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Frantic (1988)
Rate:
9
Viewed:
2/17
2/17:
Carrying on the tradition of Hitchcockian thrillers, Frantic is the last good Roman Polanski film and a satisfying
one at that.
Not many people give Harrison Ford credit for being a fine actor, especially in dramas, that he was throughout the 80's and
90's. His performance in Frantic is among his best. Roman Polanski's soon-to-be wife, Emmanuelle Seigner, is good, too,
although she's historically a terrible actress as evidenced in
Bitter Moon. She's more of a model than anything.
It's the story that grips me the most, and there are many suspenseful moments, reminding me of
North by Northwest with
Cary Grant. Something that's missing in many mystery films, I like how a small piece of puzzle leads to the next one, and
there's nothing fancy about any of them, allowing me to participate with the characters.
I love it when the setting takes place in Paris (which is a first for Roman Polanski since 1976 when he directed
The Tenant)
and it's a multinational picture. The writing is well-done, and quality is obviously felt in all aspects of filmmaking.
One instance is Dr. Walker's inability to understand French, which is true of most American viewers, to give the picture
a mysterious feel. As strange as it sounds, I think Dr. Walker and Michelle are perfect together, so why bother with the
wife? It's time to trade in the old hag for a younger, better-looking woman.
All in all, Frantic is a must-see film for all fans of Roman Polanski with the promise of no letdowns.