★ 5 / 10
Ad Vitam is a well-made French action thriller
Dean
Ad Vitam is a well-made French action thriller that succeeds in its technical execution but stumbles with its core narrative. Guillaume Canet delivers a raw…
Ad Vitam is a well-made French action thriller that succeeds in its technical execution but stumbles with its core narrative. Guillaume Canet delivers a raw, believable performance as Franck, and the opening home invasion sequence is genuinely tense and frightening. The film does a great job showing the grit of elite GIGN training, and the practical stunts feel much more grounded than your typical Hollywood blockbuster.
However, the "government conspiracy" at the heart of the story is where the movie loses its footing. The idea that the French domestic intelligence (DGSI) would go to such extreme, "dirty" lengths—including kidnapping a pregnant woman and trying to assassinate a former elite serviceman—to cover up a botched robbery feels highly unrealistic. It shifts the movie from a grounded police drama into a cynical political fantasy that doesn't quite match the realistic tone of the action. Furthermore, the film is dominated by an incredibly long flashback that takes up nearly half the runtime, which kills the momentum of the present-day search for Franck's wife.
★ 5 / 10
Ad Vitam" follows in the footsteps of many
MovieGuys
"Ad Vitam" follows in the footsteps of many, many other French action crime thrillers but somehow doesn't quite pull it off. The story that occurs briefly in…
"Ad Vitam" follows in the footsteps of many, many other French action crime thrillers but somehow doesn't quite pull it off.
The story that occurs briefly in the opening scenes of the film and the final third are what you might expect. Frenetic action, intrigue and spectacle abound. Regrettably, these elements are sandwiched between what amounts to an excess of "cop bonhomie" that's overstated and over long, stealing too much of this films run time.
The outcomes a film that feels absurdly short and as a result, more than a little dissatisfying.
In summary, decent acting, decent action but let down by an unbalanced script that doesn't seem to know the difference between an action crime thriller and a drawn out police soap opera. A marginal watch.
★ 5 / 10
A forgettable thriller with missed potential
Giuseppe_Silecchia
Ad Vitam (2025), directed by Rodolphe Lauga, is a thriller that follows Franck Lazareff (Guillaume Canet), who survives an attempted murder and embarks on a…
Ad Vitam (2025), directed by Rodolphe Lauga, is a thriller that follows Franck Lazareff (Guillaume Canet), who survives an attempted murder and embarks on a quest to find his kidnapped wife, Leo. As Franck delves deeper into a world of mystery, he is confronted by his past and swept into a state conspiracy that proves more than he bargained for. While the premise offers potential for a gripping and emotional story, the film fails to rise above the clichés of the genre.Guillaume Canet, despite being a talented actor, feels miscast in this film. His performance, while competent, lacks the depth and complexity that might have made his character truly compelling. It's surprising that an actor of his caliber chose to take on a role in such a formulaic and uninspired narrative. The supporting cast, including Jamel Blissat and Rayan Bouazza, doesn't bring anything particularly noteworthy to their roles, with their performances often feeling wooden and lacking emotional engagement.The film's biggest weakness lies in its screenplay. The story follows a predictable path, offering few surprises or twists. While it tries to combine elements of action, mystery, and conspiracy, it never fully commits to any one genre, leaving the narrative feeling disjointed. The pacing also suffers, with certain plot points dragging on too long, and the dialogue feels repetitive and uninspired, leaving little for the viewer to truly connect with.Visually, the film offers some decent action sequences, but the cinematography doesn't bring anything fresh or innovative to the genre. The direction is competent but lacks the flair needed to elevate the film beyond its generic premise. Ultimately, Ad Vitam feels like a classic example of a film that is forgettable, offering only brief moments of intrigue before fading into obscurity.Rating: 5/10. A passable thriller with little to distinguish it from others in the genre, despite a talented cast and a promising premise.
38%
TOMATOMETER
· 13 reviews
33%
AUDIENCE
· 100 ratings
5.9/10
11.6K
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So much illogical part, very good emotions, know how to have fun 6.0