The Connection (La French)
Director: Cédric Jimenez
Talent: Jean Dujardin, Gilles Lelouche, Céline Sallette, Mélanie Doutey
Release Date: 29th May 2015
Jean Dujardin plays Pierre Michel, an ambitious police magistrate with aims of taking down the notorious La French, a heroin-smuggling racket headed up by a M. Zampa (Lelouche), a man who looks extremely like him and whose influence, as Pierre learns, extends far beyond the local underworld. In many ways, and as the title suggests, this is the French side to the American story that was William Friedkin’s The French Connection. However, Jimenez’ film lacks the poise, cynicism, conviction and sensibilities both aesthetic and moral of the 1971 classic. Extraneous narratives distract rather than illuminate, while the film’s emotional core – the family lives of the two men – is dealt with so cursorily as to completely bewilder when it kicks into full melodramatic gear in its final sequence. An unfortunate waste of a great soundtrack (Al Wilson’s The Snake is a particular highlight) and a wonderful wardrobe.
Words: Oisín Murphy-Hall