Film
What's on at the cinema plus reviews of the latest movie and DVD releases
Bookmark this pageA Pure Formality (1993)
Director: Giuseppe Tornatore
Movie review
From Time Out Film Guide
Essentially a stagey two-hander in which, in a strangely sinister, seemingly timeless police station, inspector Polanski interrogates the partly amnesiac Depardieu, who claims he's a famous author but who may in fact be responsible for a murder committed near the novelist's home. Emphatically metaphorical and full of thumpingly obvious symbolism, Tornatore's film depends heavily on the two leads for effect - Polanski's sly, shrewd performance outshines Depardieu's broader turn - but even they can't distract from the ludicrous contrivance of the film's threadbare central conceit.Author: GA
User reviews of this film
-
- 1Cdnlady said...
- Posted on Oct 25 2009 22:12 This movie would is likely beyond the linear thinkers among us - too "out there". It is all about perception, misperceptions, tricks of the mind, and the essential mystery that life can be. I found it gripping and sometimes a little terrifying. Not to everyone's taste, certainly, but I saw it over 10 yrs ago and it is still alive to me in 2009.
- Report as inappropriate
-
- Terry Montelibano said...
- Posted on Mar 28 2008 07:10 On the contrary, I was completely taken aback at the conclusion of this film; the story elements were a complete mystery the first time I saw it and found great comfort in its ending. A spiritual experience.
- Report as inappropriate
Cast & crew
Director: Giuseppe Tornatore
Producer: Mario Cecchi Gori, Vittorio Cecchi Gori
Cast: Gérard Depardieu, Roman Polanski, Sergio Rubini, Nicola di Pinto full cast
Duration: 108 mins
Most popular on this site
Top Stories
Our verdict on Peter Jackson's The Lovely Bones
Peter Jackson ends a triumphant decade with a sentimental misfire with this lush Alice Sebold adaptation
On the set of Ken Loach's 'Route Irish'
Dave Calhoun meets Ken Loach on the set of his forthcoming Iraq war movie
Stephen Poliakoff discusses 'Glorious 39'
Stephen Poliakoff’s ‘Glorious 39’ is his first film for cinema since ‘Food of Love’ in 1997. Dave Calhoun met him
Is 'Paranormal Activity' the new 'Blair Witch'?
How does a film go from DIY experiment to box-office smash? 'Paranormal Activity' director Oren Peli explains
Steven Soderbergh on 'The Informant!' and 'The Girlfriend Experience'
We talk to Steven Soderbergh about his two forthcoming films: one featuring a porn star, the other a chubby Matt Damon
A gateway to all things 'New Moon'
In anticipation of 'The Twilight Saga: New Moon', Time Out is offering the chance to pick up a limited edition pack with three exclusive magazines and a free poster.
London Children's Film Festival
Read our exclusive reviews of films playing at the 2009 London Children’s Film Festival
The films that deserve a TV spin-off
With Roland Emmerich suggesting he'd like to make a '2012' TV spin-off, we propose some more movie-to-TV serialisations
The Coen brothers discuss 'A Serious Man'
Masters of contrary comedy, Joel and Ethan Coen have struck gold again with their latest, ‘A Serious Man’
Time Out's 50 greatest animated films with commentary by Terry Gilliam
In celebration of the release of Pixar's 'Up' and Wes Anderson's 'Fantastic Mr Fox', read our rundown of fifty classic feature length animations
What do you think?
Post your review now