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It's hard to tell what's right, especially when we want to set right the relationship with someone who wronged us. We're poisoned by the need to avenge ourself and this is what keeps us down and prevents us from getting better by accepting it. Revenge and pride don't bring back what we've lost but it'll let us lose what we have tried to build. It's a concept which works well in a cinematic sense because it gives a character a motivation and something to propell the plot but it doesn't work in real life. I don't know why we're still pushing this kind of message but it seems to be appreciated by the audience. We need to learn a different way to accept our demons. But it isn't this simple. Ask yourself the right questions and look for the best way, not the easiest.
PLOT
"Inspired by the adventures of Arsène Lupin, gentleman thief Assane Diop sets out to avenge his father for an injustice inflicted by a wealthy family" or "How ro make a 100 years old story relevant again".
SCRIPT
Here is where the series is both bad and good. As an heist genre show it works well, even though there're a lot of cliches and the structure used is a bit predictable. I like that by the last episode every loose end is resolved in a clever way. I don't like the fact that the characters doesn't have a real arch and it's all about the plot. I'm also not into the fact that the series has to explain every plan after it has been executed: it's like the series considers it's audience dumb and it's a convenient way to show us that the protagonist is sharp. This isssue is noticeable because there're no stakes and tension because we know that everything will be okay in a way or another. I want to add that some plans looks a bit too convoluted and could've been solved in another way, which wouldn't have been cinematic enough. This is both the movie weakness and strength but sincerely a series which forgets about his characters isn't that good.
Script: 6/10
ACTING
Omar Sy is perfectly casted and carries the series on his shoulder with great charisma, charm and a wide variety of emotions. Everyone else isn't able to outshine him and it shows, even though their acting isn't bad. Sometimes is a bit weird and the quality is mixed but it works well. There isn't a performace which elevates, even though Omar Sy, as I said before, is the MVP and the one who gets the best scenes and lines.
Acting: 7/10
PHOTOGRAPHY
The light isn't used in an interesting way and most of the time is just flat. Colours aren't used in a meaningful way and there aren't wonderful shots. It feels like a cable program sometimes and I don't like it. I understand that this isn't a million dollar production but the director could have done more. For God's sake, this series is set in Paris and the french director isn't able to give us wonderful shots of one of the best city in the world.
Photography: 5/10
EDITING
Usually a good heist feature works if there's good editing and this show is characterized by it. This is what makes this series original, an editing style which isn't new but it's pretty effective. Everything is about framing and it's all about the scenes speed and angles. I've seen it in Now You See Me, a movie which has the same director and I think that it's perfect for the show. Other cinematic techniques, like slow motions, tilted camera,...are used sparely. This makes the series a bit repetitive and boring after a while but it doesn't harm the experience. In the end it's good but not the best.
Editing: 7/10
SPECIAL EFFECTS
There're a few of them. Sometimes the green screen isn't good and sometimes it's easy to see that there's a stuntman who's performing, especially for fast driving. Overall it isn't harmful and cgi isn't the main attraction here so it's passable and acceptable.
Special Effects: 6/10
SOUNDTRACK
It's ok but it feels like any other heist movie or series soundtrack. I like the fact that it has some shades of classical music, a thing which becomes more relevant in the last episode. I can say with certainty that the last episode has the best track. Yes, there're also some pop music tracks but I don't find them memorable. It's a soundtrack which isn't impressive but it works just well.
Soundtrack: 6/10
COSTUMES
Nothing exceptional. I don't fund the disguises particularly interesting, even though they're Lupin's trademarks. Yes, costumes have a relevance in the series but they aren't what's good about it. Overall this is a good section, slightly above average.
Costumes: 7/10
CONCLUSION
Script: 6/10
Acting: 7/10
Photography: 5/10
Editing: 7/10
Special Effects: 6/10
Soundtrack: 6/10
Costumes: 7/10
AVERAGE: 6,28
An enjoyable series with a good leading actor and a lot of flaws, especially about the script. It isn't about Lupin, as a character, but rather about someone who is inspired by him so don't whine about it. I think that you're going to like it if you've liked Now You See Me but if you don't like the genre, you can skip it. Give it a shot if you want some mindless fun.
Director: Louis Leterrier, Marcela Said
Screenplay: George Kay, François Uzan
Cast: Omar Sy, Ludivine Sagnier, Clotilde Hesme, Vincent Londez, Soufiane Guerrab, Shirine Boutella
Soundtrack: Mathieu Lamboley
Cinematography: Christophe Nuyens, Martial Schmeltz
Running Time: 48 minutes
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