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Rivals

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Rivals

2008

1h 46m

Action

Crime

Drama

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

69%

Tomatometer

13 Reviews

43%

Popcornmeter

250+ Ratings

François (Guillaume Canet) is a young detective hoping to find a group of bank robbers before they stage their next heist. Though he's ambitious, he's poorly regarded by the rest of the police force, and his relationship with a convict's wife isn't helping matters. Now his life is complicated even further as his older brother, Gabriel (François Cluzet), is released from prison. Though Gabriel has pledged to go straight, the temptations of his former life make it a difficult promise to keep.

Critics Consensus

Atmospheric, 1970s set, French crime drama delivers hard-bitten dialogue and impressive wigs.

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Rosamund Witcher

Empire Magazine

The setting is a Paris packed with tight leather jackets, big hair and foxy girls, and the action, sex and family drama make for an enjoyable ride. Unfortunately, the denouement is frustratingly abrupt.

Rated: 3/5

Dec 5, 2008

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David Jenkins

Time Out

This frisky if long-winded and derivative French policier never gets off the starting-blocks despite some charismatic performances and intriguingly executed set-pieces.

Rated: 2/6

Dec 5, 2008

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James Christopher

Times (UK)

This being the gritty 1970s, the subtitled dialogue is as hard as nails. The Cain and Abel rivalry unfolds like a dismal episode of Minder.

Rated: 3/5

Dec 5, 2008

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Mike Edwards

What Culture

Why remake a decade?

Rated: 2/5

Mar 24, 2011

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David Nusair

Reel Film Reviews

...an absorbing crime thriller.

Rated: 3/4

Apr 15, 2009

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Trevor Johnston

Film4

Although it draws on a real-life memoir, this Gallic crime drama never really gets going. There's potential in the tension between a wavering ex-con and his cop sibling, but the actors seem to have been cast the wrong way round.

Rated: 2/5

Dec 5, 2008

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Audience Member

It's a beautiful story about two brothers on the opposite side of the law but that love each other deeply in spite of their differences. That's what makes this french movie a good option to watch at home: it touches you and will make you cry, besides the great costumes and scenarios. On the other hand, their love interests are quite amusing but aren't explored in the script the way they deserved, which is a shame. The soundtrack is weak too as Canet's performance.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

02/20/23

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Audience Member

The story, the directing and the actors make it a very good film ... it's just that it really is UNFINISHED!!! Hate the ending, honestly.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

02/25/23

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Audience Member

I love European crime movies and I particularly like European crime movies of the 70s... This movie, although not an out and out crime movie is set in the 70s and explores the tumultuous relationship between two brothers, one a cop and one a criminal. This sort of relationship and interplay has been explored before and this film, while does not offer anything fresh is still an enjoyable affair with good performances Guillame Canet and Franois Cluzet.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

02/17/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Du bon cinÃ©ma franÃ§ais, bonne reconstitution des annÃ©es 70 (Ã part une belle boÃ®te de benco de 2010 :D), et deux acteurs au top ! Dommage qu'il y ait trop de trous dans le script.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

01/31/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Bon polar et un duo Canet et Cluzet excellent! a voir...

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

02/02/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Deux frÃ¨res, l'un flic et l'autre bandit, un duo Canet Cluzet dans un polar Ã la franÃ§aise trÃ¨s correct. Se laisse voir.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

01/23/23

Full Review

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Jacques Maillot

Director

François Cluzet

Gabriel

Guillaume Canet

François

Marie Denarnaud

Nathalie

Clotilde Hesme

Corinne

Mehdi Nebbou

José

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Synopsis

François (Guillaume Canet) is a young detective hoping to find a group of bank robbers before they stage their next heist. Though he's ambitious, he's poorly regarded by the rest of the police force, and his relationship with a convict's wife isn't helping matters. Now his life is complicated even further as his older brother, Gabriel (François Cluzet), is released from prison. Though Gabriel has pledged to go straight, the temptations of his former life make it a difficult promise to keep.

Director: Jacques Maillot
Producer: Cyril Colbeau-Justin, Jean-Baptiste Dupont
Screenwriter: Pierre Chosson, Jacques Maillot, Eric Veniard
Production Co: LGM Productions, France 3 Cinéma, CinéCinéma, Umedia, StudioCanal, Sofica Europacorp, Canal+, uFilm, 13e Rue, Le Tax Shelter du Gouvernement Fédéral de Belgique
Genre: Action, Crime, Drama
Original Language: French (France)
Runtime: 1h 46m