JPF Home Page Forums Creative Arts Forums Acting, Theater, Film and TV Forum "Gimmie-A-Clue" Review: "TELL NO ONE"/ Francoise Cluzet/M-J Croze

Usually, when I agree to go to a Movie in French, with English Subtitles, it's to humor my French Wife. We amble down to the Old Tampa Theater, I go see one that Makes Her Happy, & I don't review it.

But THIS one, "Ne Le Dis a Personne" in its Native Language, I Highly-Recommend. It offers Likeable, Believable Characters, Excellent Villians, nice Early-On Nudity, & Great Views of Paris & some surrounding Countryside.

It's also got the most COMPLICATED "Whodunnit-&-Why" plotline I've seen, in Ages. I USUALLY figure out "WHO-Did-It" long before the Last Reel..but THIS time I GUARANTEE you WON'T until the very LAST 5 minutes of this Fascinating Flick.

Directed by Guillaume Canet, who adapted it from a novel by Harlan Coben, this Crime-Drama-Thriller opens with a handsome Pediatrician, Alexander Beck (Francoise Cluzet) heading to a private Swimming Spot in the Countryside, & swimming in-the-buff with his quite-attractive wife, Margot (Marie-Josee Croze).

After the swim, they lie together in the Altogether & doze-off on the dock. Margot awakes & dives in for a Midnight Swim. She emerges the other side of the lake, a stone's-throw away..then you hear sounds of a struggle in the dark. Dr. Beck dives in to save her, emerges, & is knocked-unconscious.

With That Intro, you next wake up to find his wife was brutally murdered..8 years ago..& Dr. Beck continues to be a prime suspect. Even more-so NOW, because new evidence has just been found. Complicating his life (& closure) is a coded email he's just received...from his "dead" wife..whom he's still in love with.

Canet weaves an intricate web of charm-&-deceit..rich-vs-poor..good-vs-corrupt cops..innocence-vs-guilt..& family-vs-outsiders. Along with plenty of violent, murderous thugs and exciting chase scenes to keep you on the edge of your seat...guessing! & Even when you think you know it all..you don't.

This Movie serves as a fine reminder that the Media rarely completely "gets its story straight"..(& sometimes there ARE some very GOOD reasons for that.)

Overall, it rates an "8-Outta-10" on the Bo Derek Scale of View-Worthiness. Zooming-In, I'd rate it a "10" for being "Just-Plain-Frightening"..having a Fascinating Musical Soundtrack (that ranges from Otis Redding..to Classical..to U2, all Quite-Effectively-Placed)..and for a really Beautiful "French Ending" that's Pure-Poesie.

See it so you'll know how well & differently the French can do Good Movies! (It's not one I'd take The Kids to..I'll add.)

JMO, Keep-or-Sweep-it!

Big Hugs,
Stan

Cool... we watch Foreign films all the time on Cable, even though few if any of our friends will come watch them with us. We don't got out to see them often in person because we rarely can get to the movies during show hours and there's only one "Art" cinema up on the north side of Indianapolis that shows anything outside the biggest hollywood releases (we last went there to see In Bruges, still one of my favorite films of 2008). I'll watch for this when it hits Cable though.

Brian

Nudity is always hot in French, Stan...Those words we don't understand sound sexy in their tongue ! !

HIDee Big Bro Brian!

You've got my Curiosity-Up on seein' that Bruges Flick...(& I've already visited & loved that place, Ages-Ago, when the Canals really STANK to high Hades..before a Major Cleanup occurred to attract Touristos..in the '70's)

Tampa's blessed with its Nicely-Restored Old Tampa Theatre, which is about a 15-minute drive from our Hacienda. All the other Artsier Theaters here have gone-under. Got the news today the Movieco 8, South of us at Britton Plaza, is now closin' up, due to the Times bein' what they are. It's been in-operation here at least 40 years..just not as Posh & Modern as the AMC Megaplexes around town. Tickets were cheaper..$7.25..but it didn't attract enuf fannies on the seats to keep on rentin' the space. Sigh!

This French Flick was released overseas in 2006..has taken it a bitta time to get US Distribution...but it's a Good'n'/Glad it's done so! I agree witcha...the Theaters need to come up with Easier Schedules for us Workin' Folks to fit into.

Best Wishes & a Big Guy-Hug,
Stan

G'Mornin' Bro Herbie!

I'm fairly fluent in French..married 38 years to a Fine French Filly/Mom in law speaks Zero English (& I managed to win her..& the entire Family..over!) Lived in Belgium 3 years, too...weekly flea market visits kept La Langue well-honed..heh! I love SPEAKING French..just get nervous WRITING it down, 'cuz I know I make a Lotta Little Gaffes & Errors in-the-process!

But..as any US Tourist in Paris can tellya, they Love It when Ya Try~! (They also kinda shun ya when ya Don't...heh!)

Nudity is hot in ANY language..heh-heh...&, as a former Nudist (Only 'cuz my French Wife got "Shy" on it)..I find clothes-optional to be Great Fun. (It frankly can get DULL..after about 2 weeks of it...honest it can!) My most Fun Observation-Made of a Nudist Colony is the Rich Folks just HAVE to wear More Gold than the Poorer Ones..so's ya can tell 'em apart!) ;-)>

And...ya haven't REALLY watched a Great Volleyball Game 'til ya've seen some European Chicks playin' it in the Altogether. (& showered up afterwards next to one of 'em..) ;-)>

Yep..those were the days. There isn't LOTS of Naked Skin IN this Flick..truly..but what-little's-there IS "Enjoyable"..& I'll certainly give the French credit for spicing up Whatever They Do with a little bit of "L'amour"!

Best Wishes & a Big Guy-Hug,
Stan