Angel-A is the title of a lesser-known film by famous french director Luc Besson (Fifth Element) shot in black and white mostly in Paris. It's also the name of the leading female character : a tall, thin and beautiful blonde with a mysterious past. The story tells of the unlikely relationship between that woman and a small rather ordinary-looking American (looking Moroccan) in deep trouble because of debts (played by Jamel Debouze, the one-armed grocer from Amélie). What strikes viewers first after the black and white is the difference in height between Angel-A and the "hero", as well as their very contrasting looks. We have a pretty "odd couple" after a dramatic first encounter.
The film is very well shot with dynamic camera angles. It's not really an action film, nor a comedy, nor a drama. The closest description might be an unconventional buddy/romance dramedy hybrid. I liked the relationship between the two leads although some will get stuck at how very unlikely it seems. To be fair, the initial premise (of which I cannot tell too much) seems a bit like a teen's fantasy come to life. The pace is good and I was never bored even in quieter moments. The cinematography is top-notch sometimes playing with heights or characters looking straight at the camera (or the viewer) for dramatic purposes. The accents in french sometimes made the protagonists hard to understand (especially Angel-A with her Scandinavian accent) and unfortunately it sometimes sabotaged good moments. However, for English viewers (the movie is subtitled not dubbed), this would be a non-issue. The acting is slightly exaggerated and unequal, particularly from Angel-A who ranges from bad to great. Again, this sometimes hurts the suspension of disbelief. I would like to mention a great dramatic scene when both main characters look at a mirror. This was a really special powerful scene. So all in all, I liked the film, found it entertaining, sometimes touching, but it has flaws.
Rating : 7 out of 10
The film is very well shot with dynamic camera angles. It's not really an action film, nor a comedy, nor a drama. The closest description might be an unconventional buddy/romance dramedy hybrid. I liked the relationship between the two leads although some will get stuck at how very unlikely it seems. To be fair, the initial premise (of which I cannot tell too much) seems a bit like a teen's fantasy come to life. The pace is good and I was never bored even in quieter moments. The cinematography is top-notch sometimes playing with heights or characters looking straight at the camera (or the viewer) for dramatic purposes. The accents in french sometimes made the protagonists hard to understand (especially Angel-A with her Scandinavian accent) and unfortunately it sometimes sabotaged good moments. However, for English viewers (the movie is subtitled not dubbed), this would be a non-issue. The acting is slightly exaggerated and unequal, particularly from Angel-A who ranges from bad to great. Again, this sometimes hurts the suspension of disbelief. I would like to mention a great dramatic scene when both main characters look at a mirror. This was a really special powerful scene. So all in all, I liked the film, found it entertaining, sometimes touching, but it has flaws.
Rating : 7 out of 10