Hors jeu (1998)
Directed by Karim Dridi

Film Review

Hors jeu is the third feature from Tunisian born director Karim Dridi.  It lacks the originality and weight of his earlier successes, Pigalle and Bye bye and is generally a lacklustre and lumbering affair - but it is not without its plus points.

Apart from some pretty dismal attempts at visual gimmickery (such as the half-hearted drugs trip sequence), this is a disappointingly conventional comedy-drama that carelessly overlooks opportunities provided by the narrative to make it a distinctive and original piece. The second half of the film, in which Ange takes hostages at a dinner party attended by some well-known actors, ought to have been a tour de force, but it ends up looking scrappy - poorly directed and almost totally lacking in humour.  As a result, the film ends like a firework that fails to ignite. There is some fun along the way, but given the calibre of the cast you can't help feeling a little short-changed.

Thankfully, it isn't all bad. What brings the film to life and helps to make it bearable are the enjoyable performances from its two lead actors. Philippe Ambrosini is both sympathetic and disturbing as the traumatised Ange, offering a performance very reminiscent of the great Patrick Dewaere.  However, even he is outshone by the Spanish actress Rossy de Palma, who plays Ange's girlfriend, Concepción.

De Palma should be a familiar face to any fan of Pedro Almodóvar, since she has appeared in several of his films, including La Flor de mi secreto (1995) and Mujeres al borde de un ataque de nervios (1988). Her charismatic presence is the best thing Hors jeu has going for it, and even when she is in the company of such stars as Miou-Miou and Patrick Bruel, she has no difficulty stealing the limelight.  De Palma's unconventional gawkish appearance makes her an unlikely female lead (she looks scarily like the model for a Picasso painting), but her eccentric personality and obvious sex appeal make her totally right for the part she plays in this film.

Film Synopsis

Two out of work actors, Ange and Concepción, meet up during the making of a seedy television commercial.  Having shared magic mushrooms together, they fall in love.  Ange later auditions for the part of a killer in a film but, when he is turned down for the part, he suffers a psychological collapse.  Having acquired a gun, he decides to play out the role of the killer for real...