The Worst Film Ever

Pretty good movie overall. First half was nothing special but it got better as it went along.

Let me be very fair here, this is not the best movie in my opinion. But, this movie is fun, it has purpose and is very enjoyable to watch.

Actress is magnificent and exudes a hypnotic screen presence in this affecting drama.

Anthony Zimmer (2005)Ah, this has its moments, but it sure is overly clever and at times overly derivative. The interactions and scenario of an elite crook and some undercover and suspicious types on the boundaries of the big hunt for him are taken straight from a lot of previous movies--even from "North by Northwest," of all things, which you'll catch in the train conversation and in the general nature of the leading woman in both cases. It's all well enough done to keep you watching if this is your kind of movie, and I didn't mind traipsing along even as it seemed to bowl into a lot of old tricks.What was worse, overall, was the dependence on a huge trick, one that you might or might not anticipate, and which comes along at the very end like a splotch of ketchup on your plate. Yeah, yeah, we were warned the escapee was a master of disguise and had had a lot of plastic surgery, but still, it's just not enough, not enough.Everything is set in the south of France, Nice to be exact, and is pretty and fun (like a lot of other movies set there). The movie itself is French, of course, and in one nice scene a man starts to ask a question in English, and another man (one of the chief cops, we suppose) says, "I don't speak in English," or something to that effect. It seems a perfect point to make as so many movies these days are partly in English as if to make it easier on British and American (and Aussie and South African and Singaporean, yes yes) audiences. (A lot of French films in particular use a bit of English--or a lot--to do more than just sound international.)But I find an interesting nuance mostly because the movie is otherwise a very straightforward affair. Enjoy. See it on a plane. Have alternatives in mind.

Anthony Zimmer has disappeared with his ill-gotten riches, to change his looks and his voice with plastic surgery to escape the French customs police and a Russian mafia gang. A vacationer is selected on a train by Zimmer's girl friend, as having Zimmer's age and body build, and set up to appear to be Anthony Zimmer in order to fool Zimmer's pursuers. It works well, and the chase is on. One nuance of note: the customs police chief becomes fully aware at the end of what the viewer finds out.A great film in all ways - superb acting, pacing, plot, scenery, and background music - all integrated in a very involving film. See this first, then see the remake (The Tourist) with Johnny Depp and Angelina Jolie to realize the faults of the remake. The Tourist is not all that bad, perhaps even above average, but Anthony Zimmer is much better.

This is an excellent film to watch with a significant other ... but make sure to schedule some "debriefing time" afterward. If you like films such as North by Northwest and The Thomas Crown Affair, you are bound to be intrigued by Anthony Zimmer.Sophie Marceau plays her part as femme fatale with a perfect mix of Eva Marie Saint's Artemisian aloofness and Rene Russo's no-nonsense sensuality, and it is a pleasure to watch her interaction with Yvan Attal throughout the film. I think I can safely promise that as soon as the film has ended, you will want to see it all over again.In an age of computer-generated action and ever-expanding body parts, it is true bliss to be seduced by a film that generates suspense in such a variety of ways. Jerome Salle needs no ticking bombs or buried treasures to tell a good story. As long as a man knows how to dress, how to write a script, and how to deal with a lady like Chiara, the rest will naturally follow ... Too bad so few Anglo-Saxon writers/directors respect those basic rules.Bottom line: If you rent Anthony Zimmer, you won't need a back-up film. Just make yourself comfortable, and get on that train. (PS: I'm not sure shoes like that are legal outside France ... )

I found this movie a bit slow paced in many places, sometimes unnecessary so.However that being said, I have noticed that the major part of the plot has already been given away in the first 20 minutes of the film. If you watch and listen carefully, you will realize who Anthony Zimmer really is. I thought this is a real let down to this movie. Too predictable.Sofie Marceau is really very sexy in the movie, much better than what Hollywood filmed her in their movies. As usual, she portrays a woman who is coldly sexy, turning to a hot object of desire in several scenes.The plot of the movie is relatively simple, and its length is a bit too short. There were many subplot possibilities which were not explored.If you like a evenly-paced thriller, this is probably for you.