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Posted : 11 years, 11 months ago on 4 June 2012 11:59
This flick is a perfect example that, even if you have a rather preposterous story, you still can manage to make an entertaining and compelling movie. Indeed, the whole thing was about a average guy who decides to help escape his wrongfully accused wife. I don't know about you but when I heard this plotline, I wasn’t really impressed and I was expecting one of these dumb action flicks I have seen so many times in the past. However, it turned out to be a rather gripping thriller. I mean, of course, the story was still really far-fetched (especially when the main character went to steal money from some drug dealer and ended up in a shoot-out, that was far from believable) but the directing was really effective and Vincent Lindon gave a really solid performance and it was above all thanks to him that I really get into the story. Diane Kruger wasn't bad either but she honestly didn't have much to do during the whole thing. Eventually, I was wondering during the whole duration how this guy was going to pull it off and thanks to Lindon's down-to-earth approach, it was quite entertaining. Only 2 years later, they would come up with an American version starring Russell Crowe which was not bad but this original version was really better. Anyway, to conclude, it was a pretty decent thriller and it is definitely worth a look, especially if you are interested in French movies.
Anything For Her (2008) Reviews
The great escape.
Posted : 14 years, 6 months ago on 1 November 2009 07:46
''You have to be a criminal born...''
With no legal means left to him, a high school teacher devises a daring plan to rescue his wrongfully imprisoned wife from jail.
Vincent Lindon: Julien
Supported by an excellent script by the director, outstanding cinematography by Alain Duplaintier, and a moody score by Klaus Badelt, Anything For Her is entertaining, riveting, and ultimately a very touching portrait of love. None of it would be very convincing, however, if not for the outstanding performances of Lindon and Kruger, especially Lindon whose sudden personality change requires great skill to put into action. Lindon's eyes convey powerful emotion that is not a look of desperation but rather one of strong and unyielding determination that serves as a catalyst for the events that build to the film's heart pounding climax. Although Anything For Her has been criticized for being "implausible", when an individual's every act is consumed with passion and overwhelming intention, then the implausible will most certainly become the plausible.
Julien is an unprepossessing French teacher, happily married to Lisa (Diane Kruger), a wife he deeply loves. Their idyllic suburban life is rudely interrupted, however, when the police shockingly crash their home and arrest Lisa on suspicion of the brutal murder of her boss. With Lisa's fingerprints on the weapon, and the victim's blood on her jacket, she is found guilty and sentenced to twenty years in prison. If you like your suspense powerful and unnerving, do not hesitate to seek out Anything For Her (Pour Elle), the debut effort of French director Fred Cavayé, an enormously entertaining thriller that delivers a high level of satisfaction.
Imprisoned for a crime she probably did not commit (the director offers two possible scenarios but it is clear which one is the more likely), Lisa, still proclaiming her innocence, faces long, dark days ahead without her husband and their young son Oscar (Lancelot Roch). Overwhelmed with sadness, Julien becomes single-minded in his drive to reunite the family. After three years, when his attorney tells him that Lisa stands no chance before the Appeals Court and Lisa becomes suicidal, refusing to take her insulin shots, Julien knows that he must take matters into his own hands and will stop at nothing to accomplish his goal.
Overall, Anything for her is a tense thriller, a story of unfortunately being in the wrong place at the wrong time, and of how sometimes there are gaps in any man made law. Gaps which elude justice, fairness and a murky line between finding the guilty and sparing the innocent. Anything for her really shows that one does anything for love, for the ones they love, even in the face of unrelenting danger. This is a must see for any foreign film lover, for any lover of indie films, for a glimpse and depiction of despair, and the miraculous hope for the hero's success in his goal. A must see.
With no legal means left to him, a high school teacher devises a daring plan to rescue his wrongfully imprisoned wife from jail.
Vincent Lindon: Julien
Supported by an excellent script by the director, outstanding cinematography by Alain Duplaintier, and a moody score by Klaus Badelt, Anything For Her is entertaining, riveting, and ultimately a very touching portrait of love. None of it would be very convincing, however, if not for the outstanding performances of Lindon and Kruger, especially Lindon whose sudden personality change requires great skill to put into action. Lindon's eyes convey powerful emotion that is not a look of desperation but rather one of strong and unyielding determination that serves as a catalyst for the events that build to the film's heart pounding climax. Although Anything For Her has been criticized for being "implausible", when an individual's every act is consumed with passion and overwhelming intention, then the implausible will most certainly become the plausible.
Julien is an unprepossessing French teacher, happily married to Lisa (Diane Kruger), a wife he deeply loves. Their idyllic suburban life is rudely interrupted, however, when the police shockingly crash their home and arrest Lisa on suspicion of the brutal murder of her boss. With Lisa's fingerprints on the weapon, and the victim's blood on her jacket, she is found guilty and sentenced to twenty years in prison. If you like your suspense powerful and unnerving, do not hesitate to seek out Anything For Her (Pour Elle), the debut effort of French director Fred Cavayé, an enormously entertaining thriller that delivers a high level of satisfaction.
Imprisoned for a crime she probably did not commit (the director offers two possible scenarios but it is clear which one is the more likely), Lisa, still proclaiming her innocence, faces long, dark days ahead without her husband and their young son Oscar (Lancelot Roch). Overwhelmed with sadness, Julien becomes single-minded in his drive to reunite the family. After three years, when his attorney tells him that Lisa stands no chance before the Appeals Court and Lisa becomes suicidal, refusing to take her insulin shots, Julien knows that he must take matters into his own hands and will stop at nothing to accomplish his goal.
Overall, Anything for her is a tense thriller, a story of unfortunately being in the wrong place at the wrong time, and of how sometimes there are gaps in any man made law. Gaps which elude justice, fairness and a murky line between finding the guilty and sparing the innocent. Anything for her really shows that one does anything for love, for the ones they love, even in the face of unrelenting danger. This is a must see for any foreign film lover, for any lover of indie films, for a glimpse and depiction of despair, and the miraculous hope for the hero's success in his goal. A must see.
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