The Big Picture Review

The Big Picture
When a successful Parisian lawyer kills his wife's lover his life takes an unexpected turn... for the better.

by David Parkinson |
Published on
Release Date:

22 Jul 2011

Running Time:

115 minutes

Certificate:

15

Original Title:

Big Picture, The

Eric Lartigau never quite solves the plot’s plausibility problems in moving Douglas Kennedy’s American novel to Europe. But such is the intensity of Romain Duris’ performance as a Parisian lawyer hiding out in a Montenegrin backwater after accidentally killing the lover of estranged wife Marina Foïs that it’s easy to suspend disbelief, as his carefully laid plans threaten to unravel following unexpected success as a photographer. The supporting cast is impeccable, but Duris dominates as the Ripley-esque anti-hero looking to start anew without betraying his past or succumbing to the self-loathing that alienated Foïs and cost him his kids. Lartigau ably conveys the agony of regret, but also compellingly explores the stress of maintaining the façade of a new identity in the face of internet omniscience.

A few plot holes hold back what is otherwise a well cast and compelling picture.
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