★ 7 / 10
It's quite hard to précis this without giving
CinemaSerf
It's quite hard to précis this without giving the game away, but suffice to say that when a film producer is found with an hole in his head, the police…
It's quite hard to précis this without giving the game away, but suffice to say that when a film producer is found with an hole in his head, the police conclude that aspiring actress "Madeleine" (Nadia Tereszkiewicz) is the prime suspect after rejecting his casting couch advances. The investigating judge "Rabusset" (Fabrice Luchini) isn't the sharpest tool in the box, nor is he really bothered about the voracity of any verdict, so long as it goes in the solved drawer. Luckily for our defendant, she is best pals with lawyer "Pauline" (Rebecca Marder) who constructs a defence steeped in theatrical delivery that she feels certain will promote the concept of self-defence and see her client walk free. Risky? Well just wait til the second part and the emergence of silent film star "Odette" (Isabelle Huppert doing her best Cleo Laine or Eileen Brennan impersonation) who threatens to inject just a little truth into this semi-farcical scenario and upset just about everyone's apple-cart. Whilst all these courtroom shenanigans are on-going, well-to-do boyfriend "André" (Édouard Sulpice) has come up with a plan to marry well but keep "Madeleine" as his mistress. Hmmm - not quite sure she's really up for that, but as the threads of the storylines start to knit together we are left with a plot that is anything but predicable. The ending isn't the best, it does sort of run out of steam a bit, but for the most part this is a quirkily enjoyable, well-acted, drama that pops a little at the judicial process and showbiz in a fashion that hits more than it misses. It's got a lovely period look to it, the score is suitably mischievous throughout and it proved to be a mystery worth a watch.
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★ 7 / 10
A stylish and witty tale of ambition and downfall
steveinadelaide
Madeleine Verdier is a struggling actress in 1930s Paris. She is accused of murdering a famous producer and is acquitted with the help of her best friend, a…
Madeleine Verdier is a struggling actress in 1930s Paris. She is accused of murdering a famous producer and is acquitted with the help of her best friend, a young lawyer. Her newfound fame and success become too much for her to handle, and she eventually spirals out of control.
Set in Paris during a time of great social and political upheaval, The Crime is Mine depicts the city's glamorous nightclubs and seedy underworld with great accuracy. Director François Ozon captures the atmosphere of the time, reflecting the impact of the First World War and the rise of fascism in Europe.
This stylish and witty comedy-drama explores themes of ambition and the dangers of getting what you want. The film's tone is light and humorous for the most part, but it takes a darker turn in the second half as Madeleine's downfall begins.
Nadia Tereszkiewicz delivers an excellent performance as Madeleine, the ambitious and reckless actress, supported by a strong cast, including Isabelle Huppert as Madeleine's best friend and Fabrice Luchini as the charming and manipulative lawyer who defends her in court.
François Ozon is a master of stylish period drama, and he directs The Crime is Mine with a sure hand, creating a visually stunning and emotionally resonant film. The film's score by Philippe Rombi is a perfect match for the visuals and tone, reflecting Madeleine's own dual nature. The cinematography by Manuel Dacosse is also sumptuous and evocative, capturing the beauty and glamour of Paris in the 1930s, as well as the city's darker side.
The film is full of symbolism, such as the recurring image of the red dress that Madeleine wears, representing her ambition and desire to be seen. The production design is impeccable, recreating the world of 1930s Paris in meticulous detail.
The Crime is Mine maintains a brisk pace, with witty and sharp dialogue that is perfectly suited to the characters and the setting. Ozon keeps the audience guessing until the very end, making it a fun and entertaining film with a lot to say about the dangers of ambition and the importance of staying true to oneself.
One minor criticism of the film is that it feels a bit overlong at times, with a few scenes that could have been cut without affecting the story. The ending also feels a bit too neat and tidy for my taste.
I would recommend The Crime is Mine to fans of stylish period dramas and witty comedies. It is a fun and entertaining film that delivers a powerful message about the dangers of ambition.
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★ 6 / 10
An entertaining and slight murder comedy from François Ozon with fun and silly dialogues.
ma-cortes
Set in Paris in the 1930s, Madeleine Verdier (Nadia Tereszkiewicz), is a talentless and bankrupt young actress. With a wide assortment of debt collectors…
Set in Paris in the 1930s, Madeleine Verdier (Nadia Tereszkiewicz), is a talentless and bankrupt young actress. With a wide assortment of debt collectors lining up at her door, struggling actress Verdier is with her back to the wall. As a result, as if the cruel hardships of poverty weren't enough, the penniless artist now stands accused of murdering one of the city's most famous residents. Madeleine is accused of murdering a powerful and lascivious French producer named Montferrand. A media trial takes place in which she is defended by her roommate, a young lawyer, Pauline Mauléon (Rebecca Marder), without a job. Fame still waits but the truth is about to be discovered. After being acquitted, she begins her new life of fame and success, until the truth comes out.
French director Ozon adapts a forgotten Parisian play from 1934 for this comedy of entanglements, in the purest 'screwball comedy' style of Hollywood's golden age. Ozon starts from the murder of a powerful, unscrupulous producer at the hands of a young actress to create a sarcastic, vindictive and theatrical comedy full of script twists. Interpretations are passable, such as Nadia Tereszkiewicz as Madeleine Verdier, a young actress who's accused of murdering a famous producer, she's a compulsive liar who admits to a killing she didn't commit so her friend, a failed lawyer, finely played by Rebecca Mader, can clear her name and build a reputation for herself. These two young actresses are well accompanied by veteran actors , such as: Fabrice Luchini, Dany Boon, André Dussollier and Isabelle Huppert whose role was based on famous theater actress Sarah Bernhardt. The film pays tribute to Billy Wilder and his first movie: 'Mauvaise graine (Bad seed 1934)' when the two protagonists go to the cinema and Medeleine Verdier is mentioned in the news bulletin, before the projection of a movie, alongside real murderesses - the Papin sisters and Violette Nozière whose character was performed by Isabelle Huppert herself in the classic film 'Violette Noziere' directed by Claude Chabrol. According to director Ozon himself, this 'Mon crime' (2023) is the third part of a trilogy about the condition of women initiated by the film: '8 women' followed by 'Potiche', all of them are usually characterized by sharp satirical wit and a freewheeling view on female sexuality. This 'Mon crime'(2023) is actually a loose rendition of the 1934 play "Mon crime", by Georges Berr and Louis Verneuil, which has already been adapted twice by Hollywood: 'Cross My Heart' (1946) by John Berry with Betty Hutton, Sonny Tufts, Ruth Donnelly, Rhys Williams and 'True confession' (1937) by Wesley Ruggles with Carole Lombard, Fred MacMurray, John Barrymore, Una Merkel, Porter Hall.
The film was professionally directed by Francois Ozon, but turned out to be a bit slow and implausible at times, not definitively engaging the viewer. Ozon is considered to be one of the best French filmmakers. His favorite director is Rainer Werner Fassbinder, that's why he made 'Peter Von Kant'. Ozon considers filmmaking a "parallel world", in which he flees the boring everyday life. Ozon calls actress Romola Garai his muse. Member of the 'Official Competition' jury at the 62nd Berlin International Film Festival in 2012 and he has won several prizes. Ozon is a prolific writer and director who has made all kinds of genres with penchant for drama and comedy, such as: ¨By the Grace of God' , 'Été 85', 'Le Refuge', 'Peter Von Kant', '5x2' , 'Angel', 'Dans la maison', 'Swimming pool' , 'Le temps qui reste', 'Criminal lovers', 'Everything Went Fine', 'Sitcom', among others.
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