Paris 36
(aka Faubourg 36/2008/Sony DVD)
Picture: C+ Sound: B- Extras: C+ Film: C+
Almost a
Backstage Musical, Christophe Barratier’s Paris
36 (2008) ambitiously attempts to capture the excitement of a new time in
the great city with a new political regime trying to rebuild the country, new
opportunities for art and fashion also present themselves. For Pigoil (Gérard Jugnot), a stage manager,
it is a new opportunity to make his place the hottest place in town.
Unfortunately,
with Nazis knocking on the door, things will not necessarily go as planned and
other unexpected twists (and “talents” waiting to take the stage) only make the
situation odder still. As amazing singer
Douce (Nora Arnezeder) becomes the featured act, the place comes alive in what
will be the last hurrah for the arts for a while.
The film
has its moments, but cannot escape the shadow of so many greater films of its
type and the most obvious comparison will be to Children Of Paradise (1945, reviewed elsewhere on this site), but
that is a very different film. This is
meant to be as much a visual experience as anything and has some story to back
it up, but the makers juggle more than they can fit and deal with in two hours
and a clash of magic and reality never mesh.
However, for its ambitions, Paris
36 is worth a look.
The
anamorphically enhanced 2.35 X 1 image is a disappointment considering this was
one of the few films of late anywhere to be blown-up to 70mm and shot by the
very capable Director of Photography Tom Stern (Changeling, Exorcism Of
Emily Rose) in real anamorphic Panavision.
No matter the stylizing approach, this is softer than it should be, yet
looks like a film print or Blu-ray (for which it is not being issued in yet)
could be a winner. The Dolby Digital 5.1
mix is pretty good with healthy surrounds, a good soundmaster used and music
that sounds good too.
Extras
include a good feature length audio commentary with Barratier and Arnezeder,
deleted scenes and three featurettes on the making of the film, interviews
included.
- Nicholas Sheffo
