Christophe Barratier’s Paris 36 is an endlessly enjoyable film with all of the vitality, comedy, and intrigue of the grand films of old Hollywood.
Gérard Jugnot plays Pigoil, director of The Chansonia, a small theater on the outskirts of Paris. Following the death of the theater’s owner, The Chansonia falls into the hands of local robber baron and all ’round toughguy Galapiat, played with sinister charm by Bernard-Pierre Donnadieu. Galapiat plans on selling The Chansonia, but the dedicated players and crew of the small theater have other ideas. Cast against the backdrop of the dramatic social changes taking place in pre-war France, the theater stalwarts find themselves in the midst of a pétit révolution, as right-wing nationalists seek to break the changes brought about by the French workers’ rights movement. Clovis Cornillac, as would-be Marxist revolutionary and stage manager/performer Milou, leads the charge of an oppressed (and bewildered) mass of theater workers at The Chansonia who find themselves, paradoxically, owned by their neighborhood’s premier capitalist in the person of Gallapiat.
Things get off to a rocky start as the crew of The Chansonia is met with a chilly reception by the local theater-goers as their variety show bungles its way through lopsided musical numbers and comedy acts that run from the ribald to the inane, particularly the laughable performance of the so-called ‘Master Impersonator’ Jacky Jaquet played brilliantly by Algerian-born French actor Kad Merad. It seems as though Gallapiat will have no trouble at all ridding himself of The Chansonia, that is, until, young upstart Douce, played by the captivating Nora Arnezeder, comes to town. Douce and the gang at The Chansonia get into even deeper trouble as their little revolution soon finds itself in the midst of a lopsided love triangle and a drama that has its beginnings years before Douce comes to town, but nonetheless ensnares the friends of The Chansonia in yet another of life’s little catastrophes. Ah, but to tell any more would spoil the fun of surely the most fun you’ll have watching a movie for some time. You’ll have to check out the DVD next week; you’ll be glad that you did.
Highpoints of this film are its cast. Each and every member plays their part well. Nora Arnezeder is beautiful as Douce. Her singing and acting are second to none, and she captures the wide-eyed energy of her part perfectly. Kad Merad is outrageously funny and poignant as Jacky Jaquet, and Gérard Jugnot’s moving performance as Pigoil — the driving force behind the The Chansonia — is at times hilarious and other times moving. Bernard-Pierre Donnadieu is menacing as Galapiat.
The musical numbers are very enjoyable. They are of the classic variety that so captures the way that older Hollywood films were made and is reminiscent of the French classic Le Million. From its beautiful sets and scenery, to its wonderful story that offers something for everyone, Paris 36 is at the top of the must-see DVD’s to be released next week. But those are just a few of the things to enjoy about this big hearted film that hits all of the right notes. You’ll have to discover the rest for yourself!
120 mins, Rated PG-13 for “some sexuality and nudity, violence and brief language.”
This Academy Award-nominated French hit makes its Twin Cities debut this weekend at the Uptown Theater. Actor/writer François Bégaudeau draws on his own experiences to craft the story of a new year in a tough Parisian high school. The difficult students are a challenge for any teacher, but François is determined to do the best job he can. His own attitude surprises the students, but that doesn’t stop them from challenging him. Directed by Laurent Cantet, The Class won the Palme d’Or at the 2008 Cannes Film Festival.
WERE THE WORLD MINE
Starts Friday, Feb. 13 Lagoon Theater
Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream inspires this whimsical musical comedy that proves the course of true love never did run smooth. After being cast as Puck in the school play, unhappy gay teen Timothy discovers a secret recipe for the play’s magical love potion. With his new-armed magic, Timothy turns his town on its head by making them see the world through his eyes – starting with the guy of his dreams. Directed by Tom Gustafson, Were the World Mine plays at the Lagoon Theater for one week only.
