Femme infidèle (la)

English title: The Unfaithful Wife

Genre: marital drama  

With: Stéphane Audran (Hélène), Michel Bouquet (Charles Desvallées), Stephen Di Napolo (Michel), Maurice Ronet (Victor Pegala), Michel Duchaussoy (Duval), Guy Marly (Gobet)

Director: Claude Chabrol

Release: 1968

Studio: Cinegai S.p.A., Les Films de la Boétie

Rating: -

MBiS score: 8.1/10    

A Living Room, a Statuette, a Fit of Anger  

QuickView

Story-line: Hélène and Charles live in a magnificent house, are happy together and dearly love their son Michel. But is their marriage as perfect as it seems?

Pluses: sparkling dialogues and acting, a fresh take on infidelity, excellent pacing, odd touches here and there (it’s a Chabrol, n’est-ce pas?).

Minuses: none really.

Comments: some movies waste no time in drawing you in… and this is exactly what LA FEMME INFIDÈLE manages to do. Marvel at Claude Chabrol’s measured, psychology-driven filmmaking. Quality entertainment for movie buffs!

MBiS

© 2016 – All rights reserved

Fils (le)

English title: The Son

Genre: psychological drama

With: Olivier Gourmet (Olivier), Isabella Soupart (his ex-wife Magali), Morgan Marinne (Francis), Jimmy Deloof (Dany) and Anne Gérard (Dany’s mother).

Directors: Luc and Jean-Pierre Dardenne

Release: 2002

Studio: NewYorker Films

Rating: - 

MBiS score: 8.2/10

Too Young To Know Better. Too Old To Forget.

QuickView

Story-line: a quiet man who teaches woodworking to juvenile delinquents has trouble dealing with a new student.   

Pluses: a sober treatment well-suited to the subject matter (no music… not even during the opening credits!), a meticulous and sensible screenplay, tight editing and camera work (notice how Olivier is often filmed from behind… feel all that stiffness in his neck), a masterful buildup of tension.

Minuses: none whatsoever.

Comments: over the years, the Dardenne brothers have become Cannes Festival favourites for one simple reason: they make excellent movies. LE FILS, a compelling drama set in Belgium, showcases yet again their talent and storytelling prowess. This low-budget, high-value production is well worth your time. See it!  

MBiS

© 2016 – All rights reserved

Husbands

Genre: comedy drama

With: Ben Gazzara (Harry), Peter Falk (Archie Black), John Cassavetes (Gus Dimitri), Jenny Runacre (Mary Tynan), Meta Shaw (Annie, Harry’s wife).

Director: John Cassavetes

Release: 1970

Studio: Columbia TriStar Motion Picture Group, Sony Pictures Releasing

Rating: PG-13

MBiS score: 8.4/10

Three Loons on a Lark

QuickView

Story-line: when Stuart passes away, his friends Harry, Archie and Gus take time off to reminisce and chase their blues away.

Pluses: amazingly natural performances by the three leads, an original and very talky screenplay by John Cassavetes, juicy dialogues, one unbelievable 12-minute scene in a toilet stall, splendid photography by Victor J. Kemper.

Minuses: the movie made me laugh so hard I was exhausted in the end.   

Comments: although it contains a few dramatic and even harrowing scenes, HUSBANDS has little in common with Lawrence Kasdan’s THE BIG CHILL. Cassavetes’ film is mostly a comedy… and one so hilarious the actors often crack up while delivering their lines. You’ll love HUSBANDS for its frank depiction of friendship, regret, personal tragedies and minor victories. As for those body odours… well… don’t ask!

MBiS

© 2016 – All rights reserved