Movie Review -- Tell No One (Ne le dis a personne) (2007)

***Available on DVD***

Starring François Cluzet, Marie-Josée Croze, and Kristin Scott Thomas

Directed and Written by Guillaume Canet

I'm actually on a roll with French movies lately. First, The Umbrellas of Cherbourg, then I've Loved You So Long, and now this taut thriller.

Alexandre Beck (Cluzet) was living a perfect life -- a beautiful wife, great friends (one of which is English actress Scott Thomas who proves to be incredibly fluent in French), a wonderful job as a pediatrician. And then his wife is murdered. Eight years go by and two bodies are found that cause the supposedly solved murder case to be reopened with Alex a prime suspect. As if that wasn't enough to weigh on Alex's mind, he soon receives an e-mail from his supposedly dead wife. Could she really still be alive?

It's a great premise and the film definitely delivers. The acting is spectacular by all, particularly Cluzet. He was really riveting in his portrayal of a grieving widow hellbent on finding out the truth behind his wife's murder. All the various character actors really inhabited their roles as well.

Writer-director Canet certainly delivers on the directing front. I thought the film looked great, had taut, exciting action sequences, and provided moments of heartfelt sincerity. I don't want to ruin anything, but I did have a problem with the film at about the halfway mark and my issue lasted for about 20 minutes...just a minor flaw in the story. But the film definitely picked up at the end. The end...I never really saw that one coming...twist upon twist, but they certainly did not feel forced at all. They absolutely felt like they really could've happened.

Overall, this is definitely one that you should rent. Even if you're not up on reading subtitles, give this one a shot.

The RyMickey Rating: B+