Quebec_Dragon It takes place in 1830 in Paris. Vidocq is the name of the main character who's based on an actual French historical figure that's considered one of the pioneers of scientific police (think CSI). He's played by probably the most famous French actor living today: Gérard Depardieu. Rather originally, the title character dies in the first 5 minutes of the film. The rest of the story alternates between the investigation of a journalist retracing Vidocq's steps and flashbacks of Vidocq's last case. The original screenplay was written by best-selling French mystery writer, Jean-Christophe Grangé. It was his first original screenplay, and he says it will be his last, and not because he wasn't happy with it. This last case of Vidocq involves the murder of notables by lightning strike. The journalist's investigation takes us from person to person in a rather linear fashion. The investigation itself is not particularly gripping, but there are a couple of big twists at the end. The "bad guy" sports a very cool mirror mask. The fantastical elements originate from the mirror mask person, not everything is real or scientifically explained.The special effects in general, with a couple of exceptions, are pretty well done, particularly the mask's reflections. It's apparently the first commercial feature film made completely with a digital camera (as opposed to a camera with film). This means that the picture quality, at the time, was crisper than usual, also giving it an unusual look. Lots of work has been done on lighting and colours. The colours are very vivid and favour the colours red, yellow and green. The decors are a mix of real life and digital trickery, they usually look very good and unlike your standard American films. Despite taking place in the 19th century, the editing is modern and very fast, with lots of very quick close-ups. I personally didn't like that style of frenetic cutting because the cuts often seemed unnecessary and made things either less involving or a little harder to assimilate. The characters seemed a bit on the shallow side to me, but then it's more about action, mystery and suspense with a touch of fantastical. Vidocq was compared to the film Seven but in 1830. It's nowhere near as good in any regard, except perhaps for visual style, very different anyway.The director, Pitof, was a special effects supervisor for most of his career (City of Lost Children, Alien IV) and his following project was directing the infamous Catwoman. It's likely he got that job because of Vidocq. I find that the director Pitof is not very good at telling a story, has trouble with pacing and making us care about the characters. Vidocq is worth renting (or buying cheap) for the spiffy visuals alone. Overall, the movie is not bad but not memorable either. It's likely that a more talented director (Burton, Fincher, Jeunet, etc) with the same material could have done a lot better.Rating: 6 out of 10 (Good) P.S. There are no portals, dark or otherwise.

Scarecrow-88 We watch in the opening of the film a detective named Vidocq(Gérard Depardieu)in battle with what appears to be a supernatural being with a glass framed face buried within a black cloak. It looks as if Vidocq fell to his doom in a fire-pit in the guts of a glassworks factory. His "biographer" Etienne(Guillaume Canet)wishes to pursue his hero's case and the film follows him from lead to lead learning about the killer called The Alchemist who is a mythic ghost whose glass face is said to steal the souls of victims. How Vidocq took the case was through a Chief of Police trying to figure out how three prominent members of Paris society wound up dead, two of them being burnt by lightning(the two who are actually burnt are an arms dealer and chemist). We find as Etienne dig deeper and deeper that these three only had love in their hearts for themselves and would do anything to preserve their youth..even making a deal with The Alchemist by supplying him pure virgins from poor families they pay so that they can receive a serum for not aging. All this revolves around a tumultuous political climate(..which might become an upheaval)as King Charles is threatening the suppression of the press and dissolving of parliament. Also, Paris in 1830 is quite a lurid, perverse place where any vice of anyone with wealthy means could be satisfied. We see this as Etienne continues on his journey to find answers to Vidocq's demise.Director Pitof's in-your-face style may be jarring or unnerving for some viewers because the camera suffocatingly closes in on the actors faces. We get all close and personal even with the ugly sorts with rotted teeth or vile expressions. The film's special effects almost look purposely unrealistic and surreal creating a Paris so bizarre it's almost otherworldly. The Alchemist is quite a creation as he can do so many acrobatic and supernatural things. Another thing I found stunning was how Pitof's camera moves. It rotates around, following the characters and action. Pitof also likes his camera shooting upward from the ground. We rarely see a simply, ordinary shot of characters..everything seems unorthodox and unusual. And, the twist that comes at the end turns your usual detective story on it's head. I certainly didn't see it coming.

José Luis Rivera Mendoza (jluis1984) French director Pitof was responsible of the visual effects of most of the best fantasy movies made in France during the 90s; including the brilliant works by Marc Caro and Jean-Pierre Jeunet, "Delicatessen" and "La Cité Des Enfants Perdus". Now, and with a small help of Marc Caro himself, he takes the position of director in one of the best fantasy films of modern times, a fictional adventure of the world's first detective, Vidocq.In real life, François-Eugène Vidocq was a criminal who later become a police officer and then the world's first private detective, innovating the criminology and the police work like nobody ever did. Now, in Pitof's movie, the famous detective (played by Gérard Depardieu) is apparently killed in his last case by a mysterious criminal, so his young admirer and biographer Etienne Boisset (Guillaume Canet) must solve the mystery of Vidocq's death and stop the criminal his idol couldn't catch.Like in their previous collaborations, Pitof gives life to Marc Caro's designs with vivid colors and a beautiful photography. Aided by digital effects, Pitof creates a fantastical 18th century France that is both haunting and captivating. Loosely based on Vidocq's memories, Pitof and writer Jean-Christophe Grangé present a thrilling story of mystery, horror and dark fantasy that never becomes boring and is full of surprises.Pitof's work in the U.S. (specially the awful "Catwoman") may turn off most people, but "Vidocq" is a completely different film. It is fresh, entertaining and very well designed. Unlike most Hollywood fantasy films, "Vidocq"'s flashy visuals never overshadow the plot and the cast. Despite being very prominent through the movie, the special effects serve their purpose without becoming the focus. While Pitof's film-making is very on the "style over substance" way of thinking, in "Vidocq" he seems to find the perfect equilibrium between them.Depardieu is brilliant as Vidocq and it is hard to think of anybody else playing the part. He has aged well and gives the role the dignity and humor the character demands. Guillaume Canet is also good in the lead role and portrays the naiveté of the young biographer with vivid realism. The beautiful Inés Sastre completes the cast in a role that mixes glamor with a lot of sensuality.Director Pitof's past as visual effects supervisor is latent, and while the digital effects are superb; his work with his cast is still a bit weak. Thanks to the talent of his actors this is not really a problem, but at times it still feels that Pitof prefers to work with computers than with people."Vidocq" is a movie to be entertained, and it serves its purpose perfectly. It is certainly not a thought-provoking movie but a movie to let the imagination fly. Like the early Caro-Jeunet collaborations, "Vidocq" is a dark fantasy for the inner child that still wants to venture in worlds of wonder. This Gothic tale of mystery and suspense is the perfect antidote to the mindless action films of the last decades. 7/10

bugsmith I've seen this movie through cable this afternoon. It was a real surprise. I admit I cannot get through the plot thoroughly since it was in French. But being a French movie is a real plus here. The story took place in 1830 France. The country was in disarray after repeated changes in government. The setting is dark and depressing. Everywhere you can see people are suffering. It's in their attitudes, their clothes, their environment. This is not something you will see in other movies of this period. Characters' movement are splendid, especially the Chinese/French woman whose name I forgot. Her movement makes this movie looks like art. I know that this movie is a horror film, but it's an artful horror. The plus side of being French is that it doesn't stick to the Hollywood-style horror. Its emphasis on emotions and audiences' feelings make this movie outstanding comparing to Hollywood's. Summay: This movie is definitely R (violence, nudity, I guess). So, it your are over 18, give it a try. You'll find it enjoyable even if you're not horror fan. However, if you dislike the genre, this one may not be powerful enough to change your mind.