As to not reveal any spoiler about the film, I will just say it belongs to a very specific category in cinema and because it borrows so much from other pieces in what it essentially is, there is necessarily a drop in just how much quality could be attributed to it. Despite that, fundamentally it is different and brings together its very own flavor and works coherently with itself to deliver what it ultimately means in a way authentic enough. Depardieu is awesome in this, as always, while Polanski is at times quite mediocre but overall puts in a fair performance. These are the two main protagonists mind you, and the entire film happens through these two characters' consciences and the dialog they establish (which is very play-like in its rhythm and structure). It was a very tough task to write this film and with how very little there was to deal with as far as matter to fill a full length motion picture, this is remarkable work. It's a film all in subtlety, dialog though not without any events, atmosphere, tension, and serves as a palette of the various human emotions as they transpire through the exercise of maieutics. But yet, it lacks a certain dynamic overall in what it ultimately sets out to deliver and the film as a whole doesn't ring as memorably or as emotionally as the film should intend.

Most of the French films I've seen - and enjoyed - were more talk than action, but that's okay. I found them interesting, well-photographed and with intriguing actors. (However, I did at one point wonder if Gerald Depardieu was in every French film ever made! It seemed that way.)This movie has the same interesting visuals and had a good opening. But then it became talk, talk and more talk....which is fine for a drama but not for a murder mystery. After awhile, I almost fell asleep watching this.Actually, the film was more like a play with almost all the scenes played out in one room. Thus, if you love plays, you should like this...but I want a little more bang for a murder story.

Take a deep breath, you cinefillic voyeur! Take a deep breath, sit down comfortably on your couch and think twice before you press play on your remote controller... Think twice since you are about to witness something that has never been seen before... Actually it has been seen later, but in much more unoriginal and uninteresting way. What you are about to witness in this movie is something between ON and OFF; you'll hear one of the greatest movie dialog ever spoken, you'll see thestunning performance of unbelievably excellent Polanski and surprisingly good Depardieu; you'll learn how the direction of the movie is supposed to be handled; you'll realize that you just THOUGHT that you know what is your life turning into... And finally, you'll find out the meaning of word MASTERPIECE.

Having watched this movie for the first time in 1994 while at film school, I was struck by the elegant mixture of genres crafted into this film. For any film-maker wanting to prove his or her ability to engage and surprise an audience this film is a must. Most striking (apart from the unbelievable cinematography) is the conundrum like dialogue between characters and the inability as an objective viewer to discern who has the moral high ground until the director allows you such luxury. The pacing of dialogue, and the surreal characters that share the same space as foils to Depardieu and Polanski's characters, hark back to an older more energetic era of film. The performance from both leads should be compulsive viewing for all film students. For those not familiar with Guiseppe Tornatore's work, another must see is the internationally acclaimed Cinema Paradiso which is truly an outstanding piece of work.