Luc Besson's enchanting 'Angel-A' is a modern-day fairy tale film noire fantasy set in black and white Paris. This is perhaps Besson's tribute to the film noire and Godard. It's also quite dialogue oriented (reminding me a bit of Kassovitz's 'La Haine' even though both movies are completely different). The dialogues are amusing. Besson plays around with symbols and words.At times 'Angel-A' feels like a poem as it has a whimsical flow and the city is used to its advantage. The director himself said that Paris is the third main character and I wouldn't disagree. Not only does it look stunning but it works brilliantly as Andre and Angela's platform and path to discovering truth. Thierry Arbogast's cinematography is marvelous as he beautifully captures each image giving life to the world of the two protagonists. The lighting department also deserves as much credit for giving more depth to the visuals.André Moussah seems to have been tailor made for Jamel Debbouze as it's hard to picture any other actor in that role. The actor plays it to the T. Equally, wonderful is Rie Rasmussen who plays Angela, the anti-Moussah, anti in the sense that Angela is everything André is not.'Angel-A' is a modern day fantasy about learning to love yourself. Only then, can you strive to be more.

I am a not a big fan of foreign films, but since this was by Luc Besson, I had a feeling it would be unique and worthwhile. And it was. At first, you might think it's going to be too artsy in black & white, but the beautiful cinematography with panoramic shots and amazing use of natural light and shadows captures the scenic beauty of Paris as well as the atmosphere which inspires Love in so many people. At other times, the black and while subtly conveys the contrast between the characters and where they're from. The acting is superb. Rie Rasmussen is stunning in this. There's a sharp contrast between the two central characters and everything about them reflects it. Yet the story speaks to that within us - feeling unworthy, lack of self-confidence, low self-esteem - and how one person can have an impact on another. There's a lesson in it for the underdog in all of us. With twists and turns, you're never quite sure what is coming next. It's an easy view with the subtitles kept to a minimum so the viewer can spend more time enjoying the full experience. I came away feeling pleasantly surprised.

Angel-A is an easy film to knock. Superficially, there isn't a great deal to endear it to any particular type of audience. For example, there's barely any action, no sex or nudity, there are no big Hollywood stars, it's not sufficiently intellectual to be an 'art-house movie' (despite being black & white!) and, although it has amusing moments, it's hardly a comedy. In addition, the film is only focused on the two main characters and, even then, it's only really about one of them. The remaining participants are (quite deliberately it appears) straightforward stereotypes who allow the simple story to progress. The quality of acting from Rie Rasmussen seems far from impressive but, to be fair, she's not speaking in her native language. Mind you, her awkward portrayal of the titular character seems to work well and she certainly stands out as a 'fish out of water'. But despite the film's potential short-comings, there are three saving graces that transform Angel-A from a rather average 7 to a brilliant 9 in my eyes: the breathtaking cinematography (thank you Luc Besson), the magnificent casting (Jamel Debbouze is perfect as André) and the heart- warming gentle story (which stayed with me long after the film had finished). In fact, I would go so far as to say that Angel-A could leave you examining your own life and wondering when was the last time you stopped to 'respire and regard' the beautiful world around you and consider how the way you feel about yourself might well have a direct impact on how others treat you. However, Angel-A is one of those films that you have to be in the right mood to watch. If you don't allow yourself to relax and be drawn into the fairytale, the story can easily fall flat. You also have to give it a chance to get started; the fast-paced dialogue at the beginning makes it hard to watch the pictures at the same time as reading the words (unless you're French of course!). But once Angela enters the frame, the story takes off on a stunningly gorgeous wander around Paris and the way that the tale gently unfolds in the second half of the film is wonderfully touching. There are many moments of outstanding beauty and even the superficially simplistic long-shots of Angela & André crossing the Seine have a mysterious magical quality about them. Actually, the whole film feels slightly unreal; this is partly down to the subject matter but also to the way it was filmed in an almost-empty Paris at odd times of the day. So, in summary, I love Angel-A. It's one of those films you can watch again and again quite happily and find new insights from each viewing. There are so many scenes that quickly become favourite moments as you watch it multiple times. The contrast between the giant Nordic goddess and the shifty little North-African seems to work brilliantly and the backdrop of a beautiful black & white Paris with incredible lighting more than makes up for a few minor flaws. 9/10

Angel-A is the title of a lesser-known film by famous french director Luc Besson (Fifth Element) shot in black and white mostly in Paris. It's also the name of the leading female character : a tall, thin and beautiful blonde with a mysterious past. The story tells of the unlikely relationship between that woman and a small rather ordinary-looking American (looking Moroccan) in deep trouble because of debts (played by Jamel Debouze, the one-armed grocer from Amélie). What strikes viewers first after the black and white is the difference in height between Angel-A and the "hero", as well as their very contrasting looks. We have a pretty "odd couple" after a dramatic first encounter.The film is very well shot with dynamic camera angles. It's not really an action film, nor a comedy, nor a drama. The closest description might be an unconventional buddy/romance dramedy hybrid. I liked the relationship between the two leads although some will get stuck at how very unlikely it seems. To be fair, the initial premise (of which I cannot tell too much) seems a bit like a teen's fantasy come to life. The pace is good and I was never bored even in quieter moments. The cinematography is top-notch sometimes playing with heights or characters looking straight at the camera (or the viewer) for dramatic purposes. The accents in french sometimes made the protagonists hard to understand (especially Angel-A with her Scandinavian accent) and unfortunately it sometimes sabotaged good moments. However, for English viewers (the movie is subtitled not dubbed), this would be a non-issue. The acting is slightly exaggerated and unequal, particularly from Angel-A who ranges from bad to great. Again, this sometimes hurts the suspension of disbelief. I would like to mention a great dramatic scene when both main characters look at a mirror. This was a really special powerful scene. So all in all, I liked the film, found it entertaining, sometimes touching, but it has flaws.Rating : 7 out of 10