The Emperor of Paris (L'Empereur de Paris)

2018

List

70%

10 Reviews

Tomatometer

65%

Fewer than 50 Ratings

Audience Score

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Jordan Mintzer

Hollywood Reporter

A bloated and bloody mess, with plenty of bone-crunching, gut-slicing carnage but very little, if any, substance.

Jan 10, 2019

Full Review

Gisela Savdie

El Heraldo

Historical drama set during the time of Napoleon, starting with a spectacular escape from prison [Full Review in Spanish]

Sep 19, 2020

Full Review

Jeremy Aspinall

Radio Times

Director Jean-François Richet's good-looking adventure is not in the class of gangster epic Mesrine, his terrific 2008 collaboration with Cassel, but the star's steely charisma more than compensates as does the cracking finale in a subterranean lair.

Rated: 3/5

Oct 14, 2019

Full Review

Jordi Batlle Caminal

Fotogramas

Jean-François Richet's film is a stimulating approach to capturing the life of Eugène-François Vidocq. [Full Review in Spanish]

Rated: 4/5

Jul 30, 2019

Full Review

Yago García

Cinemanía (Spain)

[The film's] two greatest virtues: Olga Kurylenko in femme fatale mode and Denis Lavant using his superhuman ability to make one cringe. [Full review in Spanish]

Rated: 3/5

Jul 23, 2019

Full Review

Filipe Freitas

Always Good Movies

The tonally consistent handle of the script and Cassel's ardent performance make it moderately arresting and fairly watchable.

Rated: 3/5

Jul 6, 2019

Full Review

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Liam D

A compelling Story of Redemption This Drama is a very underrated movie

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

03/18/21

Full Review

Audience Member

At the height of Napoleon's reign, François Vidocq (Vincent Cassel) – the only man who successfully broke out of prison 27 times – is a legend. Left for dead after his latest, dazzling escape, the ex-con is lying low as a modest cloth merchant. When his past catches up with him, he is framed by former cellmates for a murder he didn't commit. To prove his innocence and his good faith, he makes a deal with the police: In exchange for his freedom, he will hunt down all the thieves and murderers on the streets of Paris. From convict to sheriff… Vidocq becomes, without intending to, the Emperor of Paris... I think this is a nice French historical drama based on the real life of Eugène François Vidocq July 24, 1775 – May 11, 1857) who was a French criminal turned criminalist, whose life story inspired several writers, including Victor Hugo, Edgar Allan Poe, and Honoré de Balzac. The former criminal became the founder and first director of the crime-detection Sûreté nationale as well as the head of the first known private detective agency. Vidocq is considered to be the father of modern criminology and of the French police department. He is also regarded as the first private detective. The settings and the general look and feel is quite good, Vincent Cassel as François Vidocq is solid as always asn it´s always nice to see Olga Kurylenko. : )

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

02/21/23

Full Review

jose raul b

I enjoyed this action film, specially liked Fouché's quotes, he made references to other events in history like the death of Marie Antoinette. A must see for European History lovers.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

Full Review

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Jean-François Richet

Director

Vincent Cassel

Actor

Patrick Chesnais

Actor

August Diehl

Actor

Olga Kurylenko

Actor

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Director: Jean-François Richet