Anthony Zimmer (2005)

I'd seen 'The Tourist' when it first came out over a year ago. The Angelina Jolie-Johnny Depp starrer was an entertaining film...one of the things which prevented it from being great though, was that it could never make up its mind as to whether it was a suspense thriller, an action thriller or a comedy. But I'm pleased to say that the French original 'Anthony Zimmer' has no such identity crisis.The plot of 'Zimmer' is very simple and in retrospect I can't but help feel that 'The Tourist' sometimes needlessly embellished (and in the process, complicated) the story. The simple premise allows for more focus on the characters, their motivations and their relationships. Another thing that stuck me while watching this film, in contrast to 'The Tourist' was that on the whole, it was a much more 'intelligent' film...things weren't always explained to the audiences word for word. Some things the viewer needs to put together himself while watching the film. Case in point, Chiara's (Sophie Marceau) motivation in befriending Francoise Tallandier (Yven Attal) as part of her scheme to fool Anthony Zimmer's pursuers is something which one has to assume based on the action on-screen and other subtle hints-its only explicitly spelled out more than halfway through the film (whereas in 'The Tourist', its made glaringly clear to us pretty much from the start).A major superficial difference between the two versions is to do with the style and grandeur of the remake, which is contrasted by the relative simplicity of the original. Whereas the remake had a speedboat chase in Venice, the original has an equivalent scene of a chase sequence in an underground parking lot. The lack of emphasis on set designs and scenic beauty reinforces the film's prime focus on the character's and their story and also serves to give the film a much more 'serious' feel as opposed to the flamboyance of the remake.Special mention must be made of the lead actor Yven Attal. Unlike Johnny Depp's comedic take on the bumbling American tourist caught up in a world of intrigue, Attal's character is an ordinary man who is keenly aware of the danger he's in, but who also adapts to circumstances quickly enough. His relationship with Marceau's character does read more like genuine love, as opposed to the relationship between Depp and Jolie in the remake which felt more like an infatuation/fascination on Depp's part. Sophie Marceau's 'Chiara' is likewise a VERY different character from Angelina Jolie's 'Elise Ward'...unlike the glamorous and enigmatically playful Elise, Chiara is a much harsher individual, though she does reveal a softer side as the story progresses.On the whole, I feel 'Anthony Zimmer' is a much more serious, and tighter film, than the remake, though I will always remain a fan of the comically thrilling Depp-Jolie starrer as well!

First I have to confess Alfred Hitchcock is not my favorite filmmaker - perhaps partly due to the somewhat clunky exposition he sometimes used but there are elements of Anthony Zimmer which I enjoyed and which recalled Hitchcock at his best. As so many have said before me Sophie Marceau is very,very good in Anthony Zimmer but , for me, Yvan Attal was the standout. I have liked his somewhat deadpan style since "Les Patriots" (still one of my favorite thrillers) and here, as the 'ordinary' guy supposedly caught up in things beyond his knowledge he plays a much more realistic Cary Grant type than you would usually see in a Hitchcock movie. Sure, you can tell pretty quickly he's not really who he seems to be but then how long did it take you to figure that Grant wasn't all he seemed in "North By Northwest". That's part of the fun of films like Anthony Zimmer. I've seen "Zimmer" twice and I'll be more than happy to watch it again.

... as so much can (and obviously does) get lost in the process.I was surprised so many agreed to the main user_comment at the beginning, until I noticed likely none had seen the french version.What I particularly liked is that there are various pieces of information what can figure out; like the fact the Sophie (Chiara) is hiding something, what cannot be guessed immediately. Why is even harder. Motivitations are at the core of such movies, and since some things we take for granted can lead us down the wrong path, and like a chess player having read several moves ahead, one must backtrack and start over.Ms. Marceau surprised me - I knew her to be very pretty, but in this movie she adds a new twist. Mr. Attal is also very good - I'm not sure how easy/difficult it is to portray this - but I was hooked from the get-go.### It's one of those movies that makes you feel very intensely, even if you can question the motives (i.e. you know that if a "femme-fatale" hits on a plain looking guy, she wants something). Should he go along with this - common sense dictates you shouldn't but there are times in a person's life where you are not ready to make the right decision or don't care to - not realizing how serious the situation can become. ###All in all, a very enjoyable movie for those tired of CGI, or totally unrealistic movie story lines.Keep 'em coming, JM.

I found this movie a bit slow paced in many places, sometimes unnecessary so.However that being said, I have noticed that the major part of the plot has already been given away in the first 20 minutes of the film. If you watch and listen carefully, you will realize who Anthony Zimmer really is. I thought this is a real let down to this movie. Too predictable.Sofie Marceau is really very sexy in the movie, much better than what Hollywood filmed her in their movies. As usual, she portrays a woman who is coldly sexy, turning to a hot object of desire in several scenes.The plot of the movie is relatively simple, and its length is a bit too short. There were many subplot possibilities which were not explored.If you like a evenly-paced thriller, this is probably for you.