In the Pipeline: Angel-A

In the Pipeline presents: Luc Besson’s Angel-A

[Ed’s note: To our regular readers, we are sad to announce that this will be final edition of the “In the Pipeline”, a series faithfully brought to us by Mr. Samuel Hilton. While we close the books on this regular feature, we begin a new chapter. Samuel will be focusing on his personal projects and will also be contributing regularly to our coverage of world cinema – focusing on film projects and filmmakers from his own backyard -Australia.]

It is always exciting when an acclaimed filmmaker who has sat the last several years out finally returns to the director’s chair. Angel-A is hotly anticipated for such as it marks the return of, and the beginning of goodbye from, Luc Besson. The film opens with Andre (Jamel Debbouze), a man with debts that could end his life. Andre decides to get to it first, but upon chance, he meets a woman, Angela (Rie Rasmussen), who also wishes to take her life. Saved by Andre, the leggy looker of Angela pledges to stay by his side and takes the lead to solving his problems. With a promised twist, respectfully unrevealed by critics, the story intrigues by its noir sounding nature.

Luc Besson needs little introduction. For those who don’t automatically know the name, Besson has repeatedly proven himself as one of France’s best film exports (somewhere a great distance behind cinema itself of course). The new film marks Besson’s ninth feature-length directorial effort, his other credits have included the classic Leon, the great Nikita, and the ordinary The Fifth Element.

The new film is Besson’s first since the 1999 release of The Messenger: The Story of Joan Arc. That isn’t to suggest that Besson hasn’t been a busy man. He has. Besson has been responsible for producing many recent action films through the production company of Europa Corp. Besson recently explained his absence as director and his decision to return, “I’ve heard the complaint ‘Where have you been for the past seven years?’, but I’ve been working on an animated film called Arthur And the Minimoys for the past five years.”

Arthur and the Mimimoys is also set to premiere this year, but those excited by the return of Besson with two films this year may be disappointed by the news that comes with their release. A few years ago Besson announced that he would make only 10 films and get out of the game before he ‘outgrew’ cinema. The two releases this year mark the 9th and 10th. This is it for Besson, but the man insists this is a good thing, stating in a recent interview, “ Ten is a good number. If you have 10 bullets you are much more careful about what you shoot. And I would rather stop too soon than too late. I’ve seen so many directors make a few too many films, and it’s sad.”

We can only hope that Besson goes out on a high note with the animated feature. Word is already out on his last live-action feature, and it sounds split. Lisa Nesselson, of Variety, described the film as “achingly sincere”, commenting, “Rasmussen and Debbouze are perfectly cast”, before adding, “ their characters just aren’t all that interesting.” Other critics are similarly mixed. Michelle Thomas, of Future Movies, states, “the film looks good, great even. Paris is a character in the film, shot in moody black and white”, but concludes, “ It’s the lack of anything resembling a decent script or interesting story.”

Whichever way Angel-A goes for you, it is must-see if only because it is the final effort of an undoubtedly interesting and influential filmmaker of recent times. The film is being distributed by Sony Pictures Classics on the 23rd of March 07′.