-->
The
Connection has the thrill of the chase, suspense, two brilliant calculating
minds pitted against one another, and awe, as it becomes more and more clear
how broad the involvement in illegal activity extends up to high levels of
government and across geographical space. It also shows the value of persistence and belief in
oneself in pursuing justice—but as well the tremendous price one may have to
pay for it eventually.
The star, the award-winning Jean Dujardin (The Artist, The Wolf of Wall Street, The
Monuments Men), plays a newly appointed magistrate in Marseilles, France, Pierre
Michel, who comes to the job reluctantly, preferring to stay on at his current
job in the juvenile system. But
the drug trade has reached such proportions, he is pressured into accepting the
new position, and he immediately goes to work on the case. The kingpin of the drug cartel, Gaëtan
“Tany” Zampa (Lellouche), is portrayed as a worthy counterpart to Michel—and
the actors even resemble one another in physical appearance and smart
attire. I think this resemblance
is purposeful in illustrating how criminals may not Iook the part, can be as measured and intelligent in solving
problems as the good guys, and value loyalty and family traditions just as much. One of the eeriest, chilling scenes in
the film is the two men meeting face to face on a relatively deserted road in
the mountains and exchanging veiled threats and dares. Clearly, they are equal matches.
Michel is persistent and calculating in setting
up traps to bring in Zampa; aware of Zampa’s values in loyalty and being a
father figure, the magistrate begins rounding up a wide swath of Zampa’s men,
even those closest to him. Zampa
is also calculating and rather cold-hearted despite some of his other traits,
and he expects to elude Michel’s efforts by ramping up his efforts to close an
important deal in the U.S.
However, this means the FBI will get involved, which ups the ante.
The film is inspired by a true story, the same
one from which William Friedkin’s 1971 film, The French Connection, was drawn, but this French writer/director,
Cedric Jimenez, wanted his version to be viewed from a European
perspective. I think he is
successful in this effort, and the story is worth telling again as a fresh take
on the drug business, which is still plaguing us today, a problem that reaches
to government involvement at the highest levels in some countries.
Jimenez is a producer who came to screen
writing and directing only recently, and he does a credible job in making The Connection exciting and suspenseful,
helped greatly by Dujardin’s and Lellouche’s fine acting.
The price of justice may be ever so
dear.
Grade: B By Donna R. Copeland
No comments:
Post a Comment