Of all the movies that I have seen in the last few years, none have I enjoyed as much as this. The plot is threadbare, yet it works in the films favor. The acting is fantastic, especially a particularly delightful Thandie Newton, whom I had doubts about since her particularly one-sided performance in MI:2. Mark Wahlberg was his atypical self, detached, outside, yet deeply involved, and it fit his character well.
The locations and extra casting are excellent, instead of portraying France as the place of ultimate beauty as is often seen, or a city plagued with an over-abundance of harlots, it is seen here as a place that is crowded and populated with very bizarre characters.
The movie suffers from a sort of mordant wit, the end sequence being in and of itself worth watching the entire movie for. I recommend seeing this with someone who is not of the "popcorn movie" fan club, as they won't understand what was trying to be achieved.
I'd give this 4 1/2 out of 5.
The locations and extra casting are excellent, instead of portraying France as the place of ultimate beauty as is often seen, or a city plagued with an over-abundance of harlots, it is seen here as a place that is crowded and populated with very bizarre characters.
The movie suffers from a sort of mordant wit, the end sequence being in and of itself worth watching the entire movie for. I recommend seeing this with someone who is not of the "popcorn movie" fan club, as they won't understand what was trying to be achieved.
I'd give this 4 1/2 out of 5.