English title: Time Out
Genre: psychological drama
Director: Laurent Cantet
Release: 2001
Studio: Haut et Court, Arte France Cinéma et al. – ThinkFilm
Rating: PG-13
MBiS score: 8.4/10
Another Day, Another Dollar
When you’ve got Vincent (Aurélien Recoing) on the phone, he will strike you as a persuasive businessman, a consummate professional and, above all, a man who cannot fail. You’d never guess that he is talking to you not from a corner office but from a parking lot… and that he has been laid off weeks ago by his firm. With Karin Viard (Muriel, Vincent's wife), Serge Livrozet (Jean-Michel Chabrier) and Jean-Pierre Mangeot (Vincent's father).
The Romand legal case, which caused quite a stir in Europe, generated two concurrent movies at the beginning of this decade. One of them, L’ADVERSAIRE, is a faithful account of what happened while L’EMPLOI DU TEMPS is a work of fiction inspired by the case. If I ever find the time, I will review L’ADVERSAIRE but I can tell you straight away that, in mood and in entertainment value, it does not match Laurent Cantet’s scintillating small film.
No joshing… L’EMPLOI DU TEMPS is that good. It needs no more than ten minutes to draw you in and, from then on, you will fall under Vincent’s spell as completely as any of his contacts. As he builds on his big lie with skill and doggedness, you may even worry for him but, quite frankly, your concern won’t matter much to this sphinx-like man. Where will his machinations lead him? I’d love to tell you but you won’t enjoy the movie as much. Pick up Cantet’s low-key thriller to find out… and expect a few surprises along the way.
Production values are solid in L’EMPLOI DU TEMPS. Its crisp and cold visuals pleased me throughout, especially those extended driving scenes on the highway, and its cast also convinced me, with Aurélien Recoing as a standout. Overall, it’s tough to comment on a movie as tight, gripping and mesmerizing as this one.
Allow me one final word of caution before you reach for L’EMPLOI DU TEMPS: you may feel queasy while watching it. This haunting film about anxiety and the modern workplace depicts horror without blood, a financial predator on the prowl, a disaster in the making. Be thankful you’re not one of Vincent’s victims but, at the same time, blame Cantet for casting you as an innocent bystander.
MBiS
© 2009 – All rights reserved
No comments:
Post a Comment