Richard Grandpierre Movies
- 2009
Recalling such prior efforts as the American farce Jungle 2 Jungle (1997), Gallic writer-director Olivier Baroux's coarse comedy Safari travels into the heart of darkest Africa, where a group of motley and eccentric travelers follow a shifty tour guide, gambler Richard Dacier (Kad Merad) on a journey through the jungle. En route, they encounter an array of nefarious types, including arms dealers, porn addicts, and misogynistic natives who debase their wives. ~ Nathan Southern, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Kad Merad, Lionel Abelanski, (more)
The Brotherhood of the Wolf director Pascal Lauguier follows his 2004 thriller House of Voices with this relentlessly brutal tale of a girl who suffered unimaginable abuse as a young child, and the unspeakable horrors that unfold when she arrives at an isolated cabin in the woods fifteen years later. The story begins as the young, badly battered Lucie (Mylène Jampanoï) -- obviously the victim of inhuman abuse -- is hospitalized after somehow managing to escape her sadistic captors. Nearly catatonic after her life-altering ordeal, Lucie only manages to become functional again as a result of her friendship with Anna (Morjana Alaoui), a fellow abuse victim who selflessly reaches out to the badly damaged girl. Fifteen years later, Lucie guns down an entire family in cold blood. Is Lucie seeking belated vengeance against the people who tortured her as a young girl, or has her fragile psyche finally snapped, resulting in the bloody demise of an innocent family? Later, when Lucie calls on her old friend Anna, the truth about Lucie's traumatic early life experience slowly comes into focus. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Morjana Alaoui, Mylene Jampanoi, (more)
Delicatessen and City of Lost Children co-director Marc Caro makes his solo directorial debut with this nightmarish tale of a deep space prison and the newly arrived inmate suffering from a mysterious alien infection. Dante 01 is a maximum-security penitentiary located at the edge of the galaxy. Upon arriving at Dante 01 for psychiatric evaluation, the sole survivor of a horrifying alien encounter finds himself in the middle of a battle to harness his strange new powers. But the volatile force that now dwells within Saint Georges is greater than anyone realizes, and as it begins to infect both his jailers and fellow inmates alike the entire facility is soon swallowed up in violent rebellion. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
Co-writers and directors David Moreau and Xavier Palaud's French-language horror picture Them take audiences on a ride of sheer terror as a couple fight for their life when an assault on their home turns deadly. The story opens with the homicide of two Romanians -- a woman and her young daughter -- who crash their car along a rural road and are promptly butchered by a shadowy figure. Meanwhile, in Bucharest, schoolteacher Clémentine (Olivia Bonamy) climbs into her car and drives to the isolated mansion that she inhabits with partner Lucas (Michaël Cohen), not far from the site of the murders. Soon the couple overhears someone stealing their car, but a call to the police accomplishes little. The lovers gradually realize that an outsider is attempting to break into the house with homicidal intent. Thus begins a nasty, brutal battle of wills that can only end in the death of the victims or the assailants. ~ Nathan Southern, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Olivia Bonamy, Michaël Cohen, (more)
Albert Dupontel directs, writes, and stars in freewheeling French comedy concerning a glue-huffing homeless man who earns an unexpected modicum of respect after coming into possession of a police uniform. Roland (Dupontel) was wandering the shores of the Seine when he noticed a man hurling himself into the churning waters below. Upon investigating the site from which the man leapt, the curious derelict finds that the jumper, presumably a policeman, had left behind his uniform and a suicide note. When Roland attempts to do the right thing and return the uniform to the police station, he is chased away by overzealous cops before he has the chance to explain what happened. Upon noticing a cafeteria that provides free meals to policemen, Roland decides to make the best of his situation by donning the uniform and ordering dinner. Later, when Roland meets a singing mother (Claude Perron) who is struggling to get her children back from the malevolent in-laws who object of her lifestyle and see her as unfit to parent, the uniformed drifter attempts to use his newfound badge for a good cause. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Albert Dupontel, Claude Perron, (more)
- 2005
- NR
When a drought causes the East African landscape to run dry, threatening both the life and livelihood of everyone who dwells in the remote village of the Masai, the tribe elects their most skilled warrior to venture into the wilderness and claim the god of vengeance -- a fearsome lion known as Vitchua -- in director Pascal Plisson's colorful coming-of-age tale. A warrior has been chosen to battle Vitchua in hopes that a defeat over the creature will bring an end to the stark dry spell. A problem arises, however, when Vitchua actually claims the life of the highly respected hunter. Now, as the harsh drought continues, the fate of the tribe will rest on the shoulders of an inexperienced group of warriors who must test their skills against nature in the ultimate trial by fire. These are the leaders of tomorrow, yet few of them have ever even so much as held a spear. If they succeed in their mission, the tribe will flourish for generations to come; if they fail, it will not only mean the end of their own lives, but the demise of their entire civilization as well. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Ngotiek Ole Mako, Paul Nteri Ole Sekenan, (more)
- 2004
- R
The suspense film House of Voices concerns the ghosts that haunt a building that once housed an orphanage. A woman does some research and discovers a hidden secret about events that transpired there. ~ Perry Seibert, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Virginie Ledoyen, Lou Doillon, (more)
Gaspar Noé's Irreversible utilizes the same storytelling technique used by Christopher Nolan in Memento and Harold Pinter in Betrayal. Consisting of about a dozen scenes, all shot in single takes, Irreversible charts a disturbing night in the life of Marcus (Vincent Cassel), but presents the events in reverse chronological order. The audience eventually learns how the beautiful Alex (Cassel's real-life partner Monica Bellucci) is involved. The film opens with a violent altercation at a gay sex club and works backward to explain how and why the violence occurred. The actors improvised the vast majority of the dialogue starting from a four-page story outline. Irreversible was screened in competition at the 2002 Cannes Film Festival. ~ Perry Seibert, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Monica Bellucci, Vincent Cassel, (more)
Former French television star Antoine de Caunes turns his sights on the horror genre in his first feature in this goth comedy about trendy nightlife and new-millennium vogue. Antoine (Guillaume Canet is a layabout slacker who lives in a lounge at a health club where a friend lets him stay. After outsmarting a bouncer at an exclusive club in town, he gets a tip from another friend, Etienne (Gerard Lanvin), about a new party in the know. When Antoine attempts getting into the swanky soiree, he claims his friend "Jordan" has invited him. Though he cannot describe his fake friend's features, the staff agrees to let him in. He is then hauled away to meet the party's wealthy host Von Bulow (played by Jean-Marie Winling), who is extremely enticed by the prospect of meeting "Jordan" as he hears he only lives by night. Von Bulow offers Antoine one million francs, half on the spot, if he can be led to Jordan. Antoine must then buy information with his new money, leading him on all-night, violent odyssey that goes further into dark territory. The film also features Asia Argento, Vincent Perez, and Gilbert Melki. ~ Jason Clark, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Guillaume Canet, Gérard Lanvin, (more)
French legend has it that a creature known as the Beast of Gevaudan -- a huge, wolf-like monster -- was responsible for the violent deaths of over 100 persons in the mid-18th century, and this horror fantasy blends the lore of this fabled beast with a story of two men who set out to capture it. After a number of mutilated corpses begin appearing across the French countryside, naturalist Chevalier Gregoire de Fronsac (Samuel Le Bihan) is dispatched by the King to find and capture the animal responsible for the killings. Mani (Mark Dacascos), an Indian from Canada and an experienced hand in the wilds, is hired to assist de Fronsac in his work. Gregoire's assignment earns him the acquaintance of Marianne de Morangias (Emilie Dequenne), the lovely daughter of the idly wealthy Count de Morangias (Jean Yanne), but Gregoire receives a much chillier welcome from her brother Jean-Francois (Vincent Cassel), who, despite having lost an arm to a lion in Africa, is quite the huntsman himself. As Gregoire and Mani arrive in the village of Gevaudan, they're drawn to a local house of prostitution, where the animalistic allure and supernatural powers of Sylvia (Monica Bellucci) prove to have a profound effect on the naive Gregoire. Jim Henson's Creature Shop provided the special-effects expertise for the creation of the Beast of Gevaudan. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Samuel Le Bihan, Mark Dacascos, (more)
- 2000
The exploits and misadventures of a group of devoted childhood friends provide the centerpiece for the debut feature of co-directors Kamel Saleh and Akhenaton. Set in Marseille's popular Panier district, the film depicts its protagonists -- the French-born offspring of Italian and North African immigrants -- as basically decent guys who have a habit of getting into trouble. We see them hanging out, cruising for women, interacting with their families, and conducting petty scams; it all makes for a pleasant life until the group's somewhat shady operations catch up with them. Comme un Aimant premiered to a strong reception at the 2000 Cannes Festival; one of its directors, Akhenaton, is well-known throughout France as a member of the popular Marseille-based rap collective IAM. ~ Rebecca Flint Marx, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Akhenaton
- 1994
Ratings wars on nightly news and lovers quarrels are parodied in this French comedy. The people behind the TV8 news are obsessed with getting good ratings. After their anchor suffers a debilitating accident, Gerard Breha is called to replace him. Breha, a minor market newscaster was chosen because he possesses the kind of face deemed most trustworthy by the French public. Sure enough his ratings soar. He interviews a politician about the YAM gang who have been terrorizing local gun shops. Corine, Breha's wife is getting frustrated as his popularity has caused him to be increasingly away from home. Soon the newscaster is seduced by his predatory producer Marie-Ange. Corine is out for revenge. She gets it when she and Breha appear on the French version of "Truth or Consequences." The show is suddenly interrupted by the YAM gang as they burst into the studio and begin taking hostages. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Christian Clavier, Marie-Anne Chazel, (more)
