Arsène Lupin (2004)
Directed by Jean-Paul Salomé

Film Review

Having failed spectacularly in an over-zealous attempt to bring a fresh re-interpretation of one icon of French popular culture in Belphégor - Le fantôme du Louvre (2001), director Jean-Paul Salomé does exactly the same with another, the celebrated fictional thief Arsène Lupin.  With its ludicrous plot (a totally chaotic melange of action adventure and supernatural fantasy), absurd characterisation and over-reliance on special effects, this charmless film bears absolutely no resemblance to the wonderful Maurice Leblanc novels.   Any plus points the film has (set and costume design) are totally negated by Salomé's stylistic excesses which  make an already convoluted narrative virtually unfathomable and sqaunder the talents of some fine actors.  Whilst Kristin Scott Thomas scores a partial success as the film's main villain, Romain Duris appears absurd almost from start to finish, mainly because he is compelled to portray Lupin as a two-dimensional action hero, somewhere between Indiana Jones and Superman.  It's a tedious spectacle of CGI effects and gratuitous Grand Guignol gore, whose appeal is limited to juveniles with an unhealthy addiction to the kind of showy Hollywood blockbuster adventure movie which this film tries so hard - in fact, too hard - to emulate.

Film Synopsis

In 19th century France, Arsène Lupin enjoys an idyllic childhood, until his father, a notorious crook, meets a nasty end.  Twenty years later, Lupin is a celebrated gentleman thief, his creed being that he will only steal from the rich and other criminals, and never by resorting to physical violence.  One day, he encounters the strangely alluring Countess Joséphine, a supposed immortal who makes people her willing slaves through a special drug.  Lupin has no choice but to perform a crucial mission for her - to recover three crucifixes which will reveal the location of a fabulous lost treasure.  Lupin's greatest adventure so far is about to commence...