State Affairs (2009)

Bad Acting and worse Bad Screenplay

A story that's too fascinating to pass by...

There are moments in this movie where the great movie it could've been peek out... They're fleeting, here, but they're worth savoring, and they happen often enough to make it worth your while.

One of the worst ways to make a cult movie is to set out to make a cult movie.

It's been a while since the last convincing french spy movie, and "State Affairs" might open a new era, as Olivier Marchal's "36, Quai des Orfèvres" did for french police thrillers.The pace is a typical french one for a spy movie, as in the great "Le silencieux" by Claude Pinoteau or the stunning "Espion, lève-toi" by Yves Boisset.The investigation goes slowly on, piece by piece, and all of them matters. The background intrigue is settled in Africa, where French soldiers are held hostages by rebel forces in Congo. The shadow "Mr. Africa" for the french Presidency, Victor Bornand, wonderful André Dussolier, has to deliver weapons as ransom to free the hostages, but the plane delivering the cargo is shot down somewhere over Congo. Bornand will then have to find who's trying to burn him with this potential scandal, in the middle of the presidential campaign.From these premises, we follow a young police officer, Rachida Brakni (delivering a bluffing performance), who's investigation on the murder of a young woman leads to a particular "Madame", manager of a very select escort-agency. Who happens to be intimate with our Mr. Africa.Third destiny, the one of a former member of the french secret services (DRI - new agency born from the merging of DGSE and DST after 9/11), Fernandez - very convincing Thierry Frémont - that works now as a hit-man for Bornand.Those three will see their paths crossing, with a score that reminds of old Italian westerns such as the famous "Django" movies or Ennio Morricone's score for "Espion, lève-toi".The cinematography is efficient and beautiful, night scenes are especially good, as the superb run across Montmatre near the end. Both editing and dialogues are flawless, leading us through corruption, murder, dirty state secrets' and struggle for power and surviving. 9/10 because of some unnecessary pathos.

I was not surprised by this film. I expected that. No more no less. I love french political thrillers; better than American ones, which are always politically correct, with bad guys vs goods guys scheme, good happy endings, and useless love stories between lead characters.It's very difficult to summarize such a movie. Nearly every body is crooked, corrupted, fierce and ruthless. No warmth between them, except some no said friendship. I could describe that as a sort of a hank of stories, where every one wants to get rid of another. It's very well described, edited and acted. Frémont is terrific as a ruthless hired killer. The female cop - an Arab - gives also here a powerful performance.Action sequences are brutal, bloody, very percussive, and talkative ones useful for a good understanding of this captivating tale.As SECRET DEFENSE, I commented last year, it shows how politicians are rotten and ordinary people expendable.A little masterpiece. A real gem.