The Age of Commercialism

Perfect cast and a good story

A great movie, one of the best of this year. There was a bit of confusion at one point in the plot, but nothing serious.

The acting in this movie is really good.

One of the rare instances when the music composer is the hero. This is Morricone's film. his famous tune "Chi Mai" is played in many scenes and it lifts many ordinary ones to another level.On the surface, the film is like a tongue in cheek revenge drama. Belmondo plays a French Rambo who is sent to an African nation to assassinate its leader. But he is hung out to dry by the French intelligence services and is jailed following a public trial. After a dramatic escape from an African slave camp, Belmondo returns to France to take revenge on the people who betrayed him.But if you look closely, the film is an odd mix of many genres. It is not just an action film. Sure, there is a spaghetti western style shoot out, a pulsating car chase and some seriously violent action. The women are all objects of sex who want to sleep with Belmondo or get coffee for the superiors. But it is also a satire about the incompetence of French intelligence agencies and how the leaders of first world countries and third world countries are in bed with each other. At one point, a French intelligence agent remarks irritably about a countryside mansion (where an African leader and his prostitute are residing) - "Why are we deploying such a large police force to protect this whorehouse?" The gritty and violent beginning in Africa, is at odds with Belmondo's adventures in France. It is not a bad film. I'm sure there is a context which I don't really get because I'm no expert on French politics and foreign policy.Belmondo is awesome. He must have been pretty old when he made this, but he was really pumped up. The women are all nice eye candy. There is even a lesbian torturer who tries to move in on Belmondo's wife only to get a karate chop on her neck.But like I said at the beginning, the real hero of this film is good old Ennio.

Jean Paul Belmondo at his cynical, swaggering best as a secret service man who is deserted by his country when he attempts to assassinate an African dictator. Escaping after two years in prison doing hard labour, he returns to France to plot his revenge on his bosses and the ruthless African politician. Some suspension of disbelief required as he dodges the Secret Service out to get him - including a masochistic Special Action Squad officer called Rosen - and in his various dealings with three women - his wife, mistress, and a high class call girl, who, in typically French-only fashion, swoon as soon as he comes near them! He beds two out of three while turning down the third! The action is pretty good, including a high speed car chase around well known Paris, which stands comparison with 'Bullitt.' How Belmondo manages to escape the traps set for him are clever set pieces, and a shoot out duel with Rosen to the insistent Morricone score is pure 'Dollar' movie. A likable fast moving romp with a few political sly comments thrown in, and you should enjoy this.

This spy movie packs thrills , emotion , exciting action scenes , good performances , spectacular car chases, and a moving finale . Belmondo steals the show , as he runs , bound and leaps ; he jumps over buildings , cars and executes his own stunts . It concerns a French secret agent named Joss Baumont (Jean Paul Belmondo) is sent to one of the African countries to murder president Njala . However, at the last moment the political climate turns and his superiors decide to sell him to the new African regime ; as the French secret service deals with the African authorities , Joss is double-crossed and condemned to a long-term imprisonment , two years of hard labor . After a daring getaway he goes back to his country and deliberately communicates his previous bosses of his presence promising them to kill Njala (Pierre Saintoins) who has just arrived in France with the official visit . And so begins the manhunt , including Le Ministre (Jean Desailly) , Chief of Police, and Military Adviser . Belmondo being relentlessly chased by his former superiors and a tough agent (Robert Hossein) , while he attempts to see his wife (Elisabeth Margoli) and lover (Cyrielle Clair) .This is an intriguing film that contains noisy action , suspense , thrills , car chases and may other things . Belmondo sports an inimitable smile while shots and kills ; as usual he combines action with comic episodes . The highlights result to be a dueling filmed in Western-showdown style between Belmondo and Robert Hossein , furthermore a suspenseful ending . Enjoyable acting by main star names , Jean Paul Belmondo and Robert Hossein . Belmondo steals the spectacle , as usual at the time , he runs , bound and leaps ; Belmondo makes as his own stunts as well as Jackie Chan , he jumps over buildings, climbs walls , drives rapidly automobiles , including those of the car chase on The Trocadero Plaza . Belmondo asked his father Paul Belmondo to help with the authorizations needed to perform the famous car chase scene . Jean-Paul always performed all the stunts himself but ceased to do so after the accident during the filming of ¨Hold Up¨(1985) . Strong and agreeable secondary cast such as Jean Desailly , Cyrielle Clair and Elisabeth Margoni , among others . Interesting and thrilling screenplay by the prestigious Michael and Jacques Audiard based on a novel by Patrick Alexander . Colorful cinematography by Henri Decae , considered to be one of the best French cameramen , shot on location in Camargue, Bouches-du-Rhône, France (Africa scenes) and Château De Ferrières, Ferrières, Seine-et-Marne, France . Wonderful musical score by the classic Ennio Morricone , including emotive leitmotif . Released years before this film, Ennio Morricone's musical theme "Chi Mai" was never intended to be used for cinema. After hearing it on the radio however, Jean-Paul Belmondo was so impressed that he suggested it should be put into the soundtrack of his film. Ultimately, the record of this musical score was not only more successful than its initial release but came to be one of Morricone's bestselling work . The picture was successful at box office , ranking 4th highest grossing movie of its year in Franc e. Broke the 300,000 admissions mark in Paris ; a record at the time . The motion picture was well directed by Georges Lautner . He was an expert on comedy and action genre , and realized various vehicles for famous and tough French actors ,such as Alain Delon (Twisted detective , Les Seins De Glace), Michael Constantin (These was once a cop , Man in the trunk , Take it easy is a waltz) and of course, Jean Paul Belmondo (Cop or hood , Le Guignolo , Joyeuses Paques , Le Professional) . Rating : 6 , acceptable film for Jean Paul Belmondo fans and action aficionados .

