"The judge is a hero, an exceptional man who put the collective good ahead of his own personal safety, which is something rare in this world. From a psychological point of view, he was a passionate man on a mission for a cause he found...This man had his demons, without doubt, but his crazy courage, his convictions always touched me." Director Cedric Jimenez on Pierre Michel, the lead character in his film "The Connection"

"Each film is a step: I either leave diminished or aggrandized but regardless, I leave nourished by the experience. I think that this time I had more experience and more confidence. The more I advance, the more I let go of things, and the more I feel I don't need to act anymore...For "The Connection", I agreed to deliver my shadow zones." Actor Jean Dujardin on playing Pierre Michel in "The Connection"


When Dujardin talks about his shadow zones, he is referencing a scene in "The Connection" in which Pierre Michel is trying to convince his estranged wife to return to him. Michel is in a telephone booth (the story takes place from 1975-1981) and experiences an emotional breakdown. If you are only familiar with Dujardin from "The Artist" and his comedic roles like "Brice de Nice", the scene will come as something of a revelation.

The Tribeca Film Festival is the magnet for independent film lovers this week. Among the many films premiering at the festival is "Youth in Oregon". Starring Frank Langella as an elderly man who arranges to be euthanized in Oregon, the movie co-stars Billy Crudup, Christina Applegate, and Mary Kay Place. The film premiered on April 16th, and you can catch a clip online. Also of interest is Daniel Grove's "The Loner", about a former child soldier from Iran trying to escape his past in L.A. The Tribeca Film Festival wraps up on April 24th.



Here's the latest article from the Drama Movies site at BellaOnline.com.

The Connection Film Review
Jean Dujardin stars as Pierre Michel, an investigative judge determined to wipe out crime boss Gaetan Zampa. Filmed on location in Marseille, "The Connection" is an elegant and sophisticated take on the period crime thriller.


http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art40304.asp

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