PICK OF THE WEEK: Roman de Gare
The 49^th film from French writer/director Claude Lelouch tells the brain-teasing tale of  a novelist named Judith (Fanny Ardant) being investigated for suspected murder. The plot twists with a pedophile rapist on the loose and the coming together of a stranger (Dominic Pignon) and Huguette (Audrey Dana), a young woman abandoned by her boyfriend who asks him to pose as her fiancé for family visits in the countryside. Complying, he claims to be Judith’s ghostwriter, insisting he has the makings of her new novel. Roman de Gare bills itself as a metaphysical thriller, and it does a terrific job putting all its pieces together--there’s a nice red herring involving a woman’s husband gone missing. Pignon displays an impish charm, and Ardant is spot on as the “novelist-predator.” However, once the story circles back to Judith’s narrative, the whole film goes pffft. There is perhaps one twist too many, and the reversals of fortune have no impact. It is as if this neatly constructed narrative--full of intriguing music and overlapping images--suddenly collapses on itself. Despite its later failings however, the film's earlier successes, with its expertly winding plot and charming cast is certainly worth the ride.  

ALSO OPENING:

The Flight of the Red Balloon
Hsaio-hsien Hou’s homage to the classic short The Red Balloon opens with Simon (Simon Iteanu) imploring the red balloon of the title to follow him home. The filmmaker’s patient style and striking use of the color red makes this a wholly compelling and almost magical visual flight. The plot involves Song (Song Fang) being hired by Suzanne (Juliet Binoche) to care for Simon. The nanny and her charge go about their days, with Song and Simon taking walks or preparing pancakes. A film student, Song occasionally makes videos of Simon. Meanwhile, Suzanne is a performer in a puppet theater and has issues with her tenant Marc (Hippolyte Girardot). The Flight of the Red Balloon eavesdrops marvelously on these characters’ lives. No doubt the highlight of the film is a fantastic scene wherein a piano is tuned while mini dramas unfold in the same room (which is cluttered, like Suzanne’s life). While there is no big emotional crescendo, Binoche earns the viewer’s sympathy as Suzanne, especially when she tells Song that her film “touches deep feelings.” The same can be said about the exquisite The Flight of the Red Balloon.

Redbelt
David Mamet’s latest action thriller  features an all-star cast including Chiwetel Ejiofor, Emily Mortimer, and Tim Allen playing out a story of a martial arts master being tempted to sell out and enter into the film industry.