Le Prenom (What's In A Name?) (2012)

 

 

Year: 2012

Director: Alexandre de la Pattelliere and Matthieu Delaporte

Cast: Patrick Bruel, Valerie Benguigui, Charles Berling, Guillaume de Tonquedec, Judith El Zein

Le Prenom (What's In A Name?) will be released and distributed by Madman in Australia on the 25th of July 2013

 

What's In A Name? is an incredibly intelligent film based purely on character and dialogue.

 

Alexandre de la Patteliere and Matthieu Delaporte's latest starts off as one film, but ends as another. What's In A Name? begins as a clever and enjoyable comedy and stems into a French version of Who's Afraid Of Virginia Woolf? with some intense arguments that will seems all to familiar to some couples and families.  

 

 

Married couple, Elisabeth (Valerie Benguigui) and Pierre (Charles Berling) host a small dinner party for their lifelong friend, Claude (Guillaume de Tonquedec) and Elisabeth's brother, Vincent (Patrick Bruel) and his pregnant wife, Anna (Judith El Zein). All seems to be going swimmingly until Vincent announces the name he will be giving to his son, there seems to be no one in the room who shares his enthusiasm. What ensues is a night full of confrontations regarding everything  these people have been keeping to themselves regarding each other.

 

The film of What's In A Name? is based on the play by Matthieu Delaporte, who also co-directed and wrote the adaptation. So as a result, you would expect the screenplay to be wonderful, and that it is. The dialogue is extremely witty, intelligent and enjoyable. It is extremely well done how the film just flows through the night without any sudden hold ups in the film. It is also not predictable at all, especially when it comes to Claude's confession which is the funniest part of the second half of the film.

 

In saying that, up until the point where Anna enters the film, What's In A Name? is a very funny and sweet film. When Anna enters the film, it all turns rather nasty. It actually becomes quite uncomfortable watching this family turn on each other and the characters you were actually really enjoying watching to begin with, you start to dislike intensely. The perfect example is the character of Elisabeth. To begin with she seems relatable and so realistic, yet as the film goes on she starts to seem nothing less of spiteful and incredibly mean. The funny thing is, this revelation makes the character who you initially didn't like seem like the good guy by the end of the film. It is quite a thing of genius to be able to switch the sympathy between characters like that. While the script is still almost flawless in the second half of the film, this half is the less enjoyable of the two.

The first five minutes of the film would be wonderful for French viewers who don't need to read subtitles, but for those who do not speak the language of the film, it is actually quite annoying. What's In A Name? has an Amelie type beginning where the characters are introduced in a montage which highlights their key characteristics and before that, has a montage of the path a pizza delivery man take to the apartment where all this is going to take place. The trip to the apartment is a beautiful montage of Paris and all it's glory. However, if you are not watching this in French, you are missing the beautiful visuals and the visuals that accompany the character's as you are trying to read the subtitles. The shots in the montage are way too quick and if you blink or read a subtitle, you miss it.

 

It is the men in What's In A Name? who steal the limelight. Patrick Bruel, Charles Berling and Guillaume de Tonquedec are all fantastic to watch and do not miss a beat through the film. They all have great comedic timing, but all have a great deal of individual character. Valerie Benguigui is good, but, as said before, she has the stigma of being such an unlikable character by the end.

 

What's In A Name? is very intelligent film and the first half is so much fun. Maybe it would have been better as a short film if you are after a light hearted comedy, but it works well as a feature film if you want a laugh, but also want to be challenged.

 

6.5/10

 



Un bonheur n' arrive jamais seul (Happiness Never Comes Alone)

Year: 2012
Country: France
Director: James Huth
Cast: Gad Elmaleh, Sophie Marceau, Maurice Barthelemy, Francois Berleand
Limited release Australian theatres 30th May 2013

If you are starting to get a bit tired of watching the action blockbusters which grace our film more often that not at this time of the year and drama films are just a tad too emotionally taxing, then Happiness Never Comes Alone may just be the break you are after.

Happiness Never Comes Alone is an incredibly simple fun film with an extremely easy story to follow. It doesn't delve deep into your emotions or leave a lasting impression, but it does still give some great laughs and some beautiful moments in amazing Paris.

Sacha Keller (Gad Elmaleh) is a free spirited bachelor who writes jingles for commercials by day and plays piano at a jazz club at night in exchange for an open bar. He feels like he has got it made, until by chance he meets accident prone Charlotte (Sophie Marceau). The two instantly fall for each other and they seem like they are made for each other. However, things become complicated when Sacha discovers that Charlotte has three of the things he is terrified of, children. Not only that, but she is the ex-wife of one of his company's biggest and most powerful clients.

Happiness Never Comes Alone is a very simple film. It is nothing that we haven't seen before, but still has a certain charm to it. Because of this lack of originality, you do leave the film trying to figure out what the whole point of the film was and what is the lesson you are supposed to be taking away from it. Of course, there is the common theme we see in romance films that the two people in love will always be in love no matter what. You can probably take away the idea that anyone can change their lifestyle when the right person comes along, but you are still waiting for something a tad more insightful to hit you.

Yet, it is the humour and visuals of the film which keep the film from becoming a dud. The script is really very funny in parts with some great one-liners (especially when Sacha likens Leonard to "a little Philip Seymour Hoffman"). The antics of Sacha with the children are hilarious as are Charlotte's string of unfortunate but hilarious accidents.

The cinematography is also quite beautiful and shows off Paris. In particular, the scenes which are set in Sacha's Montmarte apartment show the Sacre Coeur Basilica in the reflection of his window. A great way to show off the beauty of the city.

One thing about the film is that it's soundtrack is perhaps not used in the most effective way. In two particular scenes which are when Sacha and Charlotte meet for the first time and the final scene, they use a love song turned up to drown out any other sound. It is meant to enhance the emotion in the scene, but it is not done in a subtle way at all. When the music starts, you are waiting for something funny to happen because it is so blown out of proportion.

Gad  Elmaleh doesn't do an altogether bad job as Sacha, but it isn't a particularly emotional performance. He doesn't connect with the audience on an emotional level at all really, whether it be with Charlotte or with her kids. Sophie Marceau does do better and you can feel her love and pain in every scene she is in. Her Charlotte is an extremely likable character. The chemistry between Elmaleh and Marceau is completely enthralling.

Whether or not Happiness Never Comes Alone leaves a lasting impression on you, it does bring a smile to your face. Sometimes simple is just what we need in this harsh world.

6.5/10