Awesome Movie

Fun premise, good actors, bad writing. This film seemed to have potential at the beginning but it quickly devolves into a trite action film. Ultimately it's very boring.

I really wanted to like this movie. I feel terribly cynical trashing it, and that's why I'm giving it a middling 5. Actually, I'm giving it a 5 because there were some superb performances.

Very good movie overall, highly recommended. Most of the negative reviews don't have any merit and are all pollitically based. Give this movie a chance at least, and it might give you a different perspective.

Intelligent, droll, well made study of one cowardly man creating a new identity and remaking himself as a hero under the cover of war. Poses interesting questions about identity and truth, and how we all invent ourselves. Some terrific cinematography, and a solid lead performance by Mathieu Kassovitz. On first viewing, something was missing for me emotionally. Sometimes the ideas seemed heavy handed, and other times, motives and characters underdeveloped. But on re-visiting the pieces fell together, and while the underlying ideas still sometimes felt familiar, the sting of the satire danced beautifully with the underlying sadness of the main character.

This film is a true masterpiece. The character delineation of our hero and how he gets there is true comedy at its best. Great comedy not only makes us laugh but makes us reflect on human life at the same time. This film does that. We get a satire on recent French history and well as the mores of the society. There are so many scenes where one knows that only a French film could be made this way.This film is even better than Mr. Audiard's marvelous film "Read My Lips." The acting is superb and the script flawless. Do yourself a favor and rent this.

Original in its subject (the story is about a fake hero in the Second World War, but it deals too with the way we all build our everyday masking personality in front of the society)and its form (the film is structured as a mock documentary), "A self-made hero" contains lots of irony and a great performance of Kassovitz. However, even though it didn't want to be a thriller, the plot needed more tension and unfortunately lacks of it. We rarely have the feeling that the main character is going to be discovered and due to that some twists aren't believable at all.

Sweeping tale of a smart and lucky imposter, masterfully played by Mathieu Kassovitz during most of the movie. This combines short real footages with great acting all around. David Fernandes is touching as the young Albert, Jean-Louis Trintignant is perfect casting as the older/narrator.An unforgettable movie. Have to see it to believe it. Perfect script. Once again a wonderful movie that did not get the respect, publicity, "fame" it fully deserves.See this!