ShangLuda Admirable film.

SparkMore n my opinion it was a great movie with some interesting elements, even though having some plot holes and the ending probably was just too messy and crammed together, but still fun to watch and not your casual movie that is similar to all other ones.

HottWwjdIam There is just so much movie here. For some it may be too much. But in the same secretly sarcastic way most telemarketers say the phrase, the title of this one is particularly apt.

Erica Derrick By the time the dramatic fireworks start popping off, each one feels earned.

Horst in Translation (filmreviews@web.de) "Le dernier métro" was one of Director Francois Truffaut's last works. He only made two more movies afterward before his premature death at the age of 52. Here he got Catherine Deneuve and Gérard Depardieu, which means two of the greatest French actors of all time and one of the greatest directors. Unfortunately it did not turn out as one of the best French movies of all time despite these promising ingredients. The one thing which hurt the film a lot for me was that I did not feel Depardieu and Deneuve had any real chemistry here. I felt much more chemistry between Bennent and Deneuve in fact which is bad as the plot develops completely against their relationship. A minor criticism would be the title. I thought the reference with the last train leaving the station was just too minor to name the whole film after it. In addition, Andréa Ferréol's character did almost nothing for me. She is the reason for Depardieu's character to act so strange early on and her later breakdown due to Deneuve's character becoming more and more difficult to work with just felt unauthentic and randomly thrown in. I don't know what was the purpose behind that or her character in general.The story can be summarized quickly. In World-War-II Paris, occupied by Germans, a group of theater actors work on their newest play. The problem is that the director is Jewish and had to flee. Actually he did not. He lives in the theater's cellar where he is provided with food and information about the political climate by his wife, the lead actress in the play. He finds ways to direct the actors and despite people not knowing he is down there, he manages to make an impact in forming the play while his wife begins to develop feelings for her co-actor.The film was the big winner at the French Film Awards when he came out. It received 10 Césars and only lost the supporting actor/actress categories, but was also nominated there. Consequently, it was France's submission to the Foreign Langue Film category at the Academy Awards that year, where it scored a nomination as well, but lost to the Soviet entry.This is a film really only for those who love French cinema. Then again, others probably won't come across it 35 years after it was made. The common (invalid) criticism that nothing really happens is really the case here. Also it runs considerably over two hours, which means you may become bored if French movies aren't your cup of tea. I liked the Asterix-like introduction (although it certainly was unintended) and the ending where their next play is mixed with reality and I was pretty surprised. Apart from that, the most interesting about this film is the depiction of life in Paris during the German occupation and the many historic references. The music is nice as well. "Bei Mir Bistu Shein" is such a great song.

manendra-lodhi The film starts with a lot of characters at once but then after some time you start understanding the flow of the story and start praising the storyline. Truffaut is a master in keeping the audience engaged. The story is about a director who is a Jew and because of a law, he has to hide in the basement of a theater which is now run by his wife. The focusing part of the story is how slowly his wife starts to get attracted to a new actor, but the story doesn't concentrate entirely on this buildup of emotions. It gives the audience a variety of characters. The film is not like where the husband is jealous and the wife herself is behaving in a very controlled way. However the start of the film looked to be a little bit confusing but gradually you are pulled into the film. Cinematography and all other aspects too were nice.MESSAGE: 'You have no control over some things.'VERDICT: "A recommended watch."

bobsgrock Somewhat contrived and conventional yet always entertaining and noteworthy, Francois Truffaut's The Last Metro is one of those great period pieces that transports you to a particular era so beautifully that after awhile you lose the thought of watching a film and feel as if you are inhabiting this world with the characters. This is thanks in no small part to Truffaut, who directs with beautiful restraint, but also to his two lead actors who happen to be two of the most accomplished in French history. Gerard Depardieu and Catherine Deneuve have tremendous chