Amazon.co.uk Review
It's been some time some French director Luc Besson stepped behind the camera. And truthfully, Angel-A, good as it is, is a little underwhelming, particularly when you see that Besson's curriculum vitae includes Leon, The Big Blue and The Fifth Element.
Still, that's not to say that Angel-A is a film without merit. Quite the contrary, in fact, as this simple, diverting tale has plenty in its corner. Andre, played by Jamel Debbouze, is just about to end his life. When we meet him, he's heavily in debt and he chooses to drown himself in the River Seine. Yet he's saved by the mysterious Angel-A of the film's title (played by Rie Rasmussen), and she offers to help Andre pull through his current problems. Thus, the stage is set for a pleasant, engaging mix of comedy, drama and a dose of romance, made all the stronger by its likeable lead actors.
While Angel-A is undoubtedly lacking the ambition of some of Besson's earlier work, it's a film that's hard not like. It's beautifully shot, tightly put together and thrives on its ultimate simplicity. It won't be a dish to everyone's taste, but it's nonetheless likely to reward the majority who are tempted to give it a spin. --Jon Foster
Customer Reviews:
Another classic from Luc Besson.......2008-02-26
I wasn't convinced I would enjoy this film. Black & white? A supernatural love story? Not me guv.
The film begins by introducing Andre, the hopeless conman who has a short life expectancy due to large sums of money owed to unpleasant people. Almost from the start I forgot the film was black & white, as it is truly a gorgeous scene you see, whether it is Andre being dangled from the Eiffel tower or people partying in a seedy nightclub. I have honestly never seen Paris look more beautiful.
But cinematography does not make a film, and fortunately M Besson has not forgotten this. The story is engrossing, supplying violence, sex, love and comedy in typically french dollops. The two leads are excellent, despite being relatively unknown as actors at the time the film was made. Jamel Debbouze (a well known french comedian) gives a heartfelt and genuine performance as the man who has lost his way, and the beautiful Rie Rasmussen is outstanding as the otherworldly yet gritty guardian.
The DVD audio and visual quality is excellent, with some decent extras.
Surprisingly good, recommended.
A beautiful and imaginative film in both character and presentation........2008-02-23
Stagnating in debt, without a Euro to his name, small-time low-life André decides that the best thing for all concerned would be to throw himself into the Seine. However, just as he is about to end it all on the Pont Alexandre III, he is interrupted by a beautiful blonde, who, without word or question, leaps into the river before him. Without even questioning the irony, André jumps into the water to save her, and, after pulling her to safety, is shocked when the woman dutifully offers to help him out of his current predicament. Angela, of course, is no ordinary suicidal beauty; though it takes time for the sceptical André to realise that she has latched onto him for a very specific reason. The twist is that she needs him just as much as he needs her, if only to feel the emotional connections that divinity has denied her.
Angel-A (2005) takes director Luc Besson back to his roots to some extent; giving us a slight, though no less charming little tale of love and loneliness that forgoes the kind of balletic, exotic action and violence that came to pepper his more iconic work throughout the 1990's, and instead, looks back to the quirky, stylish, character driven films that he produced in the early to mid 1980's. As a result, Angel-A seems indebted to the long since forgotten "cinema du look" movement; a brief cinematic resurgence in 1980's French cinema that saw a younger generation of filmmakers looking back to the days of Godard, Truffaut and the Nouvelle Vague, to create pop-culture referencing films dealing with doomed love and alienated Parisian youth. Although the film is very much evocative of that brief era in French cinema in which Besson came to prominence alongside filmmakers such as Jean Jacques Beineix and Leos Carax, Angel-A isn't a complete retread of his earlier work. In fact, the most notable thing about this film is the way in which Besson channels the spirit of his younger self - creating a film that is high in energy and expressive in both style and imagination - but also manages to bring to it the same sense of emotional maturity and character detail found in his much better films of the 90's; chiefly Nikita (1990) and Léon (1994).
Whereas his 80's films were content to fall back on clever visual gags, iconic characters and arch dialog, Angel-A takes these characteristics and applies them to a relationship that is as mysterious, provocative and believable as the one between Léon and Matilda, or even that of Corbin Dallas and Leeloo from his great pop-art science-fiction thriller, The Fifth Element (1997). It also gives us characters that we can care about and believe in; something that seems a million miles away from the puppet-like warriors of his first film, the wordless science-fiction parable The Last Battle (1983), or the ironic caricatures of the director's second feature, the chic and iconic crime thriller Subway (1985). Many have likened Angel-A to the classic Frank Capra film It's a Wonderful Life (1946), with the notion of a down on their luck character being brought back from the brink by a mysterious, angelic-like figure. This is true to some extent, but the difference is in the details and the overall message that the film presents. In It's a Wonderful Life, the central character played by James Stewart is shown how much poorer the world would be to his friends and family if he had never been born. In Angel-A however, the character of André is shown how great the world can be, if only he had the strength and the drive to take advantage of any situation, no matter how seemingly hopeless.
Some will obviously balk at the brazen romanticism on display here; particularly towards the end of the film in which André and Angela realise - without giving too much away - that they each fulfil some greater sense of purpose to one another; with Besson once again bringing things to a close on the Pont Alexandre III to create an interesting, circular aspect to the narrative, rife for reinterpretation. The relationship between André and Angela is a very beautiful one, playing off the obvious differences in their appearance and the slow reversal of roles that takes place over the course of the film's duration. It also works as a result of the pitch-perfect casting of comedian Jamel Debbouze as the luckless André and supermodel Rie Rasmussen as the protective Angela, and the subtlety and compassion that both of these performers bring to their respective characters. With this in mind, Angel-A, for me at least, is as beautiful as cinema gets; perfectly tapping into the spirit of the "cinema du look" approach with the glossy photography, sharp-pacing and imaginative use of production design, but with an interesting story and characters that manage to elicit real and captivating emotions.
The continual interplay between the two characters and the presentation of their plight is beautifully done, featuring some of Besson's best writing and dialog; with at least two scenes (in particular, the "mirror scene" and the penultimate scene back on the bridge) almost bringing me to tears. It is unconventional, shamelessly romantic and prone to the kind of unashamed flights of fantasy that really require an enormous amount of suspension of disbelief... but it is worth it. Angela-A is a beautiful film, not only in the way in which it is presented, but in the relationship of its central characters and the deeper, philosophical interpretations of the plot. Quite clearly a hard sell for many, perhaps more cynical viewers, but for me, this is a genuinely imaginative and inventive film that moved and delighted me on a profoundly personal level.
out of sorts.......2007-12-25
I was surprised by so many of the positive reviews for this film; in France the reviews were rather more mixed, which could either suggest that a prophet is never recognised in his own country or that Besson was making a film that would appeal internationally. The film struck me as quite old-fashioned, very 1980s 'cinema du look' with a plot and dialogue which roared 'style over content' so much that I lost interest as I do when my 5 year old is playing up. I like a romantic comedy as much as (more than?) the next man but found this the relationship between the protagonists neither convincing nor very funny. It's not awful as such, some of the cinematography is breathtaking, possibly a bit overwhelming, but it dragged along too much for me.
Hang the Editor !!!.......2007-12-21
Aaaaaaaaaaarrrgggggggggghhhhhhhhhhhh!
I so enjoyed the ride, all the way up until the slightly unpredicatable and brilliant ending of Luc Besson's latest offering. In fact, I was already writing the glowing Amazon review in my head, whilst waiting for the credits to roll..... The problem was - I hadn't actually reached the end of the film!
So, why the angry title and why only 3 stars? Well, simply because of the last 60 seconds of the film! Utterly, utterly ruined it for me and took away the mystery of an otherwise tantalizingly ambiguos, yet poigniant ending. Terrible editing choice, in my opinion. It's like watching the "Alternative Endings" clips on the extras of most DVDs, where they show you what the Editor/Director might have done with the film. In this case, they made exactly the WORST choice possible, as far as I was concerned.
So, hopefully, now you're all curious enough to see what I'm ranting about and will all go out and buy this film, as it really is worth seeing.
Filmed in black & white and in Paris (what a mouth-watering combination that is), "Angel.A" is a contemporary fable, which touches on some key issues that affect each one of us in one way or another. Not exactly "plot-heavy", but very well played-out by the cast and extremely easy on the eye (Rie Ramussen's "leg-length to skirt-length ratio" alone is sure to keep most men glued to the screen), the film is one which openly invites it's viewers to indulge in some degree of self-exploration, as well as empathising with the protagonist.
It's been described as a "love story", which I'd agree with, although I think that it focuses primarily on a much-overlooked aspect of the broader topic of "love", by encouraging the viewer to appreciate the value of "love of self", encompassing a few more well-worn philosophies along the way.
The film is, in my opinion, most similar to "Leon" (out of all of Besson's other works) and even some of the mannerisms of Angel.A's mysterious female lead appear to pay homage to the young Natalie Portman's character, Mathilda, particulary in her use of the word, "OK".
A slightly idealistic and partially flawed creation it may be, but still very charming and ultimately uplifting viewing experience (whichever ending you choose to remember ;-)
Recommended.
Oh dear.......2007-11-12
It may be art house heresy, but Besson's Angel-A would have been made much better as a Hollywood romantic comedy; Angel-A needed to do more than fall to Earth and simply tell her wretched charge to love himself. Hollywood would have given him a character arc and the pair some decent dialogue.
Customer Reviews:
Florez...........................Brilliant!.......2007-11-01
First saw this version a couple of years ago,until then was not sure about Florez who was brilliant. Since this have waited for each new opera Diego is in and each one get's better and better.
The man is a GOD!
Superlative and what a bargain!!!!!!.......2007-09-22
I adore this opera and have many different versions of it all of which are very good.
I specially adore Cecilia Bartoli and she plays Rosina in other productions with a unique genius ... bus sadly she is not in this one!!!
However the conception, sets, acting (especially background) and othjer singers almost compensate for this.
I love the way everything starts in STUNNING black and white from the costumes to the stunningly beautiful sets (which in themselves are stars of the production ...absolute genius!!) and after the storm interlude colour creeps in till at the end everything is just a glorious rainbow.
It is full of wit, charm and above all the singing is excellent despite Cicilia's absence!!!
Treat yourself to it you will never regret it and I bet it will become your all time favourite Barber!!!
fabulous Florez.......2007-09-11
Quite one of the best versions of this opera I have seen.
From the ingenious and beautiful sets and costumes to the very best singing this performance is a joy to the ears and the eyes.
Florez continues to grow in stage craft and his voice matures delightfully.
The lovely light voice of Maria Bayo is also a wonder to hear.
Altogether a performance to savour.
Customer Reviews:
Unemployment and identity..........2005-09-20
"Mondays in the Sun", directed by Fernando León de Aranoa, is a movie where not much happens. Despite that, it is worthwhile seeing, and remembering...
Why?. Because it tells us the story of a group of friends, former workers in a shipyard, who were sacked from their jobs and are unemployed. The spectators will watch them look repeatedly and uselessly for a new job, and deal with being unemployed and old in a society where most jobs are for young people. As a result, viewers are likely to realize that having a job isn't only about earning money, but also part of who we are, to a certain extent. And in the case of most of these men, their identities are in need of a redefinition that gives their lives new meaning.
This story takes place in Spain, but it could have been set in many other places. "Mondays in the Sun" is a film about unemployment and friendship, and those are things that are everywhere. As such, you are highly unlikely to find the message of this movie irrelevant. Even if you have a job (and that is my case), you probably know that some people don't, and that they suffer the consequences of that lack.
It is pertinent to point out that this isn't a film that will make you laugh. It is somewhat gloomy at times, and the actors play well the roles of people on the edge, eager to strike out at whomever is near them. Santa (Javier Bardem) is specially impressive as a man who doesn't have a clue regarding what to do with himself now that he doesn't have a job.
Another of the characters of this story is Serguei (Serge Riaboukine), a former Russian astronaut who is in Spain looking for a job. Serguei tells the others a joke: "Two old party comrades meet and one says `All that we were told about communism was a lie'. The other says `Yes, but the worst thing is that all we were told about capitalism was true'.
Truth to be told, "Mondays in the Sun" tells us what happens to those left behind by capitalism. Of course, capitalism is not always good, but all the other systems are even worse. However, that doesn't mean we can deny that our system has problems that must be solved. This movie gets that point across powerfully, and because of that I highly recommend it.
Belen Alcat
Customer Reviews:
Booooring...........2008-02-13
I was really disappointed, as most people I bought this to see Foo Fighters. As others write, it`s mostly about Dave, which is ok, but the other members of the band are hardly mentioned and they`re also talking a hole lot about Nirvana...?? I mean, it`s natural to mention that one of the FF members also was a member of Nirvana, but as long as this movie is supposed to be about FF, that would be enough information on that subject. When I buy a DVD about a band I expect to see the members, and learn about each one of them, hear them talk about themselves, eachother and their music. In this movie you will see lots of unknown faces talking about your heroes, it becomes REALLY boring, and I will not recommend anyone to buy this one. I`ve know learnt to avoid movies with the word UNOFFICIAL on their cover!
Wow!.......2007-09-13
Recently I bought a whole load of cd's and dvd's, this is one of the best of the dvd's I bought. I'm one of those people who likes documentaries, as i'm sure many do. I love the foo fighters too, so this dvd was obviously for me. Anyone who likes well pieced together documentaries or the foo's, i'd recommend this.
I disagree.........2007-08-06
I disagree with the other reviewers.. I found the dvd to be quite informative. Perhaps then if you're a foo fighters fan or a dave grohl fan who doesn't know absolutely everything there is to know about him.. then this dvd could be for you! I liked to think I knew it all but learnt a fair amount from this documentary. A great buy as far as I was concerned.
Not In Their Honor!.......2006-01-17
I too am a real Foo Fan, but this was just too big a disappointment to let go without warning others of this DVD. The other reviewers are spot on. 99.9% of the content is just some guys you've never heard of, talking about the history of the Foo's (which is already in print in much more detail)
This is just a cheap attempt to cash in on the Foo Fighter's name by producing a DVD with no real worth or interest.
I thought about selling my copy on a well known on-line auction site - but In Their Honor- I threw it in the trash.
Foo Fighters - kidding.......2005-09-10
Really disappointed with this DVD. Expected some indepth interviews and loads of music and got nothing other than a shaky, cheap camera action and the same non-Foos track played over and over. Got half way through and gave up. This is the first time that I haven't even given a DVD a chance by watching it all the way through at least once. One for the trash.
UK DVD:
- Before Night Falls [2001]
- Before Sunrise / Before Sunset (2 Disc Box Set) [1995]
- Bloody Sunday [2002]
- Casanova [2005]
- Casino [1996]
- Cast Away (2 Disc Set) [2001]
- Charmed - Series 1
- Charmed - Series 3
- Charmed - Series 5
- Crossroads [1986] (REGION 1) (NTSC)
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