Review by Doug Cooper
Stars Ethan Hawke, Kristin Scott Thomas, Joanna Kulig, Samir Guesmi, Delphine Chuillot, Julie Papillon, Geoffrey Carey,
Mamadou Minte, Mohamed Aroussi, Jean-Louis Cassarino
Written by Pawel Pawlikowski
Certification UK 15 | US R
Runtime 85 minutes
Directed by Pawel Pawlikowski
Based on Douglas Kennedy's novel, this disjointed drama stars Hawke as American Tom Ricks, recently arrived in Paris so that he can see his estranged daughter. His ex-wife has custody of the child and is very unwilling for him to have access. Why? Is Tom dangerous? He has spent time in a hospital but we see no displays of violence from him. Or do we?
He has his suitcases and money stolen from him when he falls asleep on a bus, but manages to get lodging in a seedy, run down hotel if he works nights as a security guard for the establishment's dodgy owner. He also strikes up a liaison with the mysterious Margit (Scott Thomas), an enigmatic translator, as well as having a secret fling with his boss's girlfriend (Kulig). Soon murders occur. Who is the culprit?
Unfortunately, we're never intrigued enough to fully care. Pawlikovski has come a cropper here after his acclaimed My Summer With Love. He invests the narrative with a a formal and cold austerity that leaves poor Hawke floundering. The actor does his utmost in trying to keep the proceedings juggling along but is finally defeated by the confusing narrative. It ultimately makes no sense whatsoever. It's not a bad movie per se, merely a bungled one. You'll leave scratching your head, annoyed at having sat through a dissatisfying storyline that fails to add up. Very disappointing.