Displaying items by tag: Nicolas Duchauville

GONE FOR GOOD 

France, 2021, 5 x 50 minutes, Colour.

Finnegan Oldfield, Nicolas Duvauchelle, Guillaume Gouix, Garrance Marillierr, Nailia Harzoune, Tomas Lemarquis, Gregoire Colin.

Directed by Juan Carlos Medina.

Gone For Good is one of the many adaptations of Harlan Coben novels for the television screen. He has acted as producer on all of them – and his daughter has contributed to the screenplays of many of them.

And there is quite a range of countries which have produced these series including the UK, Poland, Spain – and this one from France, An attractive setting in the Riviera, flashbacks to Paris, flashbacks to Italy.

As always, there is a complex plot, moving around in time, from place to place, gradual revelations of characters, misinterpreted behaviour, misinterpreted identities.

An enjoyable contribution to the Harlan Coben canon.

1. The popularity of Harlan Coben novels? The variety of television series? Set in different countries? France?
2. The five episodes? The titles for each of the characters?
3. The French settings, the Riviera, location scenery, the towns, workplaces, homes and mansions and dealerships, the social work? The surrounding countryside, the sea? The episodes in Paris, more sinister? Episodes in Italy? The musical score?
4. The opening situation, 2010, Guillaume, watching, Fred, the shooter, Sonia and her sister? The pursuit of Fred, the cliff, into the sea? Setting the mystery?
5. The variety of times, the indications, the effect of moving backwards and forwards? Development of the characters, the plots, the twists?
6. Guillaume, his age, memories of 10 years earlier, relationship with his brother, the strong presence of his father, the influence of his mother? The past relationship with Sonja? The present interaction with Ines? The mystery about his brother, his parents? His wanting to investigate? His friendship with Da Costa, the conversations, their social work, Da Costa as the boss? The arrival of Judith, her working with the two, the flashbacks to her arrival, clashes, working together, the bond between them, the love, the commitment, the disappearance and the effect on Guillaume? His attempts at tracking her down, meeting Judith’s mother, the evidence, Judith’s death, the revelation of a different person? The buildup to the confrontation, the search for Judith, finding her, the truth? The dangers, the drug dealer and the shooter, the car dealer in the town and his involvement, the reuniting with his brother, his brother’s child? The final truth and resolution?
7. Nora, her arrival, strong character, interactions with Guillaume, the job, their working together, over the years? Her love for Guillaume, her disappearance, the mystery, the flashbacks to her real identity, the marriage, the treatment by her husband, taking refuge, the encounter with Fred and Judith, their child, the opportunity to leave, taking Judith’s identity, going to the Riviera and the subsequent history? Her disappearance, the contact from Fred, the drug dealers, the pursuit, the dangers, Guillaume finding her, the drama of her captivity, freeing her, the ending, with Guillaume, and with Fred’s young daughter?
8. Da Costa, the social work, the flashbacks to his past, the neo-Nazis, the strong sequences of his initiation, training, activities, his relationships? The challenge to, his change, social work? The discussions with Guillaume, wanting to help him, the discussions about love and having a family
9. Fred, the situation, his disappearance, the drug connections, the flashback to Sonia, the University, hiring her to be a mule, the friendship with Judith, the various trips, the bond with the driver, at home, her death? Fred escaping, the life with Judith, the child? Background of the pressure from his father, tennis ability, the matches, his father’s behaviour, rebelling against him? The contact with Nora, the issue of the drugs, the dealers, the violence? Finally meeting up with Guillaume, the response, disillusionment, his death?
10. The importance of the parents, the expectations of the past, the tennis and the pressures on Fred? The mother and her role? And grief? Guillaume observing, idolising his brother? The truth about his father, the truth about Fred?
11. A satisfactory version of Harlan Coben, characters, situations, plot twists?

LAST BULLET/ LOST BULLET 3/ BALLE PERDUE 3

France, 2025, 110 minutes, Colour.

Allban Lenoir, Nicolas Duvauchelle, Stefi Celma, Gerard Lanvin, Quentin D'Hainaut, Anne Sarah.

Directed by Guillaume Pierret.

A very French action show, Last Bullet, police, criminals, drug dealing, plenty of action and stunts, appeared in 2020 and was very successful. So, a year or two later, a very successful sequel. Now, a third in the franchise, the French title remaining the same but an alert for English-speaking audiences, not just another Lost Bullet, but the Last Bullet.

The central characters of the previous films reappear, audiences having got to know them well, liking some like Lino, former prisoner, rehabilitated, working on cars, good relationships. But there is also Areski, police, caught up in all kinds of violence, even murder. And, the women in their lives. And, especially, one of the chief of police in the drug squad, totally corrupt, dealing the drugs, some brutal henchman, political deals, and out for some vengeance.

With the new scenario, Areski is hiding in Germany, new name and job, relationship even though has a wife and child at home, becoming the target of the chief but cleverly, with the help of his bike, evading the deathtrap. He returns to France, trying to reconstruct his life, determined to work against the corrupt chief, but paired up with Lino who has to forego some of his vengeful hatred.

In many ways the plot is simple, the two combining, the help from their female collaborators, some more corruption at the top, the setting up of the police chief, and, in the  last part of the film, plenty of car and mobile action, stunt work, one of the reasons for enjoying this series of films.

For those coming across this film the first time, enjoyable action. For those following the previous two films, some satisfaction in the conclusion, the good rewarded, the bad defeated.

1. The popularity of the first two films? A satisfactory conclusion to the series?
2. French action film, action sequences, stunt work, CGI, effects? Cars, chases, buses, the tower and confrontation? Audience response to the action?
3. The opening in Germany, introducing Areski, his role in the previous films, criminal, killings, his wife and family, escaped to Germany, working, the control of Resz, corrupt administration, drug smuggling, his work and cover, the relationship, Resz wanting him killed, on the bike, the chase, his outwitting the pursuers, survival, return to France?
4. The situation at the Spanish French border, the exchange, the prisons, Resz and his control?
5. Lino, his past, present, rehabilitation, working, the relationship with Stiller? With the authorities?
6. Rose, corrupt, control, his thugs, trying to kill Areski? The deal with Spain? With the authorities? His working with Yuri? The film’s critique of police and political corruption?
7. Areski and his return, working to bring down Resz, the meeting with Lino, memories of the past of the murder, their working together? The role of Stella, the past, present?
8. The officer in charge, her attitude, the pursuit of Resz, her doubledealing and exposure?
9. The buildup to the confrontation, the cars, the chases, Lino and Stella, Areski and his changing attitudes, wanting to escape? The bus? The final violent confrontation, the cars, the van, the tower?
10. Yuri, the attitude of Resz, his change of heart, his final vengeance?
11. The style of French action films for the French audience? The impact on international audiences?