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L'Appartement Reviews

1995 Certificate 15
  • Rated:
  • 70
  • from 8224 members

Director Gilles Mimouni's first feature film is a stylish suspense thriller that confounds the audience while presenting them with an extraordinary and elusive mystery. Vincent Cassel stars as Max, a former playboy who has decided to settle down by marrying his current love, Muriel. However, during a business trip, Max catches .. Read more

Starring Vincent Cassel, Romane Bohringer, Jean-Philippe Ecoffey, Monica Bellucci
Director Gilles Mimouni
Genres Thriller, World Cinema

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  • Critics' reviews (2) of L'Appartement

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  • 4 stars out of 5

    One of the most visually audacious French films of the 1990s, this intricate thriller clearly owes debts to Hitchcock and Truffaut. But debut director Gilles Mimouni isn't just a cinematic magpie, as these homages are all part of the ingenious way in which he makes us identify with Vincent Cassel's high-flying executive as he's duped into a web of deceit and desire after becoming suspicious about the reappearance of a long-vanished girlfriend. Each icon, each flashback draws him deeper into the mystery and we follow, less because we want to solve the puzzle, than because we've been spellbound by the dazzling imagery.

    • Radio Times
  • A chance encounter in a Paris café puts young exec Max (Cassel) on the trail of the girl he loved and lost. He bids... read more on Time Out

    • Time Out
  • Most helpful members' reviews (3) of L'Appartement

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  • 25 out of 27 people found this review helpful

    Rated - 5 stars

    Another example of French cinema at it's best...

    This is without doubt, one of the finest European films of the 1990's. Vincent Cassel is on top form here as he plays Max, who becomes entranced by a beautiful woman only to become trapped in anothers web. This is a classic love story tragedy, with an brilliant plot and excellent performances from Cassel and Belluci

    This is a must-see, and yet again proves the mastery of French film-making over everyone else

      • Damian McMahon from Ireland
  • 16 out of 19 people found this review helpful

    Rated - 4 stars [Highly rated reviewer]

    Not a masterpiece but a superior thriller nevertheless

    Vincent Cassel storming his way through another film deespite that somewhat gormless look that comes naturally to him. Very much a French-do-Hitchcock and it was an interesting attempt even if it doesn't quite come off.

    Despite the Hitchcock influence/homage I think the film was strong enough as a story to stand on its own as a thriller and although the references are very strong and it could have been deemed to be a rip-off if they hadn't made the homages so strong, I think it would have been better to go with a more modern score to reflect the characters. In that way I don't think the score matched up with the characters in the film.

    Unusually for a French film I also thought that some of the scenes weren't shot that well, mainly the outside shots but that's a minor point when you consider their impact on the film.

    Overall the story was very good with what I thought was an excellent ending. A thriller no doubt but it was a thriller intertwined with an underlying sense of passion and love which is what pushes it just above an average thriller.

      • McClennan from St Helens
  • 13 out of 14 people found this review helpful

    Rated - 5 stars

    A slice of French perfection

    This is one of those rare movies where everything works. The script is intelligent, the acting faultless, it looks absolutely marvellous and this being a mystery, keeps twisting and turning keeping you riveted.

    An exceptional mystery drama about obsessive love that plays like a thriller.

    Cannot recommend high enough. Sheer class. Oh, and Bellucci has never looked better.

      • Steamcarrot from East Yorkshire
  • Most recent members' reviews (2) of L'Appartement

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  • 1 out of 1 person found this review helpful

    Rated - 4 stars

    Watch it!

    If you've seen wicker park then this will ring a bell! it is the movie wicker park is based on.

    however The ending is completely different so even if you have seen it check out l'appartement, it is worth it!

    vincent cassel shows us a very different side to his acting from La Haine to that!

      • A customer from sussex
  • 16 out of 19 people found this review helpful

    Rated - 4 stars [Highly rated reviewer]

    Not a masterpiece but a superior thriller nevertheless

    Vincent Cassel storming his way through another film deespite that somewhat gormless look that comes naturally to him. Very much a French-do-Hitchcock and it was an interesting attempt even if it doesn't quite come off.

    Despite the Hitchcock influence/homage I think the film was strong enough as a story to stand on its own as a thriller and although the references are very strong and it could have been deemed to be a rip-off if they hadn't made the homages so strong, I think it would have been better to go with a more modern score to reflect the characters. In that way I don't think the score matched up with the characters in the film.

    Unusually for a French film I also thought that some of the scenes weren't shot that well, mainly the outside shots but that's a minor point when you consider their impact on the film.

    Overall the story was very good with what I thought was an excellent ending. A thriller no doubt but it was a thriller intertwined with an underlying sense of passion and love which is what pushes it just above an average thriller.

      • McClennan from St Helens
  • 25 out of 27 people found this review helpful

    Rated - 5 stars

    Another example of French cinema at it's best...

    This is without doubt, one of the finest European films of the 1990's. Vincent Cassel is on top form here as he plays Max, who becomes entranced by a beautiful woman only to become trapped in anothers web. This is a classic love story tragedy, with an brilliant plot and excellent performances from Cassel and Belluci

    This is a must-see, and yet again proves the mastery of French film-making over everyone else

      • Damian McMahon from Ireland
  • 16 out of 19 people found this review helpful

    Rated - 4 stars [Highly rated reviewer]

    Not a masterpiece but a superior thriller nevertheless

    Vincent Cassel storming his way through another film deespite that somewhat gormless look that comes naturally to him. Very much a French-do-Hitchcock and it was an interesting attempt even if it doesn't quite come off.

    Despite the Hitchcock influence/homage I think the film was strong enough as a story to stand on its own as a thriller and although the references are very strong and it could have been deemed to be a rip-off if they hadn't made the homages so strong, I think it would have been better to go with a more modern score to reflect the characters. In that way I don't think the score matched up with the characters in the film.

    Unusually for a French film I also thought that some of the scenes weren't shot that well, mainly the outside shots but that's a minor point when you consider their impact on the film.

    Overall the story was very good with what I thought was an excellent ending. A thriller no doubt but it was a thriller intertwined with an underlying sense of passion and love which is what pushes it just above an average thriller.

      • McClennan from St Helens
  • 13 out of 14 people found this review helpful

    Rated - 5 stars

    A slice of French perfection

    This is one of those rare movies where everything works. The script is intelligent, the acting faultless, it looks absolutely marvellous and this being a mystery, keeps twisting and turning keeping you riveted.

    An exceptional mystery drama about obsessive love that plays like a thriller.

    Cannot recommend high enough. Sheer class. Oh, and Bellucci has never looked better.

      • Steamcarrot from East Yorkshire
  • 12 out of 15 people found this review helpful

    Rated - 0 stars

    No Subtitles

    There are no English subtitles on this film, although it says subtitles in English on the listing. What a shame!!

      • A customer from Basildon, England
  • 13 out of 19 people found this review helpful

    Rated - 1 star

    No subtitles

    I was very excited to see this DVD, but was sorely disappointed to find that there were no English subtitles! All the menu titles and even the cast biographies were in English funnily enough, but the actual film required you to be a French speaker to understand. I'm sure it's a great film, just didn't manage to understand a word of it.

      • yaoer from Middlesex
  • 10 out of 10 people found this review helpful

    Rated - 5 stars

    A really excellent thriller

    A fantastic film. The events unfold at a pace which guarantees to keep you hooked until the very last scene. The storyline is refreshingly unpredictable and original. Thoroughly enjoyable.

      • A customer from Sheffield
  • 10 out of 10 people found this review helpful

    Rated - 4 stars

    A french classic

    This is the type of film you can watch again and again. There's so much to enjoy. The plot comes together like a perfect jigsaw. The performances are all brilliant, especially Bohringer, who creates such a sympathetic, complex character. It looks good too.

    Is there really an American remake. When will they learn, you can't improve on perfection?

      • Minimart from Merseyside
  • 7 out of 7 people found this review helpful

    Rated - 5 stars

    Very Good

    This is a good film. Thats all you need to know. Great acting, absorbing atmosphere and excellent twists. There are some wallys on this website arent there? The ones who complain about there being no subtitles. If they dont automatically come up, switch them on in the menu screen. You tools.

      • A customer from London
  • 7 out of 8 people found this review helpful

    Rated - 4 stars [Highly rated reviewer]

    Bonjour L'Appartement

    French love movies are great. You can stalk people, stare at strangers, fall in love three time in as many hours, burn ex's clothes in bath tubs, behave irrationally, lie, drink coffee, drink more coffee, and argue with big nosed men 24 hours a day with no-one questioning any of your actions.

    L'Appartement is exactly one of those movies and it's great. How couldn't it be?

    Bellucci and Vassell are electric as per usual, and the clever unravelling narrative is compelling as the real story slowly reveals itself.

    A great love story watch it with your partner. Or give it to them to keep them happy whilst you go down the pub.

    Tres bon.

    • Owen
      • Owen from Clapham
  • 6 out of 7 people found this review helpful

    Rated - 5 stars

    Great twisting storyline

    This is one of the best structured film plots i have seen for a long time. Many of the bad reviews are due to the lack of subtitles - so if you do not speak French and have the subtitles then you are in for a delight. The story builds throughout the film, excellent, and highly rated.

      • Clicknick from Henley-on-Thames
  • Critics' reviews (2)

  • 4 stars out of 5

    One of the most visually audacious French films of the 1990s, this intricate thriller clearly owes debts to Hitchcock and Truffaut. But debut director Gilles Mimouni isn't just a cinematic magpie, as these homages are all part of the ingenious way in which he makes us identify with Vincent Cassel's high-flying executive as he's duped into a web of deceit and desire after becoming suspicious about the reappearance of a long-vanished girlfriend. Each icon, each flashback draws him deeper into the mystery and we follow, less because we want to solve the puzzle, than because we've been spellbound by the dazzling imagery.

    • Radio Times
  • A chance encounter in a Paris café puts young exec Max (Cassel) on the trail of the girl he loved and lost. He bids... read more on Time Out

    • Time Out

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    • L'Appartement
      Director Gilles Mimouni's first feature film is a stylish suspense thriller that confounds the audience while presenting them with an extraordinary and elusive mystery. Vincent Cassel stars as Max, a former playboy who has decided to settle down by marrying his current love, Muriel. However, during ...

Rating breakdown

8,224 Member ratings
  • 100
807
  • 90
793
  • 80
1,792
  • 70
1,618
  • 60
1,423
  • 50
745
  • 40
451
  • 30
241
  • 20
242
  • 10
112

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