Directed by:
Olivier MarchalScreenplay:
Olivier MarchalCinematography:
Denis RoudenComposer:
Bruno CoulaisCast:
Daniel Auteuil, Olivia Bonamy, Catherine Marchal, Francis Renaud, Gérald Laroche, Guy Lecluyse, Philippe Nahon, Clément Michu, Moussa Maaskri (more)Plots(1)
Ever since the brutal slaughter of her parents, Justine has lived in solitude, wishing to remain as close to invisible as possible. However, the early release of the killer stirs up fear and pain. She finds an unlikely source of comfort in Louis Schneider, a troubled Crime Squad cop in Marseille. With his police force discredited by a series of particularly savage and vicious murders which remain inexplicably unsolved, Schneider, an incorruptible individualist, decides to go against the opinion of his superiors and begins an investigation which will lead him to the gates of hell. Will helping Justine lead him to some form of redemption? (StudioCanal UK)
(more)Reviews (8)
The technical aspects of this film are brilliant and Marchal is among the top directors in France, not only in his genre. It is difficult to criticize the acting performances, as Daniel Auteuil is currently the greatest acting ace of French cinema, and he convincingly portrays his burnt-out bitter policeman. The music, editing, and cinematography are all excellently coordinated and fulfill the director's intention. However, I have difficulty with the content, although the script is logically constructed, it all feels somewhat overexposed. All the conflicts are taken to the extreme and create not only a pessimistic but directly nihilistic image of today's France and its justice system. Moreover, the main character is not only imperfect but can serve as a textbook example of a ruined man who has perfected his self-destruction and can hardly gain the audience's sympathy. The film, for example, works with the idea that 25 years of imprisonment is clearly an inadequate punishment for a man who committed a double murder. It is actually an indirect challenge to debate about the death penalty. Frankly, I do not believe in miraculous character changes and the rehabilitative environment of a prison, but a man on the verge of his seventies will already be too exhausted after 25 years of imprisonment and it will be difficult for him to plan and commit further crimes. Emotionally, I simply could not identify with the film. Overall impression: 65%.
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I had been putting off watching this Olivier Marchal film for a long time. Having heard nothing but praise from various sources, my expectations were understandably high. And now, I can unfortunately state with a clear conscience that the director has better works in his collection. The acting is top-notch, no doubt about it. Daniel Auteuil shone once again, just as he did in 36th Precinct, delivering another one-man show. However, the problem lies in the painfully slow pace, with almost nothing happening throughout the entire runtime. I was expecting a thrilling chase of the main killer, but that never materialized. Sure, the visuals are among the best I’ve seen. I haven’t seen a detective film that exudes such boundless pessimism in every shot for a long time. The music is also enjoyable. But I can't forgive the film’s pace, I really can’t. The ending did veer a bit off the rails (there I felt a touch of the old Marchal), but it wasn’t enough. For me, it’s 6.5/10.
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The Last Deadly Mission is a gloomy film-noir crime thriller in the vein of Fincher’s Se7en or Zodiac, with a powerful atmosphere of despondency, the great Daniel Auteuil, the beautiful and fragile Olivia Bonamy, dialogue scenes with dirty napkins in an ashtray with cold whiskey spilled on them. It is a brilliantly made film in technical terms, but the screenplay could have cut down a bit on Auteuil’s drinking. He drinks probably more than Nic Cage in Leaving Las Vegas and it makes the film seem 20 minutes longer than it actually is. But all that diligently constructed gloom still deserves a solid four stars.
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Olivier Marchal, a former law enforcement officer and director with a God-given talent, tells another story. That story is that carrying a badge is a heavy burden and it usually doesn't end with the discovery of the killer. Marchal tells the story simply, almost sparingly, and more or less in images. He doesn't prattle on in dialogue and the actors make it all feel incredibly vital, pulsating, and real, like life in uniform itself. The best "crime" film since Zodiac.
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The Last Deadly Mission is a dark psychodrama with a criminal theme, shot in the style of classic French detective stories. The main role of the broken policeman, who transforms his futile struggle for justice into total self-destruction, was played very convincingly by Daniel Auteuil. The movie gradually picks up the pace until towards the end it uncompromisingly explodes into a crushing finale. (75%)
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