Description
The always popular Gerard Depardieu (102 DALMATIANS, VATEL) stars in a warmly engaging comedy that shows how one little white lie can change everything! A dull and lonely accountant working at a condom factory, Francois (Daneil Auteuil) meekly endures office jokes and backroom whispers that he's about to be fired ... usually instigated by his loutish coworker Felix (Depardieu). But that all changes when a rumor about him spreads around the office! Much to his surprise, this funny falsehood becomes the catalyst that sends Francois' life on an unexpected and hilarious turn for the better! As this outrageous, critically acclaimed story unfolds, you'll laugh along with Francois as he keeps this improbable charade going in an inspired bid to save his job and transform his life!Amazon.com
French humor, which isn't exactly subtle, is delivered via an especially broad premise in The Closet. A nebbish (Daniel Auteuil) who works at a condom manufacturer learns he's about to be fired; with the help of his neighbor, he pretends to be gay so his boss can't fire him without seeming prejudiced. Then a bigoted coworker (Gerard Depardieu) tries to worm his way into the nebbish's good graces because he's afraid of being fired. In the wrong hands, The Closet could be ham-fisted slapstick. What makes this movie truly delightful is the superb understatement with which every gag is handled; even the sight of Auteuil wearing a giant condom tip on his head has an impeccable deadpan grace. All the performances are excellent; Depardieu's smarm is particularly delicious. Each scene takes a new twist of social discomfort and befuddlement in this winning comedy. --Bret FetzerAlso Recommended...
0 out of 1 people found this review helpful:
homosexuality has advantages1 out of 1 people found this review helpful:
Light Comedy with a Conventional HeartThe movie is set in modern-day Paris, but largely in its suburbs and office parks, which we don't really get to see very often over here. People live in apartment blocks, and drive cars; office parks have parking lots. It's nicely filmed, and gives us an interesting world. Plus, it's warm, charming, and funny, though extremely light, and funniest the first time around. But it's utterly conventional at heart. There's no doubt that, somewhat disappointingly, it actually puts credence in the sexual stereotypes it's been kidding: but, hey, it's a comedy, and a funny one.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful:
Superb French comedy with sad undertones.François Pignon seems to be able to do nothing well in life. Until, by
an accident of fate, and a bright neighbour, formerly an enterprise
psychologist, they find out how to avoid the bad news, get to know
who's who in his family and work colleagues, and get the reins of his
own life, which seemed to be a robot's.
Michel Aumont is a fantastic actor, so natural it makes you tremble.
Without him, the film just wouldn't exist. Yes, Auteuil is also fine as
a likable looser. When he "squints like a gay", he really does
something ... unusual. Like on a Rorschach test, it just takes an
ambiguous image for us viewers to project who we really are. The
envious co worker, the racist macho, the brainy one who plays with
other people's feelings like if they were chess pieces, the bright
beautiful competitive blonde which rightly suspects from the start, the
boss who wields power but just doesn't want trouble, the bright African
who also has mixed feelings about the white majority, his stunning but
sour & selfish ex wife, their aloof frivolous teenager, in short, the
human comedy. Balzac would be proud.
Pignon, like his neighbour's kitten, is probably too grey to be
distinguishable from most people we know. If there's something
reassuring in this comedy that takes place at a fake condom factory is
that we could all change. If only ...
Veber, director of "The dinner game" and of lesser works, is at his
best here.
While stereotypes abound, they are probably forced upon us to make the
"clockwork orange" of gags work relentlessly. At that it succeeds
admirably.
Pure enjoyment!
PS: Kudos to the nicest kittens I've seen on a film :).
0 out of 1 people found this review helpful:
Sexual discrimination reversed0 out of 1 people found this review helpful:
Totally nutty, but thoughtful satire, poignant and goofy.Listmania!
- My Foreign Film DVD Collection
- Top Grossing Foreign Films in the US
- If you want to discover Daniel Auteuil (1950 - )
- If you want to discover Gérard Depardieu (1948 - ) - 1st part.
- Top Twenty Foreign Films!
- Favorite French Language Films
- TOP FRENCH MOVIES
- Favorite Foreign Films
- 14 Reasons to Watch a Daniel Auteuil Film.
- Movie rents: pt. 3
