The Blue Room

R

Released Oct 3, 2014

1 hr. 16 min.

Mystery & Thriller

List

89%

80 Reviews

Tomatometer

50%

1,000+ Ratings

Audience Score

Following an adulterous tryst, a man (Léa Drucker) finds himself under investigation for an unknown crime.

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Critics Consensus

The Blue Room proves a sobering study of the dark side of human nature, as well as a coolly assured directorial effort from star and co-writer Mathieu Amalric.

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Jake J

Spoilers ahead. Do not read if you have not seen the film. The little suspense here is created by manipulating time and witholding information instead of through the complexities or cleverness of the characters, or the crime itself. And the basic situation is simply a faint shadow of Patricia Highsmith's "Strangers on a Train." Because the plot is so thin, the film also leans heavily on the sexual and romantic relationship, predictably swelling music, and shots of the wallpaper in the shabby-chic blue room where they meet. The thinly developed characters hardly help. Because the film tries hard to seem like a good crime movie, constantly feeding us details and pieces of the not-very-complex or interesting jigsaw puzzle, it forgets to tell much about the characters--we learn their jobs, their family siuations, and that they meet for their affair, and that they are in love, and that's about it. They are types, instead of people. Yet, strangely, it's a French film that seems to want to be seen as a French film, but doesn't know much about plotting or character development. They kill for love, but it's hard to care. And it's hard to believe. As the female lead says at one point "People file for divorce every day." Exactly. So why didn't they do just that instead of killing their spouses? Greed? The woman's mother-in-law makes that accusation in her one five-second appearance on the screen,, but we never see if that is true. Perhaps the director or screenwirter for this adaptaion is young and writing for a young audience who will see this as complex compared to the usual superhero film. All in all, this is a film that wants to be big and romantic and sad, but it's simply too thin.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

04/02/19

Full Review

Audience Member

The movie is slow but told with flashbacks and short vignettes - each of which adds another piece to the puzzle. Think of this as a jigsaw puzzle you are sort of interested in but will continue to work on it until it is done. Don't give the outcome too much thought althought I did. Even in the legal system of France, there would be insufficient evidence to prosecute the main characters and there is someone else who has much clearer motive and means yet is not under investigation. It's a short film but worth watching. Especially with people who like to talk about "who dun it" books and movies.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

01/15/23

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Audience Member

The story unravels brilliantly but the ending is delivered poor. Well worth a watch though.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

01/20/23

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andrey k

A bit chaotic and hard to follow, not because of its complicated plot, but of its unnecessarily frantic editing. The story is quite simple and on my opinion could have been executed better.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Inconsequential self important Gone Girl lite

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

02/16/23

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Audience Member

Kept waiting for a surprise ending that never happened. So stop watching if that's what you are hoping for to save this movie. Wasted my hour and 15 minutes.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

02/07/23

Full Review

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Mathieu Amalric

Director

Léa Drucker

Delphine Gahyde

Mathieu Amalric

Julien Gahyde

Stéphanie Cléau

Esther Despierre

Laurent Poitrenaux

Le juge d'instruction

Serge Bozon

Le capitaine de gendarmerie

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Kate Muir

Times (UK)

In The Blue Room, Mathieu Amalric directs and stars in an updated version of the 1964 Georges Simenon novel about adultery and death in a small town.

Rated: 3/5

Oct 10, 2016

Full Review

Wendy Ide

Observer (UK)

An unfolding police investigation leaves us guessing until the final moment just what exactly happened when an illicit love affair turned bad.

Rated: 3/5

Sep 11, 2016

Full Review

Geoffrey Macnab

Independent (UK)

On the evidence here, former Bond villain Amalric is every bit as accomplished a director as he is an actor.

Rated: 4/5

Sep 9, 2016

Full Review

Diego Batlle

Otroscines.com

For many years we have known that Amalric is one of the best actors in French cinema, but over time we are also confirming that he is also one of the most valuable directors. [Full review in Spanish]

Rated: 4/5

Sep 27, 2023

Full Review

Jason Adams

The Film Experience

Lukewarm when it should boil and tepid when it should chill to the bone

Jul 2, 2021

Full Review

Julian Lytle

Punch Drunk Critics

The Blue Room is very engaging and concise thriller something that works great for the fall season.

Rated: 4/5

Jan 11, 2020

Full Review

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Synopsis

Following an adulterous tryst, a man (Léa Drucker) finds himself under investigation for an unknown crime.

Director: Mathieu Amalric
Screenwriter: Stéphanie Cléau, Mathieu Amalric, Georges Simenon
Distributor: IFC Films
Production Co: Alfama Films Production, arte France Cinéma, Film(s)
Rating: R (Graphic Nudity|Sexual Content)
Genre: Mystery & Thriller
Original Language: French (France)
Release Date (Theaters): Oct 3, 2014, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Apr 2, 2017
Box Office (Gross USA): $239.4K
Aspect Ratio: Academy (1.33:1)

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