The Fall of the American Empire

I loved this story of a way over-educated nerd who's filled with Marxist claptrap making a conscious decision to steal bagfuls of cash. Typical of Arcand, the film is very talky, but in a dry and deadpan way that is quite amusing. It's a funny version of Dostoevsky by way of Godard and Woody Allen.

If you liked what Denys Arcand did before you should like this movie. So first of all, I'm not a fan of the title, because it might hint that's it's a sequel to the "Déclin" which it is not. (Although Girard and Curzie play in both movies, but it's not the same characters.) They should have kept the original title "Triumph of Money". You will find in this movie very good dialogues, good action and a feel good sentiment at the end. There is a lot of cameos from various Quebec actors. Landry delivers a strong performance, his character, a very intelligent but naive man who seems to despise the world but who's always trying to help the poor and the disenfranchised. Morin is surprisingly good especially since I think it's her first role (and she's wonderfully pretty). Girard, who plays a biker that just got out of jail, is good as usual, (although I felt that some lines could have been from "Les Bougons") and of course I loved Curzie who's playing a crooked investment advisor. Personally, I think it might be my favorite Arcand so far. "Le Déclin" was funnier though. I strongly recommend this movie!

What a director Denys Arcand is - all the way from "Jesus of Montreal" to this superb classic. It is truly a magnificent plot that manages to have its cake and eat it too in that we are dealing with more or less petty crime in the context of larger social crimes. To me the lead roles come off so well because of fine performances - there's a humanity here at work that truly appeals to me. Alexandre Landry as a naive philosophical type who hasn't really got a clue but is kind-hearted and Maripier Morin as sex worker as clever as they come drew me in deeply. The highlight the social context which Arcand is at pains to adumbrate without it overwhelming the story's unfolding into something one might describe as worthwhile and meaningful for an audience whilst also being suspensful. Montreal and Quebec are served well by such productions.

If are already tired of empty movies full of superheroes, sick people love stories, dysfunctional families then take a couple of hours and exercise your brain. Arcand most important weapon are dialogs; like Tarantino's but with very deeper meaning and without forcing styles. It is always necessary to have great actors to deliver most of the lines; and as always his team is perfect even when sometimes did not even look like professional actors. The story is basically a thriller (or a Polar since the movie is in French). A Philosophy witness a holdup and escape with two huge bags full of money. The police tries to nail him. Add to the equation an ex con expert in money laundering, a very expensive prostitute another money laundering expert (this one playing for the big leagues) and a bunch of cops that are perhaps worse than the criminals itself. Yes there a few criminals but they are mostly an accessory to the script. The important thing here is the social commentary. How consumerism has destroyed society and how society is getting every day colder. How government only interest is to get money to expend (and obviously to embezzlement ). Even when the movie plays more than a comedy; there are a couple of quite violent explicit scenes and a good created suspense . Some dialogs are worth remembering forever; some scenes are quite poetic and mood altering and the whole movie is an uplifting experience that let us think about our lives. There are some pace issues and the final two scenes feel unnecessary however is just a very small detail in an otherwise almost perfect movie

I had to give this movie a better rating than the current average score.

Why? Because I really got entertained!

I liked the characters, I liked the story, and I, for sure will have to see more from this director!