Matrixston
Wow! Such a good movie.
Tetrady
not as good as all the hype
Matialth
Good concept, poorly executed.
Glimmerubro
It is not deep, but it is fun to watch. It does have a bit more of an edge to it than other similar films.
writers_reign
For reasons to which I am not privy and which may be no more than pure chance the bulk of Daniele Thompson's screenplays feature ensemble casts and she is a Past Master at the multiple-character, multi-layered storyline. It was not surprising therefore than when she turned to directing she did so with her own screenplay La Buche which centered on three sisters and their disparate lives but also offered strong roles to four semi-leads with a handful of cameos (Isabelle Carre's neurotic wife, for example) for good measure. Thompson returned to the multi-character format in her third (and so far last)writer-director stint, the brilliant Fauteuils d'Orchestre but in between, as if to prove her versatility, she came up with this, essentially two-hander which exploits brilliantly the talents of Juliette Binoche and Jean Reno. Not that she ignores the bigger picture, she does, after all, set her story in an airport and an adjacent hotel allowing a mere five minutes or so of non-airport/hotel screen time at the very end.In a clear nod to the Hollywood epitomized by Billy Wilder she employs a meet-cute to bring the characters together and from then on it's downhill all the way with Thompson's sparkling dialogue slaloming its way to a brilliant finale. Both leads are a revelation and more than up to the task of working outside their 'image' (Binoche is not noted for comedy, Reno for romantic leads) and the obvious chemistry between them is confirmed by the outtakes that come with the DVD. There's a nice line in scenery chewing from Sergio Lopez in a well-placed cameo as the abusive lover from whom Binoche is fleeing and the sure-footedness of the other speaking roles is merely the bow on the ribbon with which Thompson ties her wonderful bauble. Sheer delight.
MartinHafer
This is a creative film with an interesting premise that unfortunately doesn't exactly make sense in how the whole film is resolved in the end. Jean Reno and Juliette Binoche are travelers who are stuck at the airport during both a strike and bad weather. As the film unfolds, the lives of these two strangers intertwines and you slowly begin to see what a mess they have made of their lives. The contrived aspect of this is that the viewer KNOWS exactly where all this is going and it isn't exactly surprising that these two very different people were destined to fall in love--something that if you think about it made no sense at all since they were so different. After all, she is the child of two ardent Communists and he is a self-involved rich Capitalist! So, no matter how good the dialog and acting are, the film is stuck in the average range. It still is worth seeing but is ultimately too predictable to be a better film.FYI--Like many contemporary French films, this one has some very brief nudity, language and adult themes, so think twice before letting your younger kids see this one. It's probably fine for older teens.
jotix100
Danielle Thompson's film about two unlikely lovers is a bit of a puzzle. She has thrown together two of France's best known actors in a film that doesn't have a lot to say. Perhaps she is making a statement about France's frequent strikes that seem to bring would-be-lovers together; perhaps she is telling us that strikes are sexy because there are endless possibilities of naughty things between virtual strangers.Juliette Binoche is practically unrecognizable as Rose, the beautician trying to escape a bad relationship. When she flushes the cellular down the toilet, her luck suddenly changes by asking Felix to use his own phone to finish her call. They keep meeting each other at the crowded terminal where stranded passengers have to wait until the strike is settled, perhaps. Jean Reno, is also playing against type; his usual intensity is gone from the man he is portraying in the movie. Rose with the excessive makeup looks like a lady that entertains private male customers, cash only, please!The film is light, but ultimately we know what is going to happen, so we're a step ahead of Mlle Thompson! The only regret is that Sergi Lopez, the magnificent Spanish actor, is completely wasted as the man Binoche is running away from. Besides, better movies have been made about the subject.This is a film to watch in the middle of a transit strike, only! Who knows, if one is caught up in a French transit strike, one can be lucky and be rewarded with such a delicious prize as Mlle Binoche!
shatguintruo
Impressive how Juliette Binoche isn't aware of the film crew at the movie set!I'll explain: it's not,like,ignoring them: technicians nor the Director, the folks in the film making process. It's just the ability of "entering into the character's skin" and tottaly ignore that she is an actress at a shooting set!Feeling the anguishies and disappointments etc...! Only an artist with rare intelligence and such sensibility can do it! and Juliette Binoche is allthese things... In my opinion she is one of the best actress of the last two decades that came along in the international cinematographic arts.To asseverate my statement note the difference of interpretation in the movies directed by Krzysztof Kieslowski. Whilst Mme.Binoche shows through her "facial mask" the interior anguish that overcome her role. In this movie the difference is simply gigantic: how her physiognonic aspect change: all the frivolity,shallowness are sent out by her expressions! As to the movie, it is a soft comedy,tasty and easy to taste,as the french people can do so well! In a scale one to ten, I give it nine, so much for the masterly interpretation of Mme. Binoche as for Jean Renó's.