Criminal Lovers (1999)

When Alice convinces her naive boyfriend Luc to prove his love for her by helping her murder a cocky classmate, the stage is set for a cross-country crime spree. While trying to dispose of the body the pair crosses paths with and are ultimately trapped by a terrifying hermit who brings their fling to a not-so-happy fairy tale ending. In CRIMINAL LOVERS, acclaimed director Francois Ozon (8 WOMEN) weaves the story of a pair of lethal lovers-on-the-run with the fairy tale of "Hansel and Gretel", twisting together a story of psychosexual tension that is guaranteed to titillate.

Coherent story, strong acting, fine camera work

I enjoyed this film. It's a character driven film but the story holds up. The viewer has to determine how much is truth and how much is manipulation.

The directing, the cinematography, and the editing were all strong and all of the actors are believable and interesting. Jeremie Renier was totally believable as the young man caught between wanting to be what he thought he should be/what he's bullied into being by his manipulative girlfriend and what he discovers within himself. I like that the script doesn't use dialogue to blatantly speak all of the motivations and backstory of the characters. Only one small bit about the climax of the film was a bit confusing. I wasn't sure of the need to off a certain character. Otherwise, the film wraps up coherently and open ended enough to leave the viewer wondering what will become of the remaining characters. It's a very intriguing twist on the archtypical loss of innocence, unrequited love, Hansel and Gretel growing up, and coming out stories.

Salim Kechouiche is wonderful, as always. He's completly commited to the role he's playing and his acting is always very truthful, natural, and interesting. Whether or not his character was truly a bully or the object of unrequited lust is a matter of interpretation. I agree with the Wisconsin viewer above- Salim is stunning and there are never enough scenes with him. He is a talented enough and charismatic enough actor to carry a lead and it's high time he be given the opportunity. He shines in every film. He's simply wonderful in Three Dancing Slaves and Grande Ecole. Quite often, with some of the films he has appeared in, I've thought he should have had one of the leading roles instead of a supporting role. I wish I could see some of his other French films that haven't been released here along with filmed copies of his theatrical work. Salim - you have a strong American following; we'd love to see more of you. January 18, 2007

Romeo and Juliet Meet Hansel & Gretel,

I must defend this adorable, intelligent film from any pettiness that might keep people from it. A film school Prof. I know showed this to his students, and it was the hit of the year. The brilliant prologue set-up says more about sex and love than an entire Hollywood season. As the plot unfolds, the boy murders another boy at the girl's request; they are captured by a troll while hiding the body. The young man learns from his captor in the "Greek" style that there is more to love than pleasing a girlfriend; by the "end", Romeo/Hansel might be a "better man" -- or, he might just have fallen in love with his captor (another case of Patty Hearst capture rapture). The actors are gorgeous, ugly, and intimate. The psychology is Shakespearean in depth and ambiguity. Among the GREAT films, and a gorgeous DVD. December 9, 2003

A fairy tale for postmodern grownups

After murdering the abusive bully Said, high school lovers Luc and Alice run away, get lost in the woods, and encounter "L'homme de foret," who can only be described as a fairytale ogre. He starves the girl and feeds (fattens up?) the boy, incidentally sleeps with him.

This is advertised as a gay-themed movie, but it is aggressively, unabashadly heterosexist. Luc's ... experience with the Man of the Forest is as skittish and underplayed as a episode of "Will and Grace," and it only serves to boost his confidence sufficiently for him to have loud, graphic heterosexual with his girlfriend later.

It is, however, postmodern, with disparate and contradictory pieces of the story not quite falling into place. Why did Alice really want Said murdered? Why was Luc willing to do it?

Jeremie Renier (Luc) has played gay several times, but his only film available in the U.S. is the heterosexist ... "Brotherhood of the Wolf." The gorgeous Salim Kechioche (Salim), who doesn't have nearly enough locker-room and shower scenes, played straight in ... "Full Speed." October 4, 2003

A Gay postmodern retelling of "Hansel and Gretel"

If you like the new Gay postmodern cinema, Francois Ozon's _Criminal Lovers_ isn't half bad. Three scenes in the film display Ozon's formidable talents as a director, but between those good moments there's only so much dead air. The pretty but uncharismatic young leads don't much help the situation, either.

The story, which borrows heavily (and obviously) from "Hansel and Gretel," could work well as a short film, but is much too slight for feature length. Ozon tries to overcome this problem by creating an extensive backstory for the protagonists. Problem is, that backstory is pretty boring (plus we've seen it before, in Larry Clark's _Bully_ and a host of other troubled-teen movies). Meanwhile, the psychodrama at the center of the film is underdeveloped -- and even worse, it's not half as kinky or transgressive as it pretends to be.

This said, the final fifteen minutes of _Criminal Lovers_ are excellent. If you're interested, I'd advise you to rent this one. January 9, 2003

fabulous!

I am a filmmaker and this film rocks. November 18, 2002

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