Truly Dreadful Film

Disturbing yet enthralling

This is ultimately a movie about the very bad things that can happen when we don't address our unease, when we just try to brush it off, whether that's to fit in or to preserve our self-image.

There is, somehow, an interesting story here, as well as some good acting. There are also some good scenes

Not having a clue as what to expect, and the prospect of nothing better to watch, we decided to tune in this crime film that showed a good promise as it starts, but it clearly went downhill as the hero, Jason Bartok, (any relation to Bela Bartok, the great composer, is purely coincidental) gets involved in a love affair with the exotic Linda.Director Ramin Niami who wrote the material with Steve Beschloss, probably had a better picture in his mind than what really comes out in the finished product. The movie has a lot of elements that have been better done in other films of this genre. There are situations that require a stretch of the imagination.The best thing in the film is Lin Bai, a beautiful presence in any film. Karen Black is asked to play the madam of a shady joint, camping all the way to the top. Chad Allen's Bartok probably required a different tone.Oh, and by the way, Bartok and Linda gets close to Paris at the conclusion of the story!What worked best in the film is the phenomenal cinematography by Jack Cochram who captures some great scenery one does not get to see often in Hollywood movies. Also the music score by John Cale contributes to create the atmosphere of the story.

The director, Ramin Niami captures a bold vision in this story of good-cops-gone-astray trying desperately to redeem themselves. The tension of the quest is palpable throughout the film. Bai Ling is beautifully tragic in her performance of a trapped Chinese forced into sex-slavery by the cruel circumstances of her no-choices life. Chad Allen and James Russo are convincing as the cop duo whose partnership and trust disintegrates with the unfolding of events. The entertainment value and glimpse into the realities of the sex slave trade make Paris very worth seeing. Tastefully done, what is thankfully missing from Paris is blatant useless gratuitous sex and violence. Yet, the tragic and lovely romance between Jason (Chad Allen) and Linda (Bai Ling) develops elegantly amidst the desert panorama of Paris' setting. All of this makes the suspense of Paris also very romantic.

I've read a number of the comments on this film, and have a bit to agree with on most of them. The budget on this film had to have been very, very low. It's obviously shot on video, but the lighting is actually pretty good. The plot is old and, in essence, revealed in a flying hurry. Novice cop Jason Bartok (overacted by Chad Allen) accidentally shoots his partner, Leon King (wheezed through by James Russo), and the dirty-cop partner sends him off with a sack o' money and the "dying wish" that he find Linda, an Asian girl, with a picture and the name of a massage parlor. Jason's an idiot, plain and simple. He runs off, headlong into prostitution rings, Asian mobs, and finally into the arms of Linda (naturally an Anglicized version of her Chinese name, Shen Li - played by Bai Ling). Naturally, they run from one seedy motel to another, eventually falling in love in one night of awkward revelations and the revelation of Bai Ling's pert talents. From there, they predictably have to pay off Shen Li's debt to the mob, which inevitably reveals the unsurprising fact that Leon is still alive. Shootout occurs, all is made right in the world, and they're off to their shared dream...Paris. The acting is generally poor (though both Bai Ling and Chad Allen have moments of better acting), the plot is refried, and even the T&A is subdued. It won't kill you to watch it, but boring is the watchword.

Paris is a beautiful contemporary film noir. The photography is excellent and shows how great DV can look. The film offers an impressive combination of unique visual motifs with an intriguing plot. The romantic story is highlighted by Bai Ling's captivating acting. Her beauty stands out and she shows a wide emotional range. Considering she is still at the beginning of a great career!Also, Karen Black adds some extra sparks to the story.Overall, the filmmakers created a wonderful enjoyable film, I would highly recommend it!