Dans Paris Reviews

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Load of tosh

This really is french film at its worse...a lot of moody sitting around , smoking and occasionally having sex. It would be beter if Paris was seen in all its gory but alas it is not. The most exciting thing was the father making soup - I I wanted the recipe!

[Highly rated reviewer]

In with the in crowd

My initial reaction, perhaps a lot of British people’s initial reaction to this film, is to be irritated by it.

It focuses on the beautiful people; smug, self-contained and posturing; they are exclusive and take themselves too seriously. Even when they do go in for self-parody, like the film’s references to Truffaut films, it’s for the cognoscenti only.

Is this why Parisian cars get keyed in the provinces?

But perhaps it’s my problem? Maybe I’m just jealous of their looks and their chic? Or perhaps this is how I’m supposed to react?

So, taking my ego out of the equation, is this film worth watching? It is reasonably entertaining. It can be interesting: Anna’s reasons for splitting with Paul, for example. The amusing bits did raise a smile.

I suppose your reaction to this film depends on whether you consider you are in with the in crowd, or not; or whether you care about such things, or not.

[Highly rated reviewer]

Paintwork

If there's one review you can be guaranteed to find on this site, for whatever film, it's the side-splitting 'you'd be better off watching some paint dry than watch this' variety. Unfortunately, I have to report that I'm resisting the urge to do the same with this trite piece of smug, self-satisfied crap.

It's not that there isn't a story here, it's more that you become inadvertently overwhelmed by the stunning level of vacuity of these bourgeois Parisian morons and their wholly uninteresting travails - which would be fine if that was the point the film appeared to be making - but given it's repulsive narcissism, it doesn't appear to be logically capable of making the point it actually displays. In fact, it's quite hard to know what the film is aiming for as it's such a mish-mash of poorly executed parodies, mixed in with supposedly some sort of meaningful commentary about the nihilism of contemporary life.

The performance of Romain Duras just about manages to raise this wretched film above the fetid sewer from which it emerged; however, I could quite happily strangle the loathsome Louis Garrel with his own poncy scarf, gently emitting a semi-orgasmic sigh as his smug visage is drained of mortality and the world is made a better place for his passing.

Do watch this film if you like being irritated and fancy a challenge - not an intellectual or aesthetic challenge - but rather a challenge to refrain from stopping the film within 20 minutes in a flush or anger, ejecting the disc and repeatedly attacking it with a claw hammer.

Quirky french - enjoyable

I watched this yesterday I have to say i really enjoyed it.

I like the quirkiness of French films and I found that this film coupled that with an interesting story of family relationships and specifically the 2 brothers relationship. The whole family is dealing with a new situation (without giving story away) which unfolds through the film. It doesnt set the world on fire but i certainly finished the film thinking it was good & that i may even watch it again in the future.

good characters, good acting, good but simple story line which unfolds, in a quirky french style.

Go watch it yourself and see what you think.

Truly dreadful

There are some classics of French cinema out there, but this surely isn't one of them. A self-indulgent, depressing narrative about characters which you are guaranteed not to care about. Watch Le Diner de Cons instead to cheer you up!

Cinema Vague - painfully so

Well, we gave this twenty minutes to stop being so pretentious, vague and pointless. It failed. I rented this after being so impressed by Romain Duris's performance in De battre mon coeur s'est arrêté. He was wasted in this self indulgent, pedestrian attempt - Godard Lite and nothing more. If I could choose a minus Star rating I'd give it 4.

[Highly rated reviewer]

Arty Noir Nothing!

Nothing really happens. A kind of moment in time movie. Great acting though from the 3 main male parts.

Typical french emotional wrangle

Quite enjoyed this farce. Had thought we wouldn't bother but then gave it alittle longer and actually thought it was quite good fun and really worth a watch.

Dans Pants

Je suis désolé mais je n'ai pas compris ce film. ... Le pantalons!

superb

Wonderfully esoteric exploration of family life in Paris. Beautifully shot and superbly acted, and utterly utterly convincing. If you like thought provoking passionate drama with an indie feel then this is it.