The Machine (1994)
This deftly made French psychological thriller terrifies with its exploration of an experiment gone horribly wrong. Dr. Marc Lacroix, a psychiatrist specializing in brain functions, is obsessed with the link between mind and spirit. To find his link he studies the criminally insane. He builds a secret machine, known only to his mistress Marianne, in which he hopes to exchange minds between humans. He simultaneously wants to help the mentally ill recover, and he wants to experience their madness. He chooses the psychotic killer, Zyto, a man who stabbed at least three women, for his experiment. The initial experiment is successful and the two exchange minds. But trouble ensues when Zyto refuses to reverse the switch. There is little Marc can do when Zyto takes over Marc's life, and more ominously his wife and child whom are unknowingly in mortal danger. Marc, encased in Zyto's body, is returned to the asylum. Will Marc's wife recognize the danger? Will Zyto kill again?
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The Age of Commercialism
That was an excellent one.
The film creates a perfect balance between action and depth of basic needs, in the midst of an infertile atmosphere.
A great movie, one of the best of this year. There was a bit of confusion at one point in the plot, but nothing serious.
this film is superb. I found the idea excellent and do not remember having seen something like it. Depardieu is brilliant as usual one would say; he deserves very special acknowledgment for this film where his talent is more than useful and very well utilized. Didier Bourdon is also very good in a part quite different from what he usually does; he shows in this film that he can be much more of an actor than what he has be doing for years with Les Inconnus on the funny side (although this was very good too); Nathalie Baye is a good an actor as she is beautiful, and the little boy (Erwan Baynaud) should not be forgotten; he was only 11 when he played this film. This film should be much more famous and appreciated. I first saw it around 1995 when it first came out, and saw it again today (feb 2005) with the same pleasure. It definitely is one of the 12 best films I know.
A psychiatrist (Gerard Depardieu) and his woman-stabbing patient accidently exchange minds with a machine (the machine) he developed. The maniac overthrows him before the transfer-back process and stays in the body. Now the psychiatrist is locked away in the clinic and the madman is at home with the psychiatrist's wife and child.Queer sounding story but nevertheless a fascinating, exciting "mind-exchange" movie. 8/10
***SPOILERS*** ***SPOILERS*** Those who think that this is the worst film ever made are completely missing the point.I know that "La Machine" has its share of flaws,but it's still exciting and it can be a real gut-puncher at times.Depardieu is excellent in the different personalities he has to affect,the rest of the cast is also splendid.yes,the similarities between this one and overrated John Woo's actioner "Face Off"(I love his Hong Kong stuff,but films he does in Hollywood are pathetic crap,though)are obvious.So is "La Machine" worth watching?Of course yes,but beware:there are two extremely brutal and disturbing knife killings in this film.Especially the last scene when young boy stabs to death his mother is really harrowing.10 out of 10.
Dr. Lacroix (Depardieu) has constructed a machine which will allow him to exchange personalities with one of his patients, a misogynistic multiple murderer (Bourdon).This thriller is a variation on the Frankenstein theme with the monster as a serial killer's mind unleashed in a psychologist's body. The film is under-budgeted and reliant on dialogue as many French films are. It can all seem a little overwrought and contrived at times, but still it's fairly good.Depardieu is convincing in the different personalities he has to affect. He is united with his frequent costar Nathalie Baye, although her role is a small one this time. There is even a very faint echo of the "What makes a marriage?" theme from their earlier film Le retour de Martin Guerre. So faint you probably won't notice.