gudaulin

The film is full of famous names that shaped the face of French cinema over the last 50 years, often at the beginning of their stellar careers. However, its interest - and in a way, its importance - lies elsewhere. It adeptly (if unintentionally) captures the transformation that the intellectual left-wing scene underwent since the pivotal protest year of 1968. Originally, the left was a protest movement that opposed the system, aiming to dismantle it or at least radically transform it. Over two decades, the left completely dominated university grounds, with its progressive graduates integrating into the system and gradually becoming the establishment. This brought about a complete transformation not of society itself, but of the themes and approach of the left, which began to accommodate the needs of its affluent and self-assured members. Social and class conflicts receded into the background, making way for ecology, feminism, and minority protection. Jean-Claude and Pierrot are typical heroes of that original anti-system left and representatives of its values. Unconventional, radical, and disregarding traditional morality, they take from people and life what they deem appropriate. The film's director and screenwriter, embodying these characters, views their actions with a kind understanding. They steal a car, and the owner who tries to stop them is depicted as a despicable bourgeois property owner. Women are mere consumer goods for the successful duo, serving exclusively to satisfy their needs. Icons of that era's leftist movement were often self-centered macho men expecting women to admire them and cater to their needs, which is reflected in the film, where women are fascinated by their dominant behavior and allow themselves to be exploited. Depardieu, I believe, never played such a repulsive creature again, despite having numerous negative roles to his name. Regarding the film's cinematic aspects, I see nothing exceptional or deviating from the French film productions of the 1970s. Due to its unpleasant - and from today's perspective, problematic - content, I cannot give it a higher overall impression than 40%.

Fans of Dumas' might not agree, but "The Three Musketeers" is at best "just" period-conditioned consumable reading, excessively naive and heavily romanticized. Directors attempting to adapt the book were aware of its limitations and the resulting risks for today's audience, often opting for exaggeration and comedic stylization. Martin Bourboulon takes a different approach, opting for a "serious" adventure-romantic treatment lined with a star-studded cast and solid production design. It's arguably the "dirtiest" and most raw treatment of the material I've encountered so far. Despite all efforts, it falls short. It encounters similar pitfalls as directors of recent Bond films, trying to imbue their hero with deeper psychology and adding more artistic elements, yet still ending up with an overblown action movie featuring an invincible hero who dispatches scores of opponents without batting an eye. Here, in the confrontation scene with the cardinal's guards, the quartet of heroes handles six times the numerical superiority without a scratch (and moreover, in a disadvantageous situation of surprise and encirclement!). The action fight scenes are mostly shot in a confusing manner, but the positives clearly outweigh the negatives. Eva Green as Milady and Vincent Cassel as Athos are reliable highlights. Overall impression: 80%.

Incorrect, caustic to sarcastic humor, crazy situations, and above all, entertaining characters that quickly draw you into the world of illegal bookies and their clients with varying degrees of gambling addiction. If you ever had any illusions about the human species, you'll quickly forget them under the influence of what you see. It's mostly about human weaknesses and money, but now and then it gets grittier and becomes a matter of life and death. No mercy is shown for people at the bottom of society or for making corpses, because it's a dirty business and Ray and Danny certainly aren't small players with a pitiful nature; they wouldn't survive in that cruel world. Cold-blooded pragmatism, calculation, and ingenuity are what keep the successful duo on course, while their dangerous opponents meet an ignominious end. I enjoyed every episode and firmly hope that the second season will maintain the high standard. Overall impression: 90%.