Angel - A
By Mal Simons, Blockbuster.co.uk

Luc Besson returns to the screen, directing, writing and producing this wonderful romantic comedy starring Jamel Debbouze and the beautiful Rie Rasmussen.

Andre' is a failed French conman who, through lying and cheating all of his life, now owes money to almost every gangster in Paris. After he is beaten and threatened for the umpteenth time, Andre' decides to kill himself by jumping of a bridge. Just as he is about to do this, he notices a girl about to do the same thing. When she jumps, he follows her into the water and saves her from drowning. She appears to be so grateful that she offers to do whatever he wants and shadows him - remaining constantly at his side.

Lucky for Andre, this mysterious girl is also able to suggest rather dubious ways to pay off his debts and the failed Frenchman begins to see his luck take a change for the better... after a while however, Andre' begins to wonder why this beautiful young woman is so devoted to him and grows increasingly curious about her past. This is when the plot truly begins...

As you would expect from a master of the cinema, Luc Besson's Angel-A is a marvel of beauty - with amazing cinematography and truly breathtaking shots of major Parisian landmarks. Besson doesn't just take the viewer on a tourist trip through the heart of Paris however, he also focuses on the darker side of French society rarely glimpsed on film - this provides an honesty and a grittiness to the piece and gives this a grounded realism rarely found in other French (or Hollywood) movies.

Not a typical Besson movie and the director's first film in six years; Angel-A is a thoughtful and often funny adventure. For those of you expecting car chases and large explosions, I would recommend you try another one of Besson's famous pictures, however if you are looking for a film of distinction that will stay with you forever, enjoy!

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