With a loving, stable marriage of many years, a devoted son named Oscar (Lancelot Roch) and a quiet life in suburban France, life feels supremely happy for French couple Julien (Vincent Lindon) and Lisa (Diane Kruger). The household is shaken to its core, then, when an unthinkable series of events befalls the family: the police suddenly turn up and inexplicably arrest Lisa for a murder of which she appears to have no knowledge. She receives a sentence of twenty years in prison, but Julien
remains convinced of her innocence - and unwilling to endure the time it will take to sort through French bureaucracy and obtain an appeal. Reeling in turmoil, Julien grows so distraught that he resorts to a desperate plan of action by deciding to spring Lisa from confinement. ~ Nathan Southern, Rovi
Propelled by tension, this gripping prison escape thriller takes the form of a beguiling morality tale as it raises unfathomable issues between right and wrong
There's nothing exceptional about any of this but it is well made, decently acted (Kruger is clearly a star in the making) and rachets up the tension with some skill.
There's much to enjoy in this admittedly generic thriller - a snappy set-up, strong central performance and a story which escalates from cosy domesticity to bullet-riddled mayhem.
Pour Elle is a well-constructed French thriller that's, at the same time, a pleasing, exciting actioner and a harrowing drama. Excellent cinematography by Alain Duplantier and outstanding work from leads Vincent Lindon and Diane Kruger make the experience all the more powerful. Remade recently as The Next Three Days
with Russell Crowe and Elizabeth Banks.
I can't help wondering why Hollywood chose to remake this average thriller. Maybe running out of concepts? However, others might find this movie outstanding since I felt it was an ordinary one (in the near past, Winter's Bone and The Town were such movies which were great according to most people, but I found 'em
mediocre. I lack the sense of appreciating certain qualities and my ignorance doesn't let me enjoy 'em as much as others can). Check it out; maybe you're blessed with the talent of discovering greatness in what I find to be quite an ordinary work.
No quotes approved yet for Pour elle (Anything for Her). Logged in users can submit quotes.
Submit a Quote from 'Pour elle (Anything for Her)'
A quote can be a single line from one character or a memorable dialog between several characters. Please make your quotes accurate. Quotes will be submitted for approval by the RT staff.
Example:
Luke: Alright. I'll give it a try. Yoda: No. Try not. Do or do not. There is no try.
Top Critic
