The Family (2013)

Director: Luc Besson
Producers: Ryan Kavanaugh, Virginie Silla
Screenplay: Luc Besson, Michael Caleo

Starring:
Robert De Niro as Fred Blake/Giovanni Manzoni
Michelle Pfeiffer as Maggie Blake
Tommy Lee Jones as Robert Stansfield
Dianna Agron as Belle Blake
John D'Leo as Warren Blake
Jimmy Palumbo as Di Cicco

Music: Evgueni Galperine, Sacha Galperine
Cinematography: Thierry Arbogast
Editing: Julien Rey
Release Date: September 13, 2013 (USA)
Running Time: 111 minutes
Language: English

 

***SPOILER ALERT***

Revisiting "The Family": A Second Look

Here we are for Luc Besson's 16th movie, The Family. I'm revisiting this movie, which I watched 10 years ago and initially gave an average score, leaving just one stupid remark: "I just fell in love with Dianna Agron's character, Belle." Watching it again was like seeing it for the first time because I didn't remember any scenes whatsoever. I think this is a very unremarkable movie without anything special to it, yet it's fun to watch nonetheless. You can't go wrong with De Niro as a mafioso and Tommy Lee Jones as an FBI agent. The relationship and dialogues between their two characters are my favorite parts of the movie. Michele Pfeiffer is great as always, and yes, I'm still captivated by Dianna Agron, even if I start to feel like a creepy old pervert, now that I'm 37 years old. John D'Leo also does a good job as a "wise" kid.

A Mix of Black Comedy and Brutality

I have to wonder why Luc Besson is so hard on his people?! You get the impression that he hates France with this movie. The local French guys from the small town of Normandy get beaten up, murdered, or ridiculed. It's terrible! There should also be more people speaking French. We are, after all, in rural France...  Praise and glory for America and its peanut butter and violence! It's hard to feel sympathy for our Family when, for example, De Niro decides to break a plumber's bones with a baseball bat and a hammer. Sure, the guy was annoying with his unfunny jokes, but damn, the poor guy said he had a kid in school and now he is not going to be able to work! Michelle Pfeiffer also ruins a local market just because she felt humiliated. In the end, I couldn't care less if this Family got killed by the mobsters. And that leads to my favorite moment: when the gangsters stylishly arrive to town to the sound of "Gorillaz - Clint Eastwood." Yes, it's a very overplayed song, but it works really well with the scene (see clip below). The gangsters also turned out to be really, really cruel. Why did you have to go and kill that fireman? Come on!

Luc Besson's Indistinguishable Style

Overall, this is an enjoyable black comedy with a couple of funny and cool moments. The pictures look great, probably because this was the first Luc Besson film to be shot with anamorphic lenses since Léon. I think Thierry Arbogast was happy with that. If you are a mafioso aficionado, you probably will enjoy this one. If you are looking for something special, this is not it. We are almost at the end of Luc Besson's filmography, and I have to ask myself: How would I know if I was watching a Luc Besson movie? I can't really tell. I can't find anything distinguishable in his style except for the match-cuts that he uses in almost all of his films. This movie, like many of his others, lacks a unique signature that sets it apart. However, it still provides an entertaining watch with some cool moments, even if it doesn't leave a lasting impression.

🎥 Cinematography (8/10):

The use of anamorphic lenses adds a nice visual touch, reminiscent of Léon.

📖 Story (4/10):

The story is fun but lacks depth, making it hard to sympathize with the family due to their violent actions.

🎬 Direction (6/10):

Luc Besson's direction brings a touch of style, but the movie feels unremarkable overall.

👥 Characters (6/10):

I only like Belle :P.

💥 Visual Effects (6/10):

Standard visual effects that serve the story without standing out.

🎭 Acting (7/10):

Good performances by Robert De Niro, Michelle Pfeiffer, and Tommy Lee Jones, with Dianna Agron adding charm.

💬 Dialogue (6/10):

Engaging and humorous dialogue, particularly between De Niro and Tommy Lee Jones' characters.

🌍 Setting/Atmosphere (5/10):

Normandy's small-town setting is underused, and there should have been more French spoken to enhance authenticity.

🎵 Music (6/10):

The soundtrack is decent but nothing particularly memorable, except for the use of "Clint Eastwood" by Gorillaz in a standout scene.

😄 Entertainment Value (5/10):

An enjoyable black comedy with a few chuckle-worthy moments, but it doesn't leave a lasting impression.

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