The Axe

Adapted from a Donald Westlake novel, Costa-Gavras’ latest is a far-fetched crime tale with a welcome and successful black comic edge. José Garcia is excellent as put-upon suburban everyman, Bruno Davert, who loses his well-paid job at a corporate paper company and is unable to find another position to support his family. Bruno’s solution is radical (ridiculous even, which serves to highlight the desperation of his position): he decides to assassinate his unemployed industry rivals one by one. Gavras strikes a fine balance between tragedy and comedy so that the wildness of his story never seems to matter. Thrilling and funny.