The Innocent

Thanks for all the caviar. The penguins love 'em

Hmmmm I was expecting some kind of taught thriller but it's average at best. There's a distinct lack of tension throughout and it lags. Needs more twists to get more stars.

I was mostly confused watching Louis Garrel's film, inspired by his mother who, like his film character Abel's mother, is also a drama teacher in a prison who ends up marrying one of the inmates. Assuming the rest stems from his imagination instead of being autobiographical, the Cesar-winning screenplay which Garrel co-wrote is a hotch-potch of half-baked ideas that didn't cohere for me. Beginning as a farcical comedy, it dips in and out of romance and ends up a heist movie, which is not a problem per se and this genre blending can work if done right. Unfortunately here it just feels jarring. So when Garrel's Abel becomes suspicious of Roschdy Zem's Michel's intentions after he marries his mother, Anouk Grinberg's Sylvie, hilarity is supposed to ensue when Abel begins following Michel around Lyon, badly. However, I just find the central characters neurotic and irritating, especially Abel. The only saving grace is Noemie Merlant's Clemence, Abel's dead wife's best friend who still lingers around him, whose charming presence brightens up the screen whenever she's on but the will-they-won't-they is so obvious from the beginning, I won't even bother talking around it here as it's no spoiler to speak of. The film manages momentarily to spark to life as it reaches its third act heist, and that cafe scene in which Abel declares his true feelings almost by accident is the one decent scene in the whole film that I enjoy, but then it's all downhill from there with a disjointed ending which lacks credibility and seems artificially constructed only to set up a book-ending scene that makes the film symmetrical. By this point frankly, I don't really care and I can only chalk this mess down to the mystifying French sense of humour which must have bypass me entirely.

Drama, humour, romance, it's all here. Interesting characters with back stories, who interact well and develop as the plot unfolds. Engaging, entertaining, made with a bit of that French artistry.

Tasteful French old style heist caper. Garrel the son playing more human than ever.

"L'innocent" is not too bad a watch, however it's pretty unremarkable on the whole. The story and characters just feel really inessential, and the direction is nothing to write home about. The acting is fine but seems a little gimmicky (the troubled and suspicious protagonist, the excitable yet also disappointed mum, the cool and mysterious stepdad, the wacky friend). The saving grace is the adequately engaging action, even though I can't say I was rooting for any of these people to be honest.

First, you should know that it is available on the Criterion Channel, which fact doesn't seem to appear on any list of how or where to watch, Criterion doesn't just have the movie, it has all the extras movie-lovers love. Second, the best way to prepare you for it is to imagine that Preston Sturges has been reincarnated into the French filmmaker.

A delightful French romp.

The Innocent is a sharply made film, a comedy drama caper film that does a good job of entertaining on the whole. Louis Garrel directed and wrote this film and also stars as Abel. Abel works at aquarium in Lyon and is also grieving his late wife. His mother Sylvie has a complicated relationship history and it deepens when she falls in love with Michel. Michel is doing time and they meet when Sylvie teaches acting in his prison. Abel is aghast at the prospect of their relationship and it worsens when he is released from prison and he suspects Michel hasn't given up the criminal life. So ensues a caper film of cat and mouse and criminal goings on. It's quite entertaining and sharply written, although it's probably not strong enough for a pure drama or funny enough for a pure comedy. Performances are generally good, especially Noemie Merlant as Abel's friend. All in all a well made and enjoyable film.

Nice french surprise. Perhaps 3.85 out of 5 would be a more accurate score :)