Podium

[Chevalier Bayard]

Tonight we've been to movie theater with Yomghee and to watch Podium which had been released for several weeks already ...



The superstar of this movie is the belgian actor Benoit Poelvoorde.



Benoit Poelvoorde is a great star in Belgium and in France after his lead role in C'est Arrivé Près De Chez Vous (Man Bites Dog: It Happened in Your Neighborhood being the international title for this movie in which Poelvoorde was also co-screenwriter)


He has then played in several nice movies and became also a TV star with his show "Les Carnets de Monsieur Manatane" (Ithil's avatar is Mr Manatane ).

Far from this lunatic serial killer of C'est Arrivé Près De Chez Vous, Benoit Poelvoorde plays in this movie a man, Frédéric Bernard, whose profession is "Claude François".



I don't know if that name "Claude Franþois" reminds you something as I'm not sure he is more than a very french speaking star. ... hey ! I've found an english writen site about him, here : Claude François. In France and I think Belgium too, Claude Franþois is a figure of the disco period, "the strass and the gold dust". Which had never really disapeared from the "folklore" and had been brung back to the front of the scene, especially with the gay culture during the 90's.

In this movie, Frédéric Bernard is not a weirdo thinking he is Claude François but a "professional" whose job is to be Claude François



He is not just a double, he is him when he works
He has decided to stop that as his wife was not understanding his passion at all but decides to get back on stage when he learns about a "doubles competition" with 100,000 € for the first price and ... no need to mention he receives a phone call from Claude François himself who orders him to go and win the competition

So we see him learn Claude François's life by heart while he trains himself to dance and to sing, training also his "Bernardettes" who will dance with him like the Claudettes for the original one.



Well ... I must say I've been driven to see this comedy as MANY people who had seen it already, including several frenchies around here, had told me to go see it as they had spent a nice moment watching it ...

And they were right

I've enjoyed it but it is not such a great movie. I think I've also laugh twice time more than I would have if they weren't two girls at my right laughing constantly (Yomghee will testimony I guess ).

But there are several very nice moments and Benoit Poelvoorde's performance calls for compliments, especially when you know he is really singing ... The movie could not have been without him ...



I haven't read the book from which the movie has been made so I couldn't be disapointed by any changes (Rottweiler's told me the end was different).

my mark : 3/6

Which means it worths to be seen.

Chevvie

[Nau of Sands]

I put a 4.

I agree it s not such a great movie, but Benoit Poolevorde is amazing !

He acts not only like a clown, but gives a real depth in his character, a frustrated bank accoutant who becomes a ferocious monster on stage when he puts his flashy clothes on and becomes " claude franþois "

He never overplays his role, to me it's -by far- among the best acting performances I ve seen this year (and maybe for many years)

I ve heard too that the end has been changed from the book, but I don't know if it's so important, as the book was written to be the screenplay of the movie, and to convince Benoit Poolevorde to accept the role.

& the happy end is not ridiculous, because Poolevorde's acting shows the tragic side of his character, there s no need to insist on it with a sad ending.




I ve got the impression that the directing of the movie is not so great, I think it s the problem.

Did you have this problem ??? When I left the theater I had this disco music in the head and could'nt get rid of it argh !

Too bad I guess it s the kind of movie that won't be released outside France & Belgium, it's worth beeing seen

[Yomghee]

Well Nau and chev have said all i wanted to say.

I put 4/6 because i like Disco and Benoit plays very well his job of Claude francois. I've a lot dance when i was teenager on Claude song's and this film force me to listen again my old Claude compilation cd today, lol .

About the happy end.... well too much emotions for me. I would prefer a good laugh. .

[Wappendorf]

I wanted to give more than 4/6 because claude franþois's disco is very fun anyway and benoit poelvoorde (who live in the same town as me ) is a really good actor
But after reading the posts here, i have to admit some little things aren't very well directed.
Hum... I put a 4 but i should have put a 5, because i enjoyed the film very much even if it's not that great film.

LOL @ Yomghee, indeed the happy end is lot of emotions ;'D