Dead Tired

This film was made in 1994 when Altman did READY TO WEAR(in which Michel Blanc appeared coincidentally)and the extraordinary thing is that GROSSE FATIGUE accomplishes to be more of an Altman film than PRET A PORTER. It is to Blanc's credit that he is able to make the first really Gaelic silly American film with a major cast of well known French actors as well as people like Regine and director Roman Polanski in cameos which emphasize the problems of French cinema and its state at the time;and even how it is today. There are moments reminiscent of Blake Edwards PINK PANTHER absurdities with gorgeous Bouquet doing a wonderful takeoff of Capucine.Blanc himself does a French Woody Allen without effort even though his opinions are less coy and more direct than Allen's typical delivery.Paris, Provence; even Cannes or the Carlton NEVER looked better and made me yearn to hop a concorde.I have no idea how I missed this when it first came out, but I am still laughing at how much fun I had at discovering this quirky, yet well executed comedy. The mistakes made are more charming than jarring and Paris never looked more Parisian. A unique film from France which deserved more promotion.

This was fairly light film, but very funny and entertaining, with excellent acting by the main actors/actresses. I particularly like the sharp riposte that Carlole Bouquet serves up to Michel Blanc on regular occasions as she shepherds him through his problems. The banter between those two was so well written and spoken that I had to go back and listen to it many times.

This is a light comedy, nothing serious, and yet it has something to say.

Especially at the end, when Philip Noiret appears out of nowhere and speaks about the financial decline and near death of the French cinema.

But also when Carol Bouquet "heals" a paralytic and is worshiped by the crowd, to the point that - perhaps - she wonders if she has found her calling in life.

This movie makes fun of movies. If you love movies, you will get a kick out of it.

In Cannes, the director and actor Michel Blanc is accused of sexual abuse by an actress and arrested. His friend Carole Bouquet decides to help him and they find his perfect double Patrick Olivier in the countryside of France. Patrick accepts minor jobs posing of Michel Blanc and when the farce is disclosed, he offers to replace Michel Clanc while he enjoys vacation. When Michel Blanc returns, he cannot prove who he is.

"Grosse fatigue" is a cult French comedy with the cameo and minor participation of famous people from the cinema industry including Roman Polanski. The storyline is original but the humor is unfunny, suitable only for French audiences. My vote is five.

Title (Brazil): "Estressadíssimo" ("Under Great Stress")

A famous actor/writer/director is accused of a string of embarrassing incidents which have actually been perpetrated by his lookalike. It transpires that the lookalike's life has been ruined by his resemblance to his famous double and he's out looking for a little payback.

Famous French actor Michel Blanc plays himself in this comedy. Carole Bouquet, also playing herself, is Michel's friend. A Who's Who of French cinéma make cameo appearances as themselves: Philippe Noiret, Thierry Lhermitte, Mathilda May, Roman Polanski, and others. Those few who were somehow unable to attend have their names dropped instead. These include authentic français(es) like Emmanuelle Béart and Alain Delon, and honorary ones like Buñuel and Woody Allen.

This film is a conceit, a vanity project where the stars supposedly play "themselves" and quite naturally are "exposed" as wonderful, well-rounded people. Someone makes a joke at the expense of Gérard Depardieu, but it's actually a backhanded compliment (he works too hard). We learn that the glamorous Carole Bouquet, Chanel perfume icon, is really just plain folks who loves to eat headcheese.

In spite of the self-serving, artificial nature of the whole enterprise, I actually found it quite enjoyable. We do get to see Carole Bouquet, as she really is, shooting up a gas station. There's quite a funny scene where Carole's beauty is all that's required to restore a paralysed man's stricken limbs. The townsfolk react by giving Ste-Carole a laying-on of hands. "Grosse fatigue" would have benefited from a few more farcical scenes like these; the film takes a little too much time before finding its way.

Philippe Noiret figures amusingly in a slight twist at the end of the film. More important, he gets to make a speech lamenting the sorry state of the French film industry, and that would seem to be the real point of this whole exercise.