The Closet
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Movie Reviews of The Closet
Movie Review: An archetypal French farce, glittering with star power.
Summary: 4 Stars
Francis Veber, the King of French Farce, keeps cranking 'em out at a rate that would boggle even the mind of Georges Feydeau. His latest, "The Closet," features nebbishy accountant Francois--mocked by his colleagues, abandoned by his wife, dissed by his son and about to be fired--who schemes to keep his job by pretending to be gay. Francois' gay psychologist neighbor advises him not to change anything about himself--what will change is other people's perception of him. That's not the only thing that changes in Veber's smoothly written, surefire-as-clockwork farce. Francois' life ends up changing in unforeseen ways, as do the lives of the people around him--particularly that of Santini, the homophobic personnel manager who must suddenly play up to Francois in order to keep his own job. All sorts of crazy complications ensue, and the denouement is appropriately sunny. "The Closet" won't change your life, but it will leave you feeling happy, and you will marvel at the sheer star power lavished on this lightweight tale. Daniel Auteuil and Gerard Depardieu, France's answer to Kevin Spacey and Robert De Niro, play Francois and Santini; in the supporting cast are Thierry Lhermitte, Michel Aumont and Jean Rochefort, which is roughly equivalent to having Richard Gere, Gene Hackman and Michael Caine in the supporting cast of an English-language movie. These superb professionals know exactly what is required of them, and deliver it gift-wrapped. As crazed as the comedy gets, it is the quiet individual moments that will really leave you rolling in the aisles: whether it's Auteuil's sick embarrassment at sitting on a Gay Pride float wearing a condom hat, or Depardieu's blissed-out, zombie stare as his world crumbles around him, you know that you are in the hands of master farceurs.Movie Review: I feel like I've tripped on to a nice little secret
Summary: 4 Stars
I enjoyed Francis Veber's 'The Closet' - released in France in 2001 - for two reasons. First, it features an all-star ensemble of French acting, certainly a tribute to Veber's skill as a director. Just take a gander at the first six names to appear on the IMDB credits:
Daniel Auteuil .... François Pignon
Gérard Depardieu .... Félix Santini
Thierry Lhermitte .... Guillaume
Michèle Laroque .... Mlle Bertrand
Michel Aumont .... Belone, the neighbour
Jean Rochefort .... Kopel, the director
Imagine a movie where the great Jean Rochefort gets slotted sixth. Each of these six stars can carry a movie in France on their own back. The fact that the group has teamed here is a testament to Veber's reputation. His previous release, 1998's 'The Dinner Game,' was lauded far and wide as a comedic masterpiece. Actors get attracted to that type of skill.
The second reason I got a kick out of watching 'The Closet': I just learned that 'Bend It Like Beckham' writing partners Gurinder Chadha and Paul Mayeda Berges are prepping a UK re-make for the screen for a targeted 2006 release, with Chadha at the helm. Her keen eye for comedy tinged with poignancy was confirmed by Beckham's runaway success, so I feel like I'm in on a really great secret knowing she's working on a re-make.
Movie Review: Very funny and entertaining
Summary: 4 Stars
If you are up for a fun entertaining light movie - The Closet is precisely what you are looking for. Here is the premise of the movie: Pignon is an employee at a rubber factory. He is in his early 40's, his wife left him two years earlier, and he is still madly in love with her, his only teenage son doesn't want to have anything to do with his "loser" dad. Pignon's co-workers ridicule him whenever possible, and he accidentally finds out from one of them that he is about to get fired. When everything seems lost and Pignon is ready to put an end his misery, he meets a new neighbor - an ex-psychologist, specializing in big industrial corporations. He advises Pignon to start pretending that he is gay, hoping that the company's president will be too afraid of an imminent sexual-discrimination suit and will not fire him. Gérard Depardieu plays a homophobe, who as a result of a prank, is manipulated into treating Pignon very nicely... Or way too nicely, as many think. A string of hilarious situations ensues.
The Closet is definitely a not cinematic masterpiece, but it's a good movie, without a doubt. It's humane and compassionate - showing the anguish of lonely people, and at the same time is witty, funny and charming. Gérard Depardieu, and Daniel Auteuil give a great performance. Definitely worth watching.
Movie Review: Une Farce par excellence!
Summary: 4 Stars
"Le Placard" (The Closet), from the creators of the highly acclaimed "Dinner Game", is a perfect balance of high farce and social voyeurism delivered with true Gallic pathos. Daniel Auteuil and Gerard Depardieu are perfectly cast in this terrifically funny look into the change in the life of a boring man who becomes the office celebrity after "coming out". The film starts with Francois Pignon (Auteuil) facing dismissal from his job. His workmates, his estranged wife and son all ignore him and he is on the verge of ending it all when a new neighbor (Michel Aumont) fortuitously arrives on the scene and tries to save Pignon. He hatches a plan to "expose" the straight Pignon to his workmates in order to engender sympathy and put fear into the minds of those who would fire him. Depardieu is brilliant as the homophobic personnel manager, Santini, who finds himself having to bow and scrape to the now- highly-esteemed Pignon. Unbeknownst to Santini, he has been set up. The office rumour mill is in overdrive and one cannot help but observe the obvious social references of this beautifully constructed little gem. I got more belly laughs from this film than any I've seen in years and whilst it's not exactly Ibsen, it belongs on any "must see" list.Movie Review: Well paced very funny French farce with really good theme
Summary: 4 Stars
This 2001 French farce made me laugh out loud at times. That's because the theme is so funny. A mild-mannered nerd who's been working as an accountant in a condom company for 20 years is about to be fired. In order to keep his job, he takes the advice of a neighbor and lets everyone think he is gay. Here's were the theme of political correctness and its absurdities really take off. Daniel Auteuil plays the lead and he's great. The expressions on his face are worth a thousand words. The plot thickens, of course, as Gerard Depardieu, a co-worker, macho rugby player, and very stupid fellow, lets himself be set up by some pals of his to befriend Daniel Auteuil. What follows are some really funny scenes. And then, Auteuil's female boss tries to seduce him. The acting and the timing of the jokes were perfect and the concept was wonderful.
It's a good thing it was only 85 minutes long, however, because with a film like this there is only one central joke and there are limits as to how far it can go. It might have been even better if it was cut to be even shorter. I do recommend this film, however. I loved the theme and the acting. And found it a pleasant evening of viewing pleasure.