The Crimson Rivers (2001)

How sad is this?

This is one of the few movies I've ever seen where the whole audience broke into spontaneous, loud applause a third of the way in.

The movie's neither hopeful in contrived ways, nor hopeless in different contrived ways. Somehow it manages to be wonderful

It's simply great fun, a winsome film and an occasionally over-the-top luxury fantasy that never flags.

Although it bears superficial similarities to David Fincher's Seven, CRIMSON RIVERS is very much its own film and if I had to pick a film to partner it I'd choose the Christopher Lambert-starrer RESURRECTION. This is a French thriller full of Gallic charm and style even if it covers familiar ground and the technical qualities are strong enough to make it stand on its own merits. The film has a strong structure, initially cutting between two separate and seemingly unconnected story lines. Jean Reno (LEON) is on hand as a tough-as-nails detective hunting down the killer of a man found tortured to death, his body hung from a mountain. Vincent Cassel (EASTERN PROMISES) is an unorthodox cop looking into a case of desecration. Before too long, the paths of these cops intertwine and then the film gets really good, thanks to this central pairing.The buddy-buddy cop idea is as old as the hills but Reno and Cassel are two fantastic actors who breathe new life into it. Watching their verbal and physical sparring is delightful. Reno plays it subdued and brooding while Cassel is wonderful given a rare opportunity to shine in a good guy role for once. Really, the serial killer story is merely the background for these two fine Frenchmen to do what they're made to do. The story itself is adequate, but the climax suffers from being rushed and too confusing, leaving many viewers scratching their heads and wondering just what has been going on. The eventual twist is also rather outlandish. Still, this doesn't matter, because the movie never stops being entertaining.The bleak and chilly surroundings reminded me of INSOMNIA, while the instrumental soundtrack adds heaps to the suspense. There's an undercurrent of sadism and themes of Nazism and genetic engineering that give this film its dark heart. There are also some nice action set-pieces, including an excellent car chase that breathes life into the tired film cliché, and a fun fight between Cassel and a couple of thugs that doesn't fit with the rest of the movie but which I enjoyed all the same. A film that works purely because of the strength of the two main actors involved, CRIMSON RIVERS is a lot of fun and a highlight of the genre.

Parisian police commissioner Pierre Niemans (Jean Reno) is called in to investigate a murder of 32-year old single professor Rémy Caillois of mountain-side picturesque university in Gueron. He's been horribly beaten left naked in a fetal position on the side of a mountain. The university is an isolated self-sufficient incestuous place. Meanwhile volatile inspector Max Kerkerian (Vincent Cassel) is investigating a grave desecration and a school break in.I really like the start with the creepy isolated location and the vicious murder investigation. I like the tone of it and I love Jean Reno's work. Then they split the movie into two investigations. I have nothing against Vincent Cassel or his side of the story. I just couldn't wait for them to get back to Reno. It just breaks up the movie and takes away the tension. The two investigations give off different tones anyways. Around midway, the two detectives are forced together but it needed to happen sooner. They form a fine combative duo. With more time together, they could create more chemistry in the relationship. The mystery is a convoluted one and not altogether satisfying. There is just one too many craziness going on.

I'm not a fan of French movies as a rule, especially over-rated "horror" or thriller flicks - I find them either excruciatingly slow & boring (eg Vanished) or gratuitously violent with no decent plot or common sense - just violent for the sake of it and often with ridiculous tacked on "plot twists" in an effort to appear "clever"(eg Haute Tension). But this one really grabbed me. I'm glad I gave it a chance despite it's "Frenchness". Sure it has some problems towards the end some of which I understand are due to the difficulties of adapting the novel to screen, but I had no problem understanding what was going on. I loved the relationship between the two leads & the interesting way two story lines intersected. The direction & camera work was top notch, great soundtrack that enhanced the atmosphere and terrific acting from the cast. The plot was great too and pretty much everything worked the way it should. It needed a bit more fleshing out & explanation but it's not too obtuse without it. Just feels unfinished.It's a shame the ending is a bit of a let down but it doesn't detract from the movie overall - it's still well worth watching. It just brings it down a few points from what could have been a top rating flick. This is well worth watching for people who enjoy a good thriller, can stand a little gruesomeness but are not interested in pointless slasher movies or self-congratulatory plodding "mysteries". If you can handle the level of "gore" in say Criminal Minds or Silence of the Lambs you should be OK with this one.

This French crime thriller has a tremendous global reputation and it is well deserved. Shame on me, but one reason is that it IS an American crime thriller. Only everyone involved is French, they speak French and it was filmed in France.This is not to criticize this flick, but this movie references a ton of American movies. For one reference, "The Shining." The entire setting is at a university in the French Alps that is so remote that it can be cut off for a month at a time during winter from the nearby village. What are they up to? This is not your normal university. It is so insular that most of the professors and students, all of whom are geniuses, are children of former professors and students. Can you say, "eugenics"? One step to "uber race".The setting is a stunning portrayal of a remote place in the Alps. In the U.S., this would be the Rockies. Or, perhaps, the Sierra Nevada. Lonesome territory. Who knows what goes on.The ending revelation, I have to admit, caught me by surprise. But it was earned.I am not one to urge American remakes of European films, but this would work as a remake stateside because the plot touches on issues that Americans have had (at least a little) experience with -- fascism, eugenics and racism.That stuff was crazy. But there is a vestigial legacy. Can you say "tea party?"