Micmacs (2009) Jean-Pierre Jeunet
If you loved Amélie, don’t stop there.
I thought I’d forgotten how much a movie could surprise me. Micmacs, or indeed most movies by Jean-Pierre Jeunet are both delightful and surprising. Most of you got a taste for it inAmelie, but never saw another of his films. This film finds Bazil, minding his own business at work in a video store, struck by a bullet that could not be removed. He loses his job but finds a family in the Micmacs, a collection of curios that each have a special skill. They use these to find and destroy two rival arms manufacturers, who, between them account for more than a few casualties. A superb cast and amazing feats in a wonderous Paris, the most wonderous part being that they live in an urban dump. They use found objects to further their objectives and it makes for a rollicking adventure.
If you enjoy films that create completely immersive worlds, you might also like Pan’s Labyrinth. Guillermo del Toro’s dark fairy tale has a very different tone, but the same attention to visual storytelling and unforgettable characters that makes Micmacs such a joy to watch. Continue reading →
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