On DVD and Blu Ray- "Rust and Bone" - This 2012 French Drama was released stateside earlier this year and it's my current favorite FILM of 2013 (make sense?). Beautifully Directed and paced by Jacques Audiard (A Prophet), the film features two great character studies for the price of one. Matthias Schoenaerts (as an MMA obsessed bouncer/security guard with a violent streak) and Marion Cotillard (a killer whale trainer who suffers a life-changing tragedy) co-star as two damaged, complex souls who form an unlikely bond. The film is refreshingly random, rarely predictable or manipulative and never feels manufactured- it sports a few sequences of simplistic, yet powerful imagery that effectively work to swell the heart.
Some viewers may find it damned near impossible to locate any empathy for Matthias Schoenaerts's (Bullhead) inconsiderate, self-serving, somewhat distant single father, "Ali". Dreaming of a career as an Ultimate Fighter, with only a passive interest in his young son and prone to sudden displays of unchecked anger, he's just about as flawed a character as one can imagine without being completely unrepentant. I realized and appreciated the performance as one of the more honest and natural depictions of a decidedly flawed human being in recent memory. Potential viewers who are able to overcome these flaws and invest in the character will experience one of the more exhilarating, defining moments of redemption in film history. Schoenaerts gives an exceptional, layered performance here- the Belgian actor, who has range and presence to spare, is definitely a talent to watch and will undoubtedly cross over into more American releases in the near future.
French actress Marion Cotillard (Public Enemies) is equally fascinating as "Stéphanie", a Marine Park entertainer who meets Ali in a nightclub. Shortly after their chance encounter, Stéphanie loses her legs in a workplace accident that, naturally, leaves her emotionally distraught and thrust into an unaccustomed environment. Desperate for some semblance of human interaction, and with few to turn to, Stéphanie contacts Ali. Attracted to the big lug's lack of topical pity and thrilled with watching his underground fighting matches, she slowly begins to cope with her impairment and breaks from her self-imposed prison. The relationship between these broken souls is realistically handled with depth and care- those looking for some kind of schmaltzy, melodramatic romance will be sorely mistaken. This is an edgy, uneasy affair, with the principals relying on one another as an instrument of healing, as opposed to simply falling in love. Cotillard is excellent throughout, giving yet another typically strong performance which effectively reaffirms her place near the very top of her respective craft. A scene where she revisits her former job and interacts with a killer whale through an aquarium window won't soon be forgotten. The visual effects work regarding her amputated legs are seamless- I cannot recall sharper FX of this nature.
Director and Co-Scripter Audiard keeps the narrative moving in a wonderful manner, with nary a gimmicky, distracting embellishment to speak of. There are a couple of scenes shot in slow motion, but they fit perfectly with the tone and subject matter of the onscreen situations. Stéphane Fontaine's cinematography is often brutal yet beautiful to look at, with the film's soundtrack containing more than one delightful surprise... even if it does feature a selection from Katy Perry...
If you have an appreciation for Foreign films and are comfortable with subtitles, Rust and Bone comes Highly Recommended. It's one of the better pure Dramas of the last few years and comfortably rests amongst my all-time favorite foreign films...
9.0 out of 10
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