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SPLIT PERSONALITY

Today's Romain Duris film is one of my favorite all time movies

De battre mon coeur s'est arrêté / The Beat That My Heart Skipped (2005)

Young man's father a sleazy real estate thug/swindler; Mom a concert pianist. He has both in him. Thug and pianist.

This is based on James Toback's "Fingers" and while not a remake, exactly, it features this kind of conflict and a resolution. Harvey Keitel was in the Toback film.

Duris is on screen almost 100%. He plays piano and he thugs. Divided against himself.

It is a bravura performance for a young actor and he carries it off. The story is well made and the acting by the ensemble cast is totally on the mark. Niels Arestrup, another favorite actor, is the Dad. Special.

Loyalties to thuggish friends and his Dad get in the way of his inner need to find expression as an artist and as a human being driven by compassion and love rather than greed and manipulation.

Big themes.

A lot of the action is riveting. Much of the piano side is as thrilling but in a different way.

Great ending.

I have seen this several times and do not tire. It is right up there with my other all time hit "Diva".

A total five. Out of Netflix5.

Labels: films