Beautiful Lies (12A)

Film

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Time Out rating:

<strong>Rating: </strong>2/5

User ratings:

<strong>Rating: </strong>3/5
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Time Out says

Tue Aug 9 2011

Gallic star power makes this creaky romcom tolerable but best not to set your expectations too high. Audrey Tautou brings sweetness and light to an otherwise not-that-likeable protagonist, a hairdressing salon owner who resolves to cheer up her mum (Nathalie Baye) by prevailing on the shop handyman (Sami Bouajila) to tout himself as gigolo for her.

This is slightly unsettling, since Bouajila – working wonders in a virtually unplayable role – is smitten with Tautou and the author of an anonymous love letter to her. We’re supposed to be drawn into the plot’s would-be witty complications but the script grinds its way through sundry reversals, initial jollity giving way to plodding rigmarole. Yet you certainly can’t fault the cast and the film’s seaside setting of Sète looks quite lovely.

Author: Trevor Johnston

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Release details

Rated:

12A

UK release:

Fri Aug 12 2011

Duration:

104 mins

Cast and crew

Cast:

Sami Bouajila, Audrey Tautou, Stephanie Legarde, Judith Chemla, Nathalie Baye

Director:

Pierre Salvadori

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Comments & ratings

Rated as: 3/5 (4 ratings)

  • If you like simple-minded films about witless hairdressers presented as cute and appealing, then this one's for you. Otherwise, avoid it.

    tilly Thu Aug 25 2011
    Rated as: 1/5
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  • Truly awful. Not as funny nor as cute as it thinks it is. Characters underdeveloped, story preposterous with many contrivances. It lack intelligence, depth and warmth. There are many brilliant French films out there. This isn't one of them.

    Ann Tue Aug 23 2011
    Rated as: 1/5
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  • Ignore the critics, especially if you speak enough French to ignore some truly atrocious subtitling. The script is subtle and delightful throughout, the plot may be ludicrous but the characters are totally believable, and all three main protagonists are fabulously watchable. I'm a middle-aged male who normally hates rom-coms, and I thought this one was a million times more intelligent and fun than the average.

    David Sun Aug 21 2011
    Rated as: 5/5
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  • I sometimes wonder if life would be better if we worried less about how good a movie is and more about what there is to like in a movie. I liked big roles for an older woman and a man who might usually be ignored and a lead for a woman whose character is both charming and flawed. The cast did bring the movie to life, but the movie also felt made for the cast.

    FTW Thu Aug 18 2011
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  • MUCH FUN. DON,T BE PUT OFF BY THE LOUSY TIMEOUT RATING. NOT ONE FOR ADOLESCENTS, BUT HAD THE LADIES IN THE AUDIENCE CHUCKLING AWAY. AUDREY TAUTOU........WELL WHAT CAN I SAY? JE T'ADORE!!

    IAN Wed Aug 10 2011
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  • marzena's comment

    marzena Tue Aug 9 2011
    Rated as: 4/5
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