ThiefHott Too much of everything

SpecialsTarget Disturbing yet enthralling

ChicRawIdol A brilliant film that helped define a genre

GarnettTeenage The film was still a fun one that will make you laugh and have you leaving the theater feeling like you just stole something valuable and got away with it.

punishmentpark At times during the film, I was thinking of movies by Roman Polanski ('Repulsion', 'Le locataire'), because of similarities in style. But, in the films by him that I know, Polanski has more to say. Actually, I'm not sure what this film ís saying. The premise is as far fetched as one can get it, which is the main obstacle. Beyond that, it is hardly anything more than a brutal drama, without much substance - although it starts out pretty strong.George Babluani does a good job, though, as do most of the actors. The style - all black and white - is very nice and well executed (no pun intended), and the soundtrack is quite atmospheric. It all works, except for the basic premise and the thin dramatic themes... And who really enjoys watching a game like that for such a long time? I'm in a bind there. I could of course try to think of what mankind is capable of, or imagine how this is on some level metaphoric, but it doesn't help much.5 out of 10, without wanting to dwell on it any further.

dbdumonteil "13 Tzameti " is a phenomenon ;it came as a shock in the French cinema,like an UFO;I search and I search my memory but I cannot find a single movie which looks like it in the French history of cinema(maybe Alain Jessua's "Traitement De Choc"(1972) but its form was more conventional) ;it is some kind of "they shoot horses ,don't they?" in the harsh realities of the naughties ;I would not even mention "French naughties" for the movie seems to come from nowhere and all the actors are unknown even over there and it is filmed in stark bleak black and white .The scene takes a little time to take off ,but when it hits its stride,it relegates Tarentino and other "intellectual" directors to kindergarten.Even scenes which seem irrelevant make sense :"you're 22,13's told,it's so good to be 22";even when you are a humble roofer who can't even get paid .The first scenes depict humble life ,verging on poverty and it is in direct contrast with the hateful punters which place their bets not on men but on numbers (like in Horace McCoy's novel "horses" filmed by Pollack).They call their "cattle" players and the "games" scenes are unbearably intense;before they shoot,you can hear the men breathe ,you can feel them sweat and you can almost hear the beating of their heart.Their eyes are fixed upon this bulb (in black and white the effect is increased tenfold)which means life or death.This is a modern fable:the mighty,the wealthy gets his pleasure from his fellow man's pain.Even if they do not make money ,what a thrill to see them suffer ,tremble and die !"13" has a boyish innocent face,lost in a wolves ' world he entered by mistake (but isn't it the same for the other players?) "13 Tzameti" is THE European film noir of the naughties ;it is essential viewing for French cinema students with strong hearts.

manendra-lodhi I always have a fascination for films which are the debut of a director. Plus this film is a nice thriller which is watchable at least once. The film has nothing that special. The story is good but not something innovative. However it is different from what I was seeing recently. The two parts of the film looked to be a lot different and by the time you have finished the film, you will barely have a memory of the first part. This is the major flaw that I think was present for me. Otherwise the film does steal the show in the second part. The acting of the main lead looks dull at some times but then his innocent face manages to save his part. Well when you have a different story to see than acting hardly matters. The way they built up the tension was good and the role of the person organizing the event was the best for me. Even though the film does not offer anything new, it has a sense of refreshment may be owing to the innocent face of the lead actor.MESSAGE: "Destiny is supreme."VERDICT: "A recommended watch once."

Sindre Kaspersen Carpenter Sébastien is hired by the mysterious house-owner Jean-Francois to fix his roof. When the house-owner suddenly dies, Sébastien finds a valuable letter that contains clear instructions.Géla Babluani's dark debut from modern day France about a young immigrant who takes a risky choice to help his family, opens as a classic film-noir and develops after the chronologies time-frame to a tight psychological thriller about a cynical underground milieu where the unknowing protagonist realizes that the consequences of his choice has forced him into a situation that he can only get out of by conquering death. The compassion, warmth and harmony Babluani suggests of in the character introduction is alienated after the point-of-no-return, and from here on out Géla Babluani depicts a hazardous gambling community where human worth means nothing and money everything.Promising Georgian-French director Géla Babluani was possibly inspired by 1940s American Film Noir and Robert Bresson's metaphysical dramas when he started making this formalistic art film that is associable with Juan-Carlos Fresnadillo's "Intacto" (2001). "Contestant 13" is vigorously filmed and photographed in a black-and-white color that increases the films cold realism, concentrates the plot and tones down the emotional aspects. The variations of long and short takes, the short and concise dialog and the frequent use of close ups intensifies the drama in this stylized character study, whole heartedly played by the director's debuting brother George Babluani. The misty background music and the minimal elements of humor decreases the apocalyptic mood in this tense feature film debut. This is 90 minutes in breath-taking excitement and observation of West-European art film.