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'ARMY OF CRIME' HONORS WORLD WAR II RESISTANCE FIGHTERS
BY JOE WILLIAMS
St. Louis Post-Dispatch
http://www.stltoday.com/entertainment/movies/reviews/article_0344b56f-7c22-5625-9a62-43ca5ac37d05.html
Oct 22 2010
Missouri
At the beginning of the World War II story "The Army of Crime," a
roll call of resistance fighters who died for France does not include
many French names. That's because much of the guerrilla warfare was
conducted by foreigners, including Jews from Eastern Europe who had
migrated to France as laborers, and communists from southern Europe
who had fought the fascists in Spain.
This true story does a great service by honoring the memory of 22
brave men and women and by dramatizing the internal debates within
the French population. But in staying true to life, it sacrifices
some of the pacing and clarity of a conventional thriller.
The predominately Jewish group that's commemorated here was led by
Armenian poet Missak Manouchian (Simon Abkarian), who was not a Jew but
had witnessed the genocide of his own people. Others had repudiated
religion for political engagement, and the sloganeering zeal of some
of the young communists may be hard for modern audiences to fathom.
But the rage of Marcel Rayman (Robinson Stevenin), a handsome hothead
who carries a pistol for close-range assassinations of Nazi occupiers,
is familiar from other Resistance movies, such as Paul Verhoeven's
pulpy "Black Book."
Yet "The Army of Crime" is cloaked in shades of gray. Manouchian
professes that he is unwilling to kill for the cause. When he is sent
to a detention camp and his wife, Melinee (Virginie Ledoyne), brings
him a basket of food, a courtly German guard agrees to deliver it.
And most pertinently, the French people are conflicted about the
occupation. Some are willing collaborators, while others, like the
piggish policeman who beds Rayman's girlfriend and then agrees to
protect him, have strategic reserves of patriotism.
In "Army of Crime," as in our own war-torn era, one man's criminal
is another man's comrade.
From: A. Papazian
BY JOE WILLIAMS
St. Louis Post-Dispatch
http://www.stltoday.com/entertainment/movies/reviews/article_0344b56f-7c22-5625-9a62-43ca5ac37d05.html
Oct 22 2010
Missouri
At the beginning of the World War II story "The Army of Crime," a
roll call of resistance fighters who died for France does not include
many French names. That's because much of the guerrilla warfare was
conducted by foreigners, including Jews from Eastern Europe who had
migrated to France as laborers, and communists from southern Europe
who had fought the fascists in Spain.
This true story does a great service by honoring the memory of 22
brave men and women and by dramatizing the internal debates within
the French population. But in staying true to life, it sacrifices
some of the pacing and clarity of a conventional thriller.
The predominately Jewish group that's commemorated here was led by
Armenian poet Missak Manouchian (Simon Abkarian), who was not a Jew but
had witnessed the genocide of his own people. Others had repudiated
religion for political engagement, and the sloganeering zeal of some
of the young communists may be hard for modern audiences to fathom.
But the rage of Marcel Rayman (Robinson Stevenin), a handsome hothead
who carries a pistol for close-range assassinations of Nazi occupiers,
is familiar from other Resistance movies, such as Paul Verhoeven's
pulpy "Black Book."
Yet "The Army of Crime" is cloaked in shades of gray. Manouchian
professes that he is unwilling to kill for the cause. When he is sent
to a detention camp and his wife, Melinee (Virginie Ledoyne), brings
him a basket of food, a courtly German guard agrees to deliver it.
And most pertinently, the French people are conflicted about the
occupation. Some are willing collaborators, while others, like the
piggish policeman who beds Rayman's girlfriend and then agrees to
protect him, have strategic reserves of patriotism.
In "Army of Crime," as in our own war-torn era, one man's criminal
is another man's comrade.
From: A. Papazian