Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE: Tais-ToiI (Shut-up!) [English Title Ruby & Quentin]

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Posted by Peter Berrett (Member # 672) on 03-27-2004, 08:08 PM:

Hi all

Attendance George Cinemas, St Kilda 28 March 2004 7.00 P.M. session (as part of French Film Festival)

My birthday present this year was two tickets to the French Film Festival to see this film. It is a real shame that only one session of it was run as the session was sold out. Every year the good comedies seem to have single sessions and sell out early thus indicating that there is some unsatisfied demand out there (and at $15 a head too!).

To the film. Gerard Depardieu and Jean Reno star in this Francis Weber written farce. Weber is famous for his scripts including La Cage Aux Folles, Les Fugitives, Le Diner de Cons (the Dinner Game) and more recently Le Placard (the Closet). Many of his films have been remade in the US e.eg the Birdcage was a remake of La Cage Aux Folles although nowhere near as funny as the original film.

For those who are familiar with french films generally, there are a lot of week-known and top line comedians in this film ins secondary roles.

The plot is similar to some of Weber's earlier films, many of which are 'Buddy' films. Essentially a hapless, highly irritating petty criminal with social problems (Depardieu) is paired up with a hardened criminal hell bent on revenge for the death of his girlfriend (Reno). Depardieu plays the role to the hilt and shows off his fine comedic and acting skills. Reno too is funny as the ever annoyed hardened criminal.

The film jumps from one absurdity to another and the addition of a judicious number of car chases and action keep the pace going throughout the film. At one point even Reno's sorrowful eyes are lampooned.

It is difficult to know whether this kind of film will appeal to a US audience raised on a diet of one-liners and wisecracks. The humor is highly visual and farcical. Personally though, I found the film highly funny with lots of belly laughs. The cast of quality french actors do a fine job of a great script.

Highly reecommended - 8 stars out of 10

cheers Peter