Films/DVD Asylum

Posted by Victor Khomenko (M) on May 28, 2002 at 04:44:19

Sometimes the French just feel like making a decent film, so they simply go and make it. No preparation needed, much like a master watchman doesn't need any for his next routine project. They have all the expertise available, great actors and whatever else it takes to produce a palatable work in what seems like just one day of work.

La Buche is not going to be recognized as one of the great films of our lifetime. But it is like a dinner at a four-star restaurant - reliable and pretty enjoyable in its parts.

They pull together a great team of actors, including the still-sexy Emmanuelle Béart (MUST get rid of those lips...), and just get to it.

The film is enjoyable in many spots, with good dialog in places, with people who largely behave like people and with few situations most of us can relate to.

Its biggest flaw is perhaps in trying to accomplish too much. So it becomes too complicated for its own good, and like an overloaded airliner it crashes under its own heft.

It crashes mildly, though, so the trip is still very well worth the fair.

I have only seen one other work of the director Danièle Thompson - and that was La Boum, the film rented exclusively because there was the incredible Brigitte Fossey - remember, Patrick, the girl in the Forbidden Games?

Also - having Sophie Marceau didn't hurt either.

Both films do share a lot of common elements in their humanistic aspirations and both represent good - and I cringe somewhat saying that - family viewing. Both you can rent with no fear if you love films about what is still considered "normal" in life.