The Ax (2005)

Sadly Over-hyped

Most undeservingly overhyped movie of all time??

It’s fine. It's literally the definition of a fine movie. You’ve seen it before, you know every beat and outcome before the characters even do. Only question is how much escapism you’re looking for.

It really made me laugh, but for some moments I was tearing up because I could relate so much.

"Le Couperet" certainly gets off to a gripping start, and more or less remains gripping for the duration. It is by turns funny, shocking, and thought-provoking (it was probably not Gavras' intention, but it reminded me of Woody Allen's "Crimes And Misdemeanors"). It is also quite prophetic, considering that most European economies are in a much worse state in 2015 than they were in 2005. There is great attention to detail, from the effect of the gun's recoil to a man who has never tried shooting before, to murderous activities being almost exposed by random events involving people who have no idea what's going on. However, at a full two hours, it may be slightly too long. And the very ending is infuriatingly abrupt. *** out of 4.

The thirty-nine years old executive Bruno Davert (José Garcia) has been working for fifteen years in a paper company. After a merging operation with a Romania's company, he is fired in a downsizing. While unemployed for two years, Bruno loses his self-esteem and sanity and his family loses the middle-class lifestyle without cable television, Internet and regular consumption. He concludes that there is too much competition in his sector for a few job positions and decides to literally eliminate his competitors, killing those more qualified than him."Le Couperet" is a sarcastic view of the greed of the companies and the effects of downsizing in the self-esteem and sanity of a man. The awareness of the economical situation in France (but could be in most of the nations) and black-humor of Costas-Gravas gives a fantastic satire to the greed of the corporations, aiming exclusively profits without any care for the human beings. The sub-employment, as means of survival; the exacerbated use of merchandising to force the consumption; the situation of the family, being emotionally shattered with the stressful situation of the husband and father; all of these elements are ironically presented in this tough and realistic social satire through a French middle-class family. José Garcia is stunning in the role of a bitter man fighting to find job position and serial killer. My vote is eight.Title (Brazil): "O Corte" ("The Cut")

I saw this Costa-Gavras movie in a theater. During 2 hours, you follow a man who went crazy because, after his lay off he is not able to find another place as a chemist in the paper industry. Since he cannot think of doing another job, since every interview for a job ends with a meaningful "we'll call you", he decides that the only way to get back his job is "simply" to kill his competitors.My first impression was that the movie is too long and many scenes are in fact boring, and the story is not interesting enough or complex enough to make a movie by itself. The idea that, in our modern society, many people define themselves by their job (and not by what they achieve in other fields, their family life for instance), is probably an interesting theme. In his movie however, I cannot tell if the director Costa-Gavras opted for a comedy or a drama about a serial killer. Some scenes are somewhat funny, but they are too scarce. You mainly see the main character trying to get rid of potential rivals in various ways, and the whole is neither credible enough, nor burlesque enough, nor breathtaking enough. Maybe we'll get a better movie if you keep it short, concise and cut all the boring scenes.If you want a good drama which is also a good social satire from France, pick any of the Chabrol's. If you're for a good comedy with a corporate background, I would suggest "The Closet" ("Le placard") by Francis Weber.One good thing about "Le couperet" however, the acting is very good and allows the movie not to fall apart. (But I prefer José Garcia when he is directed in a more funny way).

Bruno DAVERT (Jose Garcia) is locked-out for economic reasons. To find a new job, his method is simple : kill the other candidates. His behaviour changes, and his wife Marlène(Karin Viard) feels Bruno moving away from the family, from herself and from the true life.Costa-Gavras shows as the unemployment can make a man crazy.A perfect look on the stupidity of our society when a man is only the money he can earn. Costa-Gavras show us the vacuum we are running to, destroying everything to obtain what ?Probably the best political movie of the ten last years. Garcia is excellent, probably because he does not know he his good. K. Viard change her usual energy in distress, her performance is excellent. Everybody is good.Run to this movie. It shows you your future