Stranger in the House (1992)
Since the suicide of his wife, Jacques Loursat has gone downhill. Estranged from his daughter, his lawyer's pratice in ruins, he consoles himself with drink. One night he is woken by a gunshot and catches sight of a young man fleeing the house. Isabelle, his daughter, claims to know nothing about it, even when he finds the body of a young man. Isabelle hangs around with a gang of spoiled young people who have no shortage of money, and is in love with Joel, an ambitious boy involved in drug dealing. Antoine, from a more modest background, is in love with her. When the police start investigating Joel's murder, Antoine becomes the ideal suspect.
Watch Trailer
Cast
Similar titles
Reviews
Although it has its amusing moments, in eneral the plot does not convince.
It's complicated... I really like the directing, acting and writing but, there are issues with the way it's shot that I just can't deny. As much as I love the storytelling and the fantastic performance but, there are also certain scenes that didn't need to exist.
Exactly the movie you think it is, but not the movie you want it to be.
This is a gorgeous movie made by a gorgeous spirit.
An aged Belmondo plays "out of character" as a lawyer at the bottom, drinking his days away after the suicide of his wife 10 years ago. He lives in the same house as his daughter and her governess but he rarely interacts with them. One evening a shot rings out and a dead body is found in his house. One of a group of his daughter's friends is implicated in the murder. Belmondo decides to defend this person.The plot line is simple - a drunken lawyer whom everyone discounts observes and asks the "right" questions. It is a detective movie, with Belmondo "innocently" talking to his daughter's friends in social settings before the trial. Belmondo sees many things which the police and court officials have overlooked. In the court room all discount the sleeping drunk. During Belmondo's cross-examinations truths come out. As the trial warms-up so too does the cold relationship between Belmondo and his estranged daughter.With such a simple plot it is hard to articulate why I enjoyed this movie other than the excellent acting by almost all involved. It is much better than the somewhat similar movie (The Verdict) starring Paul Newman.
I had seen this movie years ago, when I was a kid, and I remember that I was very impressed by the way Belmondo, who usually played either very charming and light-hearted characters or tough, "Dirty Harry-like" cops, portrayed this alcoholic lawyer forced to get back on the saddle, but I guess I was too young to fully understand the meanings of the story. Well, I just saw this film again last night, and thought it was just brilliant. Belmondo's performance is truly one of his bests, and the supporting cast is quite impressive, with Odette Laure, Cristiana Reali, Georges Geret, Sandrine Kiberlain and Pierre Vernier. Lautner's direction is very atmospheric, the dialogs are subtle and even if the plot can seem a little week at first sight, it's much deeper than it looks. So my rating is 8 out of 10, Belmondo at his best!