I saw this film when I was very young, at the cinema, and still remembered the glorious ending. This film is perfect in its genre. Like a 007 but with heart, sociological undertones and humour.Like when the big bosses of the system look at the city from above their crystal palaces, and the first people who help our hero are the clochards/ beggars. Which are no saints, but whose materialism "what is it there for me?" seems honorable by comparison to the chiefs.Of course Belmondo is the best, and Morricone's score can't be improved. The script by Jacques Audiard has not one word that should't be there, like Poe's famous dictum.The passage of time: This film didn't loose any power with time. On the contrary, I feel it wouldn't be possible to make it now. Maybe it was the simple technology, the vague appeal to honour, and the political incorrectness. Like when Beaumont's chief, the hooker and cops speak of the president of an African state as "le negre".Josselin has a way with words, with people and strategically. Instructor Picard goes to the point when says that "he's got the whites" = always takes the initiative. This film is about mental games when outnumbered and out resourced. As such, it could be given in a course of strategy.Whereas its imitators rely on the action scenes like "Bourne identity", riches and gadgets (007) here life is mean and meaningless. Even a genius like Beaumont can achieve little against a corrupt and inefficient system.Somebody could make a study of the use of the telescopic lenses on the rifle. He who has it wins? Not necessarily so! But the three times it's being used, people fall like flies, like if death didn't inflict any pain.Morals: Beaumont has no friends, and he barely believes in his wife or his mistress, let alone his "friend". His nemesis, Le président N'Jala, is pragmatical as him, but follows some codes: "I didn't kill you because I wanted to exchange you for something". As is Robert Hossein as Le commissaire Rosen. Somebody as hard boiled as himself, no less. The "prisonnier évadé" also has moral. As, paradoxically, Doris Frederiksen, the stunning prostitute (I can't say more, but the ending proves it). I'd liked more character development of Jeanne Baumont and Salvatore Volfoni, his pal. Rosen always drawing sketches, at important meetings or when interviewing his wife, proves he cared for nobody, it was just another way of showing his superiority (in his perspective). Like when he said of Volfoni, whom he just used as a bait, "I pity him".I agree with IMDb's reviewer from Bochum, Germany that: "Today no one makes movies like this any more...". I was thinking about who could impersonate Joss now? Matt Damon in "The Bourne identity", as suggested by Amazon reviewer Hiram Gomez Pardo? Bradd Pitt :)? Definitely time doesn't always bring about progress...PS: Everyone will have its favourite quote with such a film. Mine probably would be the Instructor Picard again when he extols his pupils' virtues: "I'd like my son to be like him" and Le ministre, still insomniac, answer: "Ok, very moving, but it doesn't solve our problem".