Gainsbourg (2010)

Gainsbourg tells the story of Serge Gainsbourg (born Lucien) and how he became a famous musician and sex symbol (apparently).  The thing is, I didn't care.  When I've watched other films concerning characters that I’ve known little if anything about, I've immediately wanted to know more about them; eg Walk the Line, Mesrine or A Royal Affair.  However with Gainsbourg I would not like to know more, in response to the Starship Troopers question.  I actually thought the young Lucien had a far more interesting story, and could had watched a film all about him, (the kid was a more dynamic actor too).

The structure of the film is all a jumble.  Suddenly he was married?  Who to?  Then later he's married to someone else - oh they're his kids are they?  Then suddenly he's in Jamaica?  Now I'm all for non linear plots, but this just felt very messy and confusing.  Because of these seemingly random events the film is boring and lethargic at best.  And I really didn't know what the Frank Sidebottom character was all about.  But, well, you know, that’s just, like, er, my opinion, man.

The Extraordinary Adventures of Adèle Blanc-Sec (2010)

Luc Besson's film about a woman who travels to Egypt to dig up a Mummy (a doctor) with the idea to bring it back to Paris for resurrection so it can cure her sister (who is currently in a vegetative state following a tragic tennis accident), is kooky in the way that only a French film can be; but perhaps not enough to be that memorable.  I never felt invested in the titular character Adèle or what happened to her sister, and when Adèle went flying through Paris on a Pterodactyl that had been brought to life, the film went from kooky to a bit silly.  There was some obligatory love interest and some "humour" involving a group of inept policemen, but none of the peripheral characters were engaging either.  There is the kernel of an interesting story, I just think it should have been developed a bit more, along with the characters.  In which case The Extraordinary Adventures of Adèle Blanc-Sec could have been a more memorable film, as it is, I'm struggling to think of anything else to say as I can't remember much about it!  But, well, you know, that’s just, like, er, my opinion, man.

Tell No One (2006)

While Alexandre is on holiday with his wife Margot in a cabin on a lake, Margot mysteriously disappears. When her father IDs a body as Margot’s, Alexandre is stricken with grief, but the case is closed. Now 8 years later Alexandre receives an email with a link to a live video feed showing Margot healthy and very much alive, and the message: Tell No one.

So begins an enjoyable thriller as Alexandre tries to find out the truth about what happened 8 years ago. It is an enjoyable film, the highlight of which is a very spectacular car crash. Unfortunately, when the final truth comes it is an over-complicated stodgy explanation that involves too many characters, and ultimately is not satisfying. There are some nice touches, like the tree Alexandre always re-visits in his mind that is of sentimental relevance; until he is finally reunited there with his wife. However it is the complicated exposition that for me prevents this film from being a really cool French thriller.