BOYZ IN THE HOOD
Saturday, Feb. 14 at midnight Uptown Theater
John Singleton’s landmark 1991 debut roars onto the big screen as part of Midnight Madness at the Uptown Theater. Cuba Gooding, Jr., Angela Basset, Laurence Fishburne, and Ice Cube star in the saga of life in the Los Angeles ghettos. Three friends grow up in the hood amidst violence and crime. While some resist it in hopes of an education or the knowledge of what is right, the dark side of the neighborhood proves too powerful for others.
UNIVERSAL NOIR: THIS GUN FOR HIRE
Monday, Feb. 16 7:30 p.m. Heights Theater
Take Up Productions and the Heights Theater presents Universal Noir, a five-week series celebrating classic noir from the 1940s. All seven films are 35mm prints from the Universal Studios archives. The series kicks off February 16 with a screening of This Gun for Hire starring Alan Ladd and Veronica Lake. Hit man Philip Raven is on a mission for revenge after being paid off in “hot money.” While on the case, he meets beautiful entertainer Ellen Graham, who’s been hired to investigate the same man Raven is after. As they begin to track the same man, a shaky alliance is formed. All tickets are $8, and can be purchased in advance at HeightsTheater.com.
Can we be honest with each other for a moment? I’m not much of a fan of The Rocky Horror Picture Show. Oh sure I like the majority of songs, and the dance numbers aren’t half-bad and Meat Loaf makes anything awesome. Plus Tim Curry is a cinematic B-movie God and Riff Raff is a truly outstanding character. So yes, there is plenty to like about The Rocky Horror Picture Show even if I do think the whole thing is a bit overblown.
But lets be honest here. The movie loses serious steam by the third act as it desperately searches for a single decent joke or running gag to use with even minimal effectiveness. Plus Magenta creeps the hell out of me. But I think my biggest complaint about the film is that the fans, well, suck.
Along with several staff members at my theater, we have recently decided that we are going to write up a variation of the “Laminate list”. The Laminate List goes by all sorts of different names, but is generally known as the list of 5 celebrities that one is allowed to sleep with. But rather then this be a list about sleeping with people, we decided that we wanted to make it more of a fan list styled phone tree. So that if one of your Top 5 celebrities happens to come into the theater and you are not working, you would get a phone call and be provided the opportunity to stop in to the theater and possibly actually get to meet them.
Now at most places of business this would be a completely frivolous list. More of a way to pass the time and ignore whatever it is you are supposed to be doing. But I work at a movie theater in a relatively major metropolitan city. Celebrities are actually a fairly regular occurrence here in Minneapolis. A handful call the area home, and countless others swing on buy during their various tours, press meetings, or even being paid to party at our nightclubs.
Unfortunately, of the three Landmark Theaters in town mine is by far the least hip and the furthest away from the cultural epicenter that is Uptown. Because of this our level of celebrities tends to be rather low. Sure we got Bai Ling that one time, but who hasn’t had her? Or then there was the time Ned Beatty hung out for an afternoon, which was cool, but he also did it in part because he was trying to get us to sell his new CD. Which, by the way, was entirely devoted to him singing Gospel songs. I’m pretty sure we still have a case of them lying around somewhere. But outside of that we haven’t garnered much higher then the Minneapolis Mayor or local Sportscaster Mark Rosen.
Christophe Barratier’s Paris 36 is an endlessly enjoyable film with all of the vitality, comedy, and intrigue of the grand films of old Hollywood. 
Along with several staff members at my theater, we have recently decided that we are going to write up a variation of the “Laminate list”. The Laminate List goes by all sorts of different names, but is generally known as the list of 5 celebrities that one is allowed to sleep with. But rather then this be a list about sleeping with people, we decided that we wanted to make it more of a fan list styled phone tree. So that if one of your Top 5 celebrities happens to come into the theater and you are not working, you would get a phone call and be provided the opportunity to stop in to the theater and possibly actually get to meet them.
Entries (RSS)