Racer and the Jailbird

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isla s 09/04/2022 This is a reasonably well made film but it felt pretty predictable in terms of the themes/plot. It is quite a sobering watch but it felt too sort of moral for my taste somehow. The performances are decent enough and there are some fairly good high action/adrenalin type scenes with fast car chases and the like, as well as scenes depicting robberies and other such things but I did think perhaps about half way through the film, the pace slowed down somewhat considerably and it became less enthralling. I found myself guessing what was going to happen. Its an ok film, a somewhat watchable one with good performances but its hardly a memorable and constantly enthralling watch, so I wouldn't go out of your way to watch it, no. See more @Ollie1972 01/24/2022 Introduced to Bénédicte "Bibi" Delhany (Adèle Exarchopoulos) after a motor racing event Gino "Gigi" Vanoirbeek (Matthias Schoenaerts) pretends he works importing and exporting cars, and asks her out on a date. As their relationship continues, comments from his friends about their wild youth and his time in juvenile detention raise her suspicions. In a private moment Bibi asks him to reveal his greatest secret and Gigi jokingly admits he robs banks. They daydream about travel and when asked if she could go anywhere Bibi suggests that should go to Buenos Aires. Gigi and his friends successfully rob a banker they met at party held by Bibi's racing group. Gigi is falling in love with Bibi and is reluctant to do any further jobs. Bibi's father has suspicions too and confronts Gigi, urging him to be honest with Bibi like a real man should do. Gigi tells him he wants to marry Bibi. Bibi has a growing realisation that Gigi isn't telling her the whole truth but they confess their love for each other. The gang plan another more elaborate heist, and as their getaway driver Gigi is essential to their plans. The gang drop a shipping container off a road bridge, to trap a money transport van and police escort. They get away with the money but Gigi is sick with nerves. The money is booby trapped with explosives and one of the gang is badly injured. Gigi leaves the hideout to call a doctor from a nearby payphone. He also calls Bibi and she warns him that a police officer was killed in the robbery and that a major manhunt was underway and for her sake he should not resist. The gang is caught and all are sent to prison. Bibi is sure of her love and wants to stay with Gigi so during brief prison visits they try to get pregnant. They turn to fertility treatment to try to conceive, but while on temporary leave from prison Gigi is bitten on the leg by a small dog. After kicking the dog in retaliation the police get involved and Gigi runs in panic. Bibi hides him temporarily but when a police manhunt begins she convinces him to give himself up and return to prison... Owen Gleiberman of Variety writes that the success of a dramatic love story hinges on there being interesting obstacles to overcome. Gleiberman says that Gigi's lack of honesty and vulnerability threatening their relationship is a good obstacle but that the obstacle of Gigi's inevitable incarceration "seems to choke off the film's dramatic possibilities" and "the whole thing becomes drenched in a kind of downbeat sentimental martyrdom that feels oppressively old-fashioned and moribund." Michaël R. Roskam´s gangster love/crime drama has great acting from Matthias Schoenaerts and lovely Adèle Exarchopoulos foremost and there´s chemistry between them, but all involved is on top to my mind. The cinematography is great and the vibe of the film feels truly authentic. However, the storyline doesn´t really offer anything all that new to be honest and in my point of view the film is quite good the first hour and a half and then it loses focus and becomes scattered and not that engaging. The love affair has been replaced by overdramatic and partly exaggerated events and actions. The main characters backstories are not fully fleshed out either which I think is a shame as it would´ve created an even stronger story. "Le Fidèle" has truly moments and it´s a good looking film with great acting, but in the end it doesn´t fully connect the dots. See more 12/16/2020 Hearts of gold and true love cannot solve the problems surrounding bad choices; Schoenarts and Exarchopoulos play to their strengths in self-assured roles requiring dramatic and sexual chops See more 05/17/2020 Honest european crime drama, like neo-noir - so rare in our time. A powerful acting play by belgian Matthias Schonarts!!! Two thumbs up! See more 10/07/2019 What a shame. Matthias Schoenaerts Is a great actor but the script was a mess. See more 05/19/2019 I'm always up for a great French film, but this certainly wasn't one of them. The only reason why I decided to watch it is because the trailer seemed interesting, but more importantly, I was looking forward to seeing Adele Exarchopoulos' performance. While her performance did not disappoint, the story was very weak. I was totally unmoved and unconvinced of their 'love affair.' The two main characters seemed like empty, simple-minded people who had a physical attraction to each other and decided very quickly to get together- not a grounds for a great love story. It's not too far from- meet at a club, have a one-night stand, and "let's see if this thing works out because we're both bored and lonely." Totally cheap and disappointing. Next, there is nothing fulfilling about watching two soulless people just wandering around, looking to the other for a purpose in life. It's just boring and depressing. As such, even the random, thrown-in sex scenes were meaningless and boring. There's nothing worse than a superfluous, meaningless, random sex scene in a film. Lastly, the turn of events halfway through the film were totally forced, unrealistic, melodramatic, and seemed like they were just randomly thrown in there to add some extra drama to an already boring film, Overall, the acting was very good, the directing good at many points, but the story itself is just nonsensical, uninteresting, shallow, unmoving. But worst of all, the 'love story' itself was plain superficial and pathetic. See more Read all reviews

Racer and the Jailbird

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