughs here and there because the funniest bits are classics and i know them by heart, but i was surprised to realize that the movie's cynicism has been so utterly overtaken by present-day politics that our 5 friends look today as a NGO. The music has dated tremendously and it makes the film look older than it is. I still enjoy the all around goofiness and Jacques Brel is not as bad as others reviews point out. Take it seriously at your own peril, but don't think is puerile either. Those guys wouldn't sell their mothers for power and impunity, like our dear politicians today. Maybe not.

"I thought you were Marxists" asks General Suarez to thief Lino Massaro. "Yes we are, Groucho Marxists!" Rising above the political struggles and claims of the seventies, a bunch of dumber than average thieves manage to make a lot money and share all kinds of adventures. "Clarity in confusion", or "confusion in clarity" if you prefer, is their motto. This very funny makes fun of the fact that all ideologies claim "love one another" but kill the other. It's above all a chance to see two of the greatest actors (Ventura, Denner) with long time friend one of the greatest singers ever (Brel). Claude Lelouch is very innovative in his filming techniques and offers with this movie a must see comedy for anyone who enjoys French flicks. Aldo Maccione shares his classical walk, Johnny Halliday sings the soundtrack and plays his own role, General Suarez is played by Bunuel's son and producer Elie Chouraqui plays a soldier.

"L'aventure, C'est L'aventure" (oddly titled "Money, Money, Money" in the US) is a strange film about five misfit career criminals. They all seem a bit dumb and ineffectual. However, when they band together and decide to try much higher stakes crimes, they inexplicably hit it big. So, instead of robbing their usual banks, they graduate to kidnappings and political intrigues. And, in spite of themselves, they always seem to land on their feet.

I watched this film for one main reason--Lino Ventura. And, in this regard, the movie was a huge disappointment. While Ventura might just be the coolest gangster in film history, here he is nothing like his usually self-assured persona but a bit of a bumbler hanging out with other bumblers. I certainly did NOT expect a comedy! However, after I got over this, I saw that the film, while a bit dopey here and there, is still very worth seeing. It is truly a strange but enjoyable film. Some of the laughs fall a bit flat but the film is so original and engaging that I was able to look past this.