[FILM REVIEW] THE CRIME IS MINE Review (2023)
Summary: Madeleine Verdier, a young actress, is accused of murdering a famous producer. After being acquitted, she begins her new life of fame and success, until the truth comes out.
Year: 2023
Cinema Release Dates: 12th October 2023 (Australia), TBA (Thailand), TBA (UK), 25th December 2023 (USA)
VOD Release Dates: TBA
Country: France
Director: Francois Ozon
Screenwriter: Francois Ozon, Philippe Piazzo
Cast: Jean-Claude Bolle-Reddat (Emile Bouchard), Dany Boon (Fernand Palmadrede), Jean-Christophe Bouvet (Montferrand), Myriam Boyer (Mme Jus), Olivier Broche (Leon Trapu), Evelyne Buyle (Simone Bernard), Suzanne de Baecque (Celeste), Franck de la Personne (Pistole), Andre Dussollier (M. Bonnard), Michelle Fau (Le procureur Maurice Vrai), Isabelle Huppert (Odette Chaumette), Regis Laspales (M. Brun), Felix Lefebvre (Gilbert Raton), Fabrice Luchini (Le juge Gustave Rabusset), Rebecca Marder (Pauline Mauleon), Anne-Helene Orvelin (Secretaire Bonnard), Daniel Prevost (M. Parvot), Lucia Sanchez (Mme Alvarez), Edouard Sulpice (Andre Bonnard), Nadia Tereszkiewicz (Madeleine Verdier)
Running Time: 102 minutes
Classification: MA15+ (Australia), TBC (Thailand), TBC (UK), TBC (USA)
OUR THE CRIME IS MINE REVIEWS
Alex First’s The Crime Is Mine Review
A French comedic crime caper, The Crime is Mine is a scrumptious delight.
It intoxicates from the get go and doesn’t let up.
The takeaways are crime pays and equal rights for women are not to be sneezed at.
We are in Paris in 1935.
Madeleine Verdiere (Nadia Tereszkiewicz) is a struggling, attractive young actress, who can’t land a role.
She lives with unemployed lawyer Pauline Mauleon (Rebecca Marder).
The pair – who even share a bed – are about to be booted out of their apartment because they are months behind on the rent.
With money a major issue, they use the murder of a lecherous, ageing film producer – Montferrand (Jean-Christophe Bouvet) – to their advantage.
Verdiere claims Montferrand turned her down for a part in a movie and that she shot and killed him in self-defense, after he began pawing her.
Her motive in confessing is to ignite her acting career from all the publicity the case will generate.
Pulling the strings – feeding her her lines – is her best friend and roommate Mauleon.
The pompous acting judge eager to see the case brought to court, Gustave Rabusset (Fabrice Luchini), is happy to have the narrative fit the crime.
Having wrapped everything up so neatly and quickly, he can only see his standing in the judiciary grow.
Showing more than a passing interest in Verdiere is Rabusset’s friend and companion at the time the murder was committed, Fernand Palmarede (Dany Boon).
The wealthy architect and master builder, too, has richly benefited from Montferrand’s demise and is happy to lend Verdiere a helping hand.
Also worth mentioning is that Verdiere is in love with Andre Bonard (Edouard Sulpice), the son of a tire magnate (Andre Dussolier) and he with her.
But that business is in trouble and Bonard gambles. He proposes an arrangement whereby he marries a rich, if plain Jane, heiress and Verdiere becomes his mistress.
While Verdiere is none too pleased with that contention, the impending court case is set to change Bonard’s resolve.
And finally, in the wake of the legalities, a self-serving, haughty, silent film star with aspirations of grandeur comes out of the woodwork.
Odette Chaumette (Isabelle Huppert) is looking for a big payday and is desperate to resurrect her career.
Based on a play by Georges Berr and Louis Verneuil, The Crime is Mine has been written and directed by Francois Ozon (Swimming Pool).
Philippe Piazzo has collaborated on the screenplay.
I loved everything about the movie. It is bright, breezy and charmingly preposterous, beautifully scripted and pieced together, with twists aplenty.
The exaggerated affectations adopted by the actors suit the work perfectly.
Nadia Tereszkiewicz and Rebecca Marder present as a wickedly appealing duo, who use their feminine wiles to great effect.
Fabrice Luchini revels in the entitlement his position of power carries.
Dany Boon oozes charisma and confidence.
Isabelle Huppert’s sweeping entrance late in the piece is the cherry on top.
She presents Chaumette as a blowhard, full of bluster who won’t stop until she gets what she wants.
I greatly admired the period detail intrinsic to the film – the cars, the production design, set decoration and costuming are a delight.
The music by Philippe Rombi adds heart and tension. I couldn’t recommend The Crime is Mine any more highly. It is lighthearted and bewitching.
Alex’s rating Out Of 5
Average Subculture rating Out Of 5
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