Film Diary: Poison Friends (Les Amitiés Maléfiques)
February 21, 2008 8:33 pm Film Diaries - Andrew2006
Director: Emmanuel Bourdieu
Viewed: February 21, 2008
Format: DVD - Strand Releasing (2007)
If you ever spent time in academia, chances are you probably knew someone like André Morney, the vigorous Parisian prodigy at the heart of Poison Friends. Morney energizes everyone he meets with his ferocity and wit. Unfortunately, he’s also a mendacious, careless asswipe. The script by Bourdieu and Marcia Romano is far more fascinating than expected, and has plenty of raw, bloody insight into the values of the intellectual class. Too bad the cinematography in Friends is so uneven, veering between limp naturalism and the odd moment of inspired visual craft. Still, a prickly, impressive little film.
