Good concept, poorly executed.

The film creates a perfect balance between action and depth of basic needs, in the midst of an infertile atmosphere.

Exactly the movie you think it is, but not the movie you want it to be.

The film may be flawed, but its message is not.

I very seldom give a 10 out of 10 in a movie, but this one fully deserves it.First at all, let's remember that this is a thriller, and thrillers are meant to have a plot full of surprises. Recently though, we have been witnesses to washed down versions of other washed down versions to the point that now almost everything that has a slightly out of the ordinary story and a murder or two becomes a "thriller".Not this one. This baby has lots of hard work and inventive. The actors are very believable and one thing I loved is the fact that the ones that are executives speak languages fluently. Seeing an actor in a non-comedy movie pretending to speak another language, and doing it poorly, simply kills the mood for the rest of the movie. But when the actor actually knows what he or she is doing, then it enhances the movie. One great example that comes to my mind is the opening sequence of Inglorious Basterds (sic). The other is this movie, where both costars are meant to be executives, and do both their French and English lines flawlessly.But the great work goes beyond that, because this is the type of movie that makes you think you had it all figured it out until it slaps you in the face with a better story. Of course, you will guess some stuff if you are not brain damaged, but you will also end up convinced of something just to see your little guessing work being thrown down the pipes. And that is a good thing because that is what a good thriller is meant to be.So, take these two advices I am giving you. First, it you like thrillers, watch this movie. And second, when you do watch it, either watch it alone or shut up so you don't look too silly in front of the rest of the spectators.

A brilliantly acted modern French thriller is one way of describing director Alain Corneau's latest film "Love Crime (Crime d'amour)". Starring Kristin Scott Thomas and Ludivine Sagnier as executive and assistant at a big corporate conglomerate. Scott Thomas plays the brutally ruthless and manipulative Christine, while Sagnier is Isabelle the young and beautiful assistant. (aka fresh meat).Christine has Isabelle take her place on a business trip to Cairo along with the attractive Phillipe. Before long they're having torrid affair, but when Phillipe breaks it off and Christine takes credit for all of Isabelle's work, the cat and mouse game of revenge begins. The story and plot are heavily structured and things have to happen as it's written to make everything else happen. I'm not all that familiar with the French legal system, but there are a few instances when something has to happen for the story to move forward and it doesn't matter how improbable it seems.When Christine publicly humiliates Isabelle in front of the all of the executives at a party, this is the last straw and Isabelle plans an executes an even more brutal plan. After another get together at Christine's house, Isabelle dressed in a white overall stabs her to death but leaves clues to implicate herself. At first viewing this seems kind of odd but its all apart of her elaborate plan. The evidence is seemingly overwhelming and Isabelle is sent to prison. With the help of her sister and friendly co-worker Daniel, Isabelle puts the other half of her plan into motion. The acting by these two women really pushes this film to more that just your average thriller.To put it in Hollywood terms its "The Devil Wears Prada" meets "The Perfect Murder". Eventually everything happens as it should and her masterful plan is complete. The road up the corporate latter is pretty brutal and leaves its share of victims along the way both literally and figuratively. Who ever wants it more and is willing to sell out their very soul will become that more rich and that more powerful. "Love Crime" is currently available on Netflix watch instantly.

Having watched Sweet Karma earlier tonight, I don't know if I was in the mood for two revenge movies, but this is very different.A favorite of mine, Kristin Scott Thomas (The English Patient, Four Wedding and a Funeral) stars with another fave, Ludivine Sagnier (Swimming Pool, 8 Women). They are number one and two in a multinational's Paris location. Christine Thomas) is not above stealing the ideas of Isabelle (Sagnier) to get transferred to New York.This was director Alain Corneau's last film, and it has already been picked up for a remake by Brian DePalma coming out this year. It is rumored that Rachel McAdams (Sherlock Holmes, Red Eye) and Noomi Rapace (the original Lisbeth Salander) will star.After Christine threatens and humiliates Isabelle, she plots her revenge. Needless to say, it is an elaborate plot. I can't say anything more or it will spoil the film for you.It had me on the edge of my seat in the second half.

I enjoyed this movie very much, as I usually enjoy French movies, whether they are comedies or dramas. The look of this film is impeccable, all interiors are exquisitely designed and of top quality as is the photography and the lighting, as perfect as they can get nowadays. The acting is superb and the pacing flawless. I just found among the dubious happenings, a most obvious flaw: Anyone will see immediately that a piece of cloth that was cut quite sharply with an Exacto knife, will get a sharp edge, a look totally different from a piece of the same fabric torn by accident, like getting the fabric caught on a nail or any sharp corner, accident that will practically destroy the edge of that fabric, leaving it completely unraveled. To me that is the most flagrant mistake in the whole script. Otherwise an excellent movie, quite absorbing and entertaining.