Monsieur Hire (1989) Reviews

Monsieur Hire (1989)
Member Rating:  
Lonely and shy bachelor Monsieur Hire (Michel Blanc), suspected in the murder of a girl, secretly watches his young, attractive neighbor Alice (Sandrine Bonnaire) through the window. Once, when lightning flashes during a thunderstorm, she notices his face in the window and comes to him to find out what he is after. Adapting Georges Simenon's novel, Patrice Leconte emphasized the psychological drama rather than the detective story and created a film about loneliness and voyeurism; his cold precision is reminiscent of Alfred Hitchcock or Fritz Lang. The low-key acting and moody soundtrack add a lot, but it's the director who deserves the most accolades, as he manages, with only glances and gestures, to achieve a degree of eroticism that other films fail to reach even through explicit sex scenes. ~ Yuri German, Rovi

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Starring:
Michel Blanc, Sandrine Bonnaire, (more)
Director(s):
Patrice Leconte
Theatrical MPAA Rating:
PG13
Format(s):
DVD
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Average Ratings

(7 member reviews)  

Member Reviews

David B.

Viewers will either love this movie or hate it--character study of a loner man neither lovable nor handsome. Yet there's unexpected depth, soul to Monsieur Hire. Sercretly he watches an attractive woman in next apartment. She catches him..but nevertheless seeks him out. What does she see in him? In her presence, though, he slowly comes alive. Can he win her heart? This movie has not just a surprise ending, but TWO. For those who have ever felt alone in the world, this film will resonate.

Yes   |   No


Pam M.

This is a good psychological mystery with a surprise ending. The characters, although a bit overdeveloped, are not what they seem to be. While the storyline could have been more developed it was still an interesting movie.

Yes   |   No


John M.

Over acted and under written plot.

Yes   |   No


Steve D.

Great film depicting sadness loneliness & love. Well worth watching when you're in the mood for a slow moving psychological romance.

Yes   |   No


Douglas P.

The Brahms sonata that is played whenever M. Hire secretly watches Alice has been haunting me ever since I watched this film. I'm not sure the "younger" crowd would enjoy the film's deliberate pace, but that is why the imagery and symbolism are so effective. We are inundated with pop psychology at almost every turn in our modern daily lives - from tabloids to entertainment "news" to reality shows. M. Hire clearly has major issues, but unlike today's obsession with knowing all, this film focuses on seeing through those issues to the man rather than even hinting at why he is the way he is. In the end, we are left with the question of whether he is a tragic hero. Monsieur Hire could be viewed as staid given the overuse of conventions, but I think that it has well survived the last 20 years.

Yes   |   No


Amy W.

A very interesting character study of a man with "hidden talents". I especially enjoyed the French language and Hitchcockian style, similar to Rear Window. A slow-moving, thoughtful story.

Yes   |   No


L G.

The movie started out sluggish, but there was definantly a payoff. It made me want to read the book.

Yes   |   No


 
 
 

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    Member Reviews
    Read all (7)
     
    David B.

    Viewers will either love this movie or hate it--character study of a loner man neither lovable nor handsome. Yet there's unexpected depth, soul to Monsieur Hire. Sercretly he watches an attractive woman in next apartment. She catches him..but nevertheless seeks him out. What does she see in him? In her presence, though, he slowly comes alive. Can he win her heart? This movie has not just a surprise ending, but TWO. For those who have ever felt alone in the world, this film will resonate.

    Yes   |   No

     
    Pam M.

    This is a good psychological mystery with a surprise ending. The characters, although a bit overdeveloped, are not what they seem to be. While the storyline could have been more developed it was still an interesting movie.

    Yes   |   No

     
    John M.

    Over acted and under written plot.

    Yes   |   No

     
    Read All 7 Reviews
       

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