Deux Jours à Tuer (2008)

Nice.

The story is cleverly constructed; in hindsight, once the truth is revealed, it is all quite clear, but before that, I went from one surprise to the next. Anyone who says it is predictable is welcome to explain to me which details I missed. Dupontel gives a very skillful performance, but leaves very little room for the supporting roles—a shame, because I would have liked to see a bit more of Marie-Josée Croze. Another striking strength of the film is the tremendous pace of the story—that, too, only really struck me in retrospect, and it contributes to the impression the film leaves behind.

Translated from Dutch · View original

A decent film about a man who decides one day to quit his job and leave his family as well. He is a fascinating main character in himself, with his unpredictable and often antisocial behavior (which makes for a few good scenes). You have to wait until the end of the film for the reason behind his behavior, and that resolution was a bit of a letdown to me. It does help, however, that the film isn't too long.

Translated from Dutch · View original

A magnificent film, with a stellar performance by Albert Dupontel as the director of an advertising agency who throws in the towel and kicks all those so-called friends out of the house. That scene where the dinner guests come to blows is pure gold, of course. He leaves home and hearth, and young children, and boards a boat. Where to, I wondered? Ireland? Gradually you begin to understand why he is burning all his bridges, but even so, it remains suspenseful until the very last moment. Oh yes, and let's not forget the beautiful score. A top-notch film.

Translated from Dutch · View original