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Review
With some spectacular special effects (including a stunning car chase and an imaginative
disaster movie sequence set in the centre of Paris), some great comedy and a sublime cast
of established actors, Le Boulet ought to be a first-rate film, combining traditional
French comedy with American style action adventure. There are certainly echoes of
earlier French classics, with Gérard Lanvin and Benoît Poelvoorde forming
a comic duo which is reminiscent of the legendary Gérard Depardieu-Pierre Richard
partnership in films such as La
Chèvre. Yet, despite its impressive production values and glossy
feel, Le Boulet doesn’t quite make the grade, neither as an action film, nor as
a comedy. It has some moments of brilliance – and it is certainly worth watching
the film for these – but overall the film leaves the impression that it could have been
a lot better.
On the plus side, and the main reason for watching the film, is the comic rapport between Gérard Lanvin and Benoît Poelvoorde. Both actors give great value, with Lanvin offering a brilliant caricature of the tough yet sympathetic Belmondo-esque action hero so beloved by cinema audiences in the 1970s. Benoît Poelvoorde is obviously the latest incarnation of Francis Veber’s eponymous downtrodden, inept hero, Monsieur Pignon (last seen in Le Placard ). If only the duo had been given better material, they would have had us rolling in aisles. The only reason why Le Boulet works as well as it does is because of the contribution from these two actors. If there is any justice in the world, another kindly film producer will allow us the pleasure of a further Poelvoorde-Lanvin rematch in the near future. The rest of the cast offer further surprises and help to keep afloat what would otherwise have been a doomed venture. Barely recognisable beneath heavy makeup and dreadlocks, José Garcia is astonishing as the film’s villain, a gun crazy killer named "The Turk" (most definitely not "The Kurd"). Garcia throws himself into the part and gives the film much of its manic energy and comic book feel, once again showing that he is an actor of huge versatility and talent. He makes a memorable duo with his silent seven foot tall bodyguard (played by Gary Tiplady), who is an oddly sympathetic version of the Jaws character from the James Bond films. Plaudits must also go to the film’s supporting actors, notably Rossy de Palma, Gérard Darmon and Jamel Debbouze. © James Travers 2003 Write a review for this film...User Comments
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Director:
Alain Berbérian, Frédéric Forestier
Starring: Gérard Lanvin, Benoît Poelvoorde, José Garcia, Djimon Hounsou, Rossy de Palma Synopsis
A hardened gangster, Moltès, is dutifully serving a prison sentence for killing
a police informer. His prison warder, Francis Reggio, appeals to him for relationship
advice and, in return, he validates his weekly lottery tickets. Shortly before Moltès
is due to be released, his lottery number comes up: he has won 15 million. Unfortunately,
the whereabouts of the winning lottery ticket is known only to Reggio’s girlfriend, Pauline
- but she has just set out for Africa, to work as a nurse on a desert rally.
Having escaped from prison, Moltès confronts Reggio and forces him to accompany
him to Africa to recuperate the missing lottery ticket. Meanwhile, Moltes’ sadistic
archenemy, the Turk, is close on their trail, determined to repay Moltès for killing
his brother...
Credits
 More French Comedy |
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