Le Boulet (2002)
Directed by Alain Berbérian, Frédéric Forestier

Film 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.

Film Synopsis

Moltès, a rough gangster type serving a long prison stretch for murdering a police informer, has developed a cosy rapport with his warder, Francis Reggio.  Despite his criminal history, Moltès has a far more sensitive nature than his warder and ends up acting as his relationship councillor.  In return, Reggio agrees to validate his prisoner's weekly lottery ticket.  As luck would have it, Moltès wins the lottery - an incredible 15 million - just when he is about to be released from prison.  Unfortunately, the only person who knows where to find the winning lottery ticket is Reggio's girlfriend, Pauline, and she has just gone off to Africa to attend a desert rally in the capacity of a nurse.

Taking advantage of his warder's absence, Moltès escapes from prison and makes a beeline for Reggio's place, arriving just in time to prevent his friend - heartbroken at Pauline's desertion - from killing himself.  The two men agree to join forces and head off for Africa to recover Pauline and the missing lottery ticket.  Little do they know that they have a dangerous enemy on their tail - a sadistic killer known as the Turk, who intends punishing Moltès for murdering his brother.  The Turk proves to be a persistent opponent, and when he takes Pauline hostage Moltès has no choice but to surrender his passport to wealth.  Whereas Reggio turns out to be a dead loss, Moltès finds he has a resourceful ally in his spunky girlfriend...