Film Review
One of France's most successful mainstream film directors, Claude Zidi
frequently dabbled with the
comédie policière
or comedy-thriller genre, most famously with his hugely popular
Ripoux
films starring Philippe Noiret and Thierry Lhermitte.
This is arguably the genre that Zidi dealt most effectively with,
the results being far more satisfying than his earlier
Charlot comedies (
Les Bidasses en folie)
and variable Coluche films (
Banzaï).
Association de malfaiteurs is one of Zidi's most enjoyable offerings
in the comedy-thriller line, not least because it has an excellent cast
and an imaginative, pacy story replete with amusing comic situations.
François Cluzet and Christophe Malavoy bring class and
gravitas to the film, and for two actors who are better known for
their serious dramatic roles, both show a surprising flair for
comedy. Claire Nebout, a former dancer turned actress, has an
arresting presence as the obligatory femme fatale - she would
subsequently attain greater prominence through her roles in two
of the big period pieces of the 1990s:
Edouard Molinaro's
Beaumarchais, l'insolent (1996)
and Philippe de Broca's
Le Bossu (1997).
Admittedly, there are a few places where the plot runs away with itself and
the humour tips over into silliness, but overall
Association de malfaiteurs is an
enjoyable romp - one of Zidi's most entertaining and liveliest films.
© James Travers 2006
The above content is owned by filmsdefrance.com and must not be copied.
Next Claude Zidi film:
Deux (1989)
Film Synopsis
Thierry, Gérard and Francis have all managed to make a success of
their lives but their college friend Daniel only succeeds in getting himself
into trouble with his get rich quick schemes. Again and again, Daniel
has roped his friends into his ill-conceived deals, always with the same
disastrous result. Now it is time for the sensible ones to have some
fun at Daniel's expense, by making him believe he has a winning lottery ticket.
They should have known better. Convinced he is now a rich man, Daniel
gets himself hitched to a dodgy development contract with the unscrupulous
financier Bernard Hassler. As the contract has no escape clause, Daniel's
three friends have no option but to come to his aid - which means stealing
the safe containing the comprising documents. To their surprise, the
safe contains a king's ransom in banknotes. Things go from bad to worse
when Bernard reports the theft of the safe to the police...
© James Travers
The above content is owned by filmsdefrance.com and must not be copied.