The French Guy (2005) Poster

User Reviews

Review this title
7 Reviews
Sort by:
Filter by Rating:
8/10
Bizarre
sweetwoundedjesus30 June 2007
Personally I'm a fan of the Japanese horror genre and others that hold a bizarre nature so usually I'm desensitized to most things. HOWEVER, this movie for lack of a better word, corrupted me. I went from hysterical laughter to cringing confusion and alienation. I feel I wasn't quite prepared for it and it hit me hard. On one side of the fence it's brilliantly done in way of emotional output that it gives to the watcher; but on the other, is confusing and minorly pretentious due to the quickly changing plot and subconscious wonder on my part if I'm missing some kind of metaphor. Either way, it intrigued and effected me. So I suppose it's done it's job.

sorry if the grammatical errors (I'm sure there's many)
4 out of 4 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink
6/10
Not what ANYONE was expecting...
natashabowiepinky2 February 2014
Warning: Spoilers
Unusual. Very, very unusual.

A middle aged lady has just received an operation on her brain to remove something cancerous. They release her early due to a shortage of beds, and on her way home she meets a young drifter with a guitar who's just been kicked out of his flat. She allows him to stay at her place, and he plays some really bad songs for her on his instrument. This somehow charms her enough to give him a smooch, which ends up with her accidentally biting his tongue off. Not wanting to be arrested, she forces him into a closet while he bleeds to death, and kills her flatmate with a pair of scissors when he discovers the stricken dude. And I haven't even got into why everything is covered with plastic, the four piece orchestra in her lounge, the French chef/artist next door...

What kind of warped imagination conjured this lot up I don't know, but taken on it's own merits it's eminently watchable. It's nice to see such an original vision on screen, and the parts are assembled in such a way to keep us guessing with relish what peculiar event will unravel next. Babs Chula plays the part of the confused spinster well, and we can only sympathise with her predicament as everything snowballs out of control. She isn't an evil person, just someone in a very frail frame of mind who never should have been forced to vacate her bed so soon. Sue the authorities dear, they put you in this position... 6/10
1 out of 1 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink
10/10
Truly excellent, unique and unpredictable, not a formula film at all.
kmgordey5 December 2005
"The French Guy" is unique. It is unpredictable, one never knows from one moment to the next what is going to happen. It is funny, gruesome, poignant, and engaging all the way through. The production values are very high. The performances, particularly those of the lead actors, Babz Chula and Tygh Runyan, are compelling. I saw this film at the Whistler Film Festival recently and I imagine it will be touring the festival circuit. I highly recommend that you highlight this one in your program if you come across it or catch it on DVD when it becomes available. It will work well in either medium although I enjoyed the richness of the theater experience. Ann Marie Fleming, the director/writer/producer meets Einstein's definition of a genius. She sees what everyone one else has seen and thinks what no one else has thought. Then she goes and makes this wonderful movie.
7 out of 8 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink
10/10
like Harold and Maude gone way south.
martinacomstock15 February 2008
Tense and witty, The French Guy will have you stuck to the edge of your seat for its duration. You'll laugh and suffer through Elizabeth's (Chula) worst nightmare come true. Fleming provides a hilarious, yet provocative meditation on violence from a female perspective within the context of middle/upper class North America. The French Guy is like Harold and Maude, gone way south.

From Tygh Runyan's performance as an aspiring musician down on his luck and desperate for recognition, to Serge Bennathan's performance as the removed, aesthetically obsessed, culture snob, The French Guy is rich in satirical social commentary.

Anne Marie explores the creative edge by bringing typically non-diegetic sound from a horror soundtrack onto the screen with live musicians. Carefully shot, watching The French Guy is like watching a painter. The plastic covered condo is the canvas, and blood is the paint.

I highly recommend this film.
3 out of 3 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink
10/10
Wow!
alecton9916 November 2005
I've seen this movie twice now. The film starts off peaceful, slow and awkward, but it's only a few minutes into the movie in which you start to realize: "What have I and the main character gotten into?".

The film takes on from that epiphany and does not stop, it's a constant feeling of anticipation, fear, irony, all mixed in with black humor.

A true masterpiece in my opinion, not only is the photography well done, hazy, bright; like you just woke up from a big operation; it also takes you into the recovering brain of this confused and well meaning character, with strange solutions to strange situations, her illogical logic made me really get into her head and... in a way understand what she "tried" to do.

The film is very resourceful also, I just realized that most of the movie takes place inside the home of the character Charles, and you never get bored or tune out.

I highly recommend it, try and get a hold of it or look for it in festival circuits, it truly is worth your while.
5 out of 7 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink
9/10
Real indie film-making
hearnoevil7 December 2005
I saw this film at the Vancouver BC Film Festival, and thoroughly enjoyed it. A high point of the festival.

It's sharp, dark and sarcastic -- and very funny. The director skillfully creates a unique world for her characters that never waivers. With the premise of a woman "just wanting to help" springs a over-the-top gruesome caper flick that makes sense in an extremely odd way. It's also uses everyday themes that we can all relate to -- the film starts with the lead being sent home after major surgery. Plus, the tone is nicely set at the beginning, with the opening shots being ecu's of suturing.

For me, it was this year's "Primer." Hope it shows up in video stores.
3 out of 4 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink
10/10
Kepping mum meets wit
leo_bartels24 February 2008
I have been previewing indie films for the upcoming Okanagan International film fest 2008. I have seen around 20 indies so far and the whole time I was just looking for that one movie that really stood out. The French Guy is that movie I loved every moment of it, from the very serious dramatic beginning to the strange and dark comedy that ensues. I found that as a dark comedy The French Guy was far more serious than most at the same time it never let up with its sens of humour. The acting from every actor and actress was flawless, the directing and writing were perfect original and creative. I believe that if given the chances this could have a very successful DVD release, I hope it gets the attention it deserves. i could write and endless list of praises but Then you would just stop reading so make an effort to find this and take the time to watch it and you Will not be disappointed. May 7/08 the film fest is now over. I was very happy to get the chance to meet Ann Marie Flemming (she is a very Sweet little lady). After having watched this film in a theatre with 50 or so others I am pleased to say I now give it an even more enthusiastic 10/10, it is so much funnier than I had remembered. Nov 14/14. I am so glad that I still have the screening copy of this so I can watch it from time to time (This summer I threw out ever screener I had, over 1000, from my film fest days, except this one) Still no DVD available. Every viewing I am surprised to find that its still a 10/10
2 out of 3 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink

See also

Awards | FAQ | User Ratings | External Reviews | Metacritic Reviews


Recently Viewed