Directed by:
Peter WeirScreenplay:
Peter WeirCinematography:
Geoffrey SimpsonComposer:
Hans ZimmerCast:
Gérard Depardieu, Andie MacDowell, Bebe Neuwirth, Robert Prosky, Jessie Keosian, Ethan Phillips, Lois Smith, Ronald Guttman, Ann Wedgeworth, John Spencer (more)VOD (2)
Plots(1)
A French musician emigrates to the United States and enters into a marriage of convenience in order to obtain a green card. (official distributor synopsis)
Reviews (8)
I didn't find it much of a comedy, since there really wasn't a moment where I laughed or where I found something really funny. Still, it wasn't a movie I was necessarily bored with. I let Depardieu and MacDowell take me through the process of getting my Green Card. And I give it an extra star for how it turned out, otherwise I would have "only" given a better three :-) because it had a really intelligent script.
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First of all, I have to say that Peter Weir is one of my all-time favourite directors, something that was very evident here. His smart script and fluid direction, together with the excellent cast of Gérard Depardieu and Andie MacDowell, result in a somewhat inconspicuous but nonetheless immortal representative of its genre, with qualities that are unattainable for today's peers. A very pleasant and ironic outlook and a simple plot, but thanks to the performance of the leading couple, it cannot lose its charm even on repeated viewings. I'm very happy to ignore the small detail that the name of your wife's cream can ruin your marriage... Right between four and five.
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A very nice romantic comedy, and I’m saying it as someone who doesn’t like the genre very much, in fact, I avoid it (I’m going through Peter Weir’s entire filmography, otherwise I’d never watch Green Card). It’s not a comedy that will make you burst out in laughter, but it does leave you smiling for a long time. 8/10
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Green Card is a film that works thanks to smart casting. Honestly, without the central acting duo of Gérard Depardieu and Andie MacDowell, it would just be a run-of-the-mill romance that film studios churn out in large quantities. Combining Gérard Depardieu's robust emotional acting with his square, seemingly awkward character, and Andie MacDowell's delicate and intellectually inclined performance was cleverly done and turned out perfectly. As a comedy, Green Card never really worked for me, as it lacks the witty and timeless dialogue of someone like Francis Veber or functional gags. Most of the successful scenes, which attempt to play for humorous effect (except a few charming moments like "Can I go to the bathroom?" - "Why?"), take advantage of the contrasting differences between the two actors. The romantic storyline with several emotional peaks and an open ending, however, works very well. Director Weir leads his flock and the entire film crew reliably, but the premise offered greater possibilities and the screenplay could have been further polished to create a truly great film. Andie MacDowell is a whole other subject. She is a relatively average actress who, like many others, got into the film industry through modeling, and an incredibly likable and pleasant person who, with good direction, was able to significantly elevate the film during the 90s when she was at the height of her physical attractiveness. Overall impression: 65%.
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Peter Weir is not exactly the type of director who relies on a dynamic plot, scene progression, or heavy emotions, so Green Card is solid but not particularly entertaining as a comedy. The introduction is confusing and the introduction to the main characters is relatively clumsy. This is followed by a somewhat disjointed pursuit of the desired goal (the green card), and finally, some clichés, but the way we reach them is more than solid, without overly familiar pseudo-romantic scenes, with little pathos, and with fresh and relatively cleverly acted and written scenes throughout. Nothing extraordinary, but as an afternoon snack, it is satisfying.
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