Les liens du sang (2008) User Reviews

Gritty crime drama set in 70s France

[Siamois · 6/10 · 8 September 2008]

The movie follows two brothers, one on each side of the law. Gabriel is about to be released from prison and plans to stay clean, despite his rebellious nature. His brother François is a cop, struggling to belong because he was born in a hard neighborhood and in love with the wife of a criminal he put behind bars.

The movie's greatest quality is probably the setting. The late 70s truly come alive in this drama. Costumes, cars, music. The writing team also concocted the classic crime drama you would expect in the 70s and even director Jacques Maillot directs somewhat with a 70s feel, down to police procedures, chases and gunfights. A word of warning: this isn't an action flick. The movie seems content exploring the two brothers and the lives they try to build for themselves as well as the clashes between them when their lives intersect. As such, it is more of a drama than anything else.

François Cluzet (who plays bad boy Gabriel) is his usual self: excellent. His character doesn't apologize for his nature and at the same time, Cluzet is perfect in capturing the somewhat pathetic, self-victimizing nature of his character. Guillaume Canet (playing François the cop) is also good. Canet seems to have made a name for himself and stars in a lot of French movies (particularly thrillers). The rest of the large cast is more than adequate.

What prevents this superb production from a higher rating is a somewhat flat story and a botched ending. There's this impression that the writers and director may chewed more than what was needed and couldn't tie this more appropriately. It's still a fun ride but something seems to be missing at times, which is a shame since the basics are solid.

Still very worthwhile if you miss old school crime movies of the 70s and early 80s.

Oh, Brother

[writers_reign · 7/10 · 6 December 2008]

Though it shares many similarities with Rich Man, Poor Man, not least the ending this movie is far more superficial than Irwin Shaw's fine novel. It has the same number and ratio of siblings - two boys, one girl, and one of the boys is successful legitimately (cop, as opposed to businessman) and one is marked lousy from the cradle and later prospers outside the law and apart from the end there you have it. Guillaume Canet ('good' brother) and Francois Cluzet ('bad' brother) had, of course, teamed successfully on Ne Le dis a personne for which both copped Cesars, Canet, Best Director and Cluzet, Best Actor, so it's not surprising that they work well together, which is just as well as they are the only 'names' in the film. This isn't to say that the support phoned it in because that, too, is pretty solid. The script is a tad sloppy in spots for instance an early scene when cop Canet tells a colleague that he actually grew up in the building in which they are preparing to arrest someone. We then cut to a domestic scene involving Canet which gives the impression that this is a flashback - there's no other reason for the cut and we never go back to find out if the arrest was successful. If it IS meant as a flashback it's ludicrous because (SPOILER) Canet dies at the end of the flashback so clearly cannot be remembering some time in a post-death future. It does improve as it goes on and lots of strands come together but ultimately it's only partially satisfying.

O brother you should not treat me like a stranger...

[dbdumonteil · 4 March 2010]

When you deal with talented actors such as FRançois Cluzet and Guillaume Canet it's almost impossible to make a truly bad movie (one forgets ,for instance ,that Cluzet could almost be Canet's father).Their performances are remarkable,the screenplay much less so...

Sometimes it makes this thriller look like the melodramas of the thirties .Their mother left them when they were young,and she just dies when old brother is released.Cluzet is involved in so many things it's impossible to believe in his story: love with a girl who could be his daughter, a failed project of a "Guinguette" because of the hateful politicians ,a contract -it's strange that he should kill three persons and get away with it whereas the Police keep a close watch on his comings and goings ,to brother Canet's dismay - and living off immoral earnings while asking little brother to be his baby's godfather!Enough is enough!As for cop brother,it's not very smart to fall in love with another convict's wife ! What's amazing is that,in spite of these handicaps ,the two actors make it all worthwhile .