Audition (2005) User Reviews

Raw emotion at is best

[MarcAndrePilon · 8/10 · 15 October 2005]

I just came out of the theater and I'm still overwhelmed by the power of this movie. 2005 has been a good year so far for Quebec cinema (C.R.A.Z.Y, L'Horloge biologique, Familia) but "L'audition", for me, tops it all. Luc Picard is one of our finest actor and, for his first film as a writer and director, he has surpass himself. After some minors scenes early in the movie where, as a beginner director, he should had have an outsider for himself and some of the cast about the acting (the character who plays his wife for example - she's remarkable later on though- and also the very first lines of Julie McClemens), the emotion settles in and we cannot do anything but accept the power of this movie. After the car crash, you're stuck with this poignant feeling throughout the rest of the film and you are always on the verge of crying (didn't cry that much in a movie in a long time, believe me.) The story of this loan shark guy trying to be an actor could had been very self absorded and egocentric but becomes this sweet message about life and the gift we have when we come into this world. At the end, Picard dedicates the film to his four year-old son (who plays in it) but, afterward, we all feel like we been part of something important, little more than just a piece of film. It's the first time in the last three years I feel like I ought to leave a critic here because of the greatness of the movie. It's that good. Go see it. (Oh... and Alexis Martin's character brings a real good comic relief.) 9/10

Could be MUCH worse.

[Matthew12222 · 6/10 · 1 April 2008]

It's a first pass for movies from Quebec. I seen Crazy and nous etait cinq... And about 4 others. So far it was the only decent one. It had some impressive parts, but there were a few pointless scenes that didn't really work. This may be a great movie from Quebec, but unless you only watch movies from there it's got a long way to go. All the violent scenes needed better effects work I mean it's a 2005 movie. They should be able to make it seem like they're actually hitting the guy... There was good emotion put into the acting itself. Those guys weren't holding back. The end honestly wasn't a surprise from about 20 minutes before you knew what the end was. Pretty disappointing. American Beauty now that movie has a more unpredictable ending...

wow.

[dearpm · 9/10 · 24 October 2006]

An incredibly moving film. Solid acting, humorous in the right parts, in the sense that the humour seems real. In fact, everything seems to play out so naturally. The subtlety of how to convey how to act within a film is captured magnificently, especially given that the actors are of course acting within the film. The weight of the opening lines, the sequence that Luc Picard must learn for his audition, take on such incredible meaning by the end, in part because of the fluid storyline. The film is dreamy and poetic while still rooted in a very contemporary vision of Québec life and culture. The cameo with director Robert LePage playing, of course, a director, at the beginning with Denis Bernard was great and starts the film on equal footing between lightheartedness and drama. A superb example of brilliant quebequois film-making.

Amazing on multiple levels

[durruti36 · 9/10 · 20 April 2006]

I really hadn't paid attention to this movie, although I was interested simply because Luc Picard wrote and directed it. I have a lot of respect for his acting, and his stand on stuff. I saw it last night, and now I am amazed by his writing and directing talents as well. This movie hit me on so many levels -- it's like a modern-day Shakespearean tragedy. It heart-wrenchingly brings home the reality of our mortality. Crap happens! It's a very real-to-life movie, and very poetic at the same time. There are so many things to commend this movie for, but one cannot overlook the incredible performance of Luc Picard, himself. And the rest of the cast are amazing as well. I cared so much about these people it hurt. Beautiful.