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In the Closet

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[Movie review] [Eng | Esp] The Closet | A dangerous connection between worlds@jrjaime959d
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  1. Film Review: The Closet (Le Placard, 2001)@drax1034d

    (source: tmdb.org)

    Europe is generally regarded as more relaxed towards sex than America, and that involves even the way European cinema industries handle issues of alternative sexuality. An example can be found in The Closet, 2001 French comedy written and directed by Francis Veber.

    The protagonist, played by Daniel Auteiul, is François Pignon, modest and quiet accountant in rubber factory. His lack of strong character and inability to make impression on people around him has costed him marriage to wife Christine (played by Alexandra Vandernoot) and now even threatens his job, since the factory management considers him dispensable. Convinced that he has nothing left to live for, he contemplates suicide before he is at the last moment prevented by Jean-Pierre Belone (played by Michel Aumont), his neighbour and retired industrial psychologist. He gets brilliant idea how to save Pignon’s job. Pignon will simply “come out closet” and announce to anyone his homosexuality. Not actually being gay isn’t the problem, since couple of doctored photographs sent to Kopel (played by Jean Rochefort), factory manager, is enough to create concern over gay rights organisations protests and Kopel decides to keep Pignon at his job. But this isn’t the only consequence of Pignon’s revelation. Santini (played by Gerard Depardieu), macho chief of factory’s staff and rugby team coach, is afraid that he would get sacked because of homophobia, so he tries to present his allege tolerant nature with sometimes overly explicit displays of fondness towards Pignon. Franck’s teenage son Franck (played by Stanislas Crevillen) is, on the other hand, suddenly thrilled to have father who had secret “wild” side and starts hailing him as hero. Some, on the other hand, begin to suspect that Pignon isn’t exactly forthcoming about his true sexual orientation. That includes Mademoiselle Bertrand (played by Michèlr Laroque), charming chief accountant who takes some extreme measures to test her subordinate.

    Francis Veber, prolific playwright, screenwriter and director, has handled gay issues before, most notably in his script for 1978 comedy Le Cage aux folles which featured gay protagonist pretending to be straight. That film was, like many of his work, remade into Hollywood films. This isn’t likely to happen with The Closet which inverts basic premise, because in our more “politically correct” and more enlightened times, films dealing with those issues simply don’t look as groundbreaking as decades ago. The Closet, furthermore, gives impression of not fulfilling its humoristic and satirical potentials. Best gags are quickly spent and often aren’t too funny, so The Closet at times looks long despite having only 80 minutes of running time. General impression is, on the other hand, saved by excellent cast including some of the most respected names of French cinema. Daniel Auteuil, actor best known for his serious dramatic roles, seems quite at ease playing comic role. Gerard Depardieu is also great in his role. Despite being not as good as it should have been, The Closet is still very entertaining film that clearly show why French cinema was such a valuable source of ideas for unimaginative Hollywood.

    RATING: 6/10 (++)

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  2. The Closet (La Placard) - Movie Review@coldsteem2634d

    The Closet (or, La Placard in French) is an outre comedy based on political correctness in the workplace.  The film takes a lighter look at the dynamics of "the office" and turns traditional thinking on its head.  The premise is brilliant, the execution decent.  An film that is mindless wacky fun.

    What occupation could be duller than accountant? Maybe the guy that makes sure the "M" is printed on the M&M's?  I don't know.  But accounting seems like a pretty good starting place for a character that has no character.  A bland, run-of-the-mill John Doe that people barely notice.  The dullard in The Closetis an accountant at a condom factory named Francois Pignon (or pigeon as others like to call him).  Francois is the victim of corporate down-sizing...it seems that his job has been deemed redundant.  He won't be missed...it seems he does not interact with any of his co-workers anyway.

    Francois (Daniel Auteuil) is ready to jump to his death when his plans are rudely interrupted by his new neighbor Belone (Michel Aumont).  Together, the two new neighbors hatch a plan to save the dullard's job.  Belone photoshops three pictures of men in a gay bar dressed in assless chaps.  The photos are then anonymously mailed to the company.  Francois has already been fired, but the company reconsiders out of fear of reprisal from the gay community, which are a large segment of their target demographic.  Francois suddenly finds himself the center of attention and actually becomes engaging.  He also finds himself compromised by his female boss Mlle Bertrand (Michele Laroque) whom he accuses of sexual harassment. 

    The changing office dynamics and opportunism pursued by Francois' co-workers create an atmosphere where anything can happen.  Francois' teenage son Franck (Stanislas Crevillen) suddenly finds him more interesting.  A co-worker, Felix (Gerard Depardieu) gets in touch with his feminine side and Francois embraces his new found ability to breathe the air.  The situations are manipulated by Writer/Director Francis Veber, who creates some decent comedy through contrived methods.  Although contrived, there are some funny skits that make this silly campy film endearing.

    Other than Depardieu, I am unfamiliar with much of the cast.  Depardieu had a decent and slightly challenging role that he appeared to embrace.  He was great.  Auteuil was convincing, going from drab and uninteresting to likable and captivating.  Laroque was bookish, attractive and projected a keen intellect that made her role as the boss that sees through Francois' ploy believable.  The cast did an admirable job with a quirky script.

    The Closetwas rated R by the Motion Picture Association of America.  The film has one sex scene with exposed male buttocks shot from a good (thankfully) distance.  There was some drug use, routine alcohol consumption (Wine...this is shot in France) and sexual themes.  The adult themes, which form the crux of the script, would be enough for me to give careful consideration to the age group for this film.  Although not overly sexual, it is patently sensual and adult...making me think that the rating was a little harsh but not unfair.  This film is probably a little higher than PG-13...and should be fine for teenage audiences.

    I laughed out loud several times while watching The Closet.  The script was a bit engineered to tie sketch ideas together into a coherent screenplay.  Although the skits were often funny, it felt a little bit manipulative.  I have an offbeat sense of humor, so I enjoyed the silly sketches.  Poking fun at political correctness is always enjoyable, too.  The acting was decent enough to make the film worth recommending.  Decent fun for an older foreign film. 7.5/10.

    Trailer and images subject to copyright.

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