The year is 1997. Jean Rochefort had won Les Grands Ducs the year before and attracted 500,000 to the theatres. Accustomed to comic roles, he will do a 180-degree turn by taking an unconventional role in a thriller that has unfairly ended in oblivion: Barracuda!
In this work by Philip Haim, the actor portrays the disturbing and mysterious Mr. Clement. The latter lives alone and isolated in his apartment, the walls of which are covered with Fred Astaire photographs. One day, Luc (Guillaume Canet) and Margot (Claire Keim) move into the same building where an old man shares the same floor.
Mr. Clement offers Luke to come and have dinner at his place. The young man accepts willingly, not suspecting the madness of his neighbor. When the latter introduces him to his wife, who is none other than an adult-sized doll, Luke tries to end this awkward evening. Mr. Clement doesn’t see it that way, punching Luke before tying him up and taking him away.
Having passed unnoticed when it was released in theaters on October 29, 1997, this film, forgotten by many people, really deserves to be given the opportunity to see it on video! The feature film was a bitter commercial failure with only 9,547 admissions, which is a complete injustice given its quality.
A heated and tense closed session
Director Philip Haim takes us along in this tense story, which keeps us on our toes for 1 hour and 30 minutes. Amazingly effective, the story is brilliantly interpreted by the fabulous Jean Rochefort as the utterly frosty old man. We have never seen him so annoying and annoying in his entire career!
In addition, a few years before La Plage, Mon idole, Jeux d’enfants and for his César on Tell No One, Barracuda revealed a promising young actor: Guillaume Canet. The latter excels as Luke, spending the entire film being held and horribly abused by this insane Mr. Clement. At only 24 years old, the actor was already showing his talent, composing a perfect score for an extremely complex character.
At the edge of fantasy
AlloCiné viewers are not wrong, the thriller boasts an average rating of 3.5 out of 5! for Estonia, “Jean Rochefort plays in a film on the edge of fantasy, but to see him in this size of the Frozen boy and do it so well is called a performance that plays in a completely different way, manages to answer it”, He points.
In turn, Romain Gud leads “A masterful closed session with two fabulous actors. Mr. Clement’s raging madness is brilliantly conceived and masterfully mastered by Jean Rochefort. Suspense: Will this young man manage to leave? We spend 1 hour and 30 minutes between four rooms. With only two people and none We won’t get bored for a second”He is delighted.
If you are sure, don’t hesitate to get the feature film available on DVD!
Source: Allocine
Rose James is a Gossipify movie and series reviewer known for her in-depth analysis and unique perspective on the latest releases. With a background in film studies, she provides engaging and informative reviews, and keeps readers up to date with industry trends and emerging talents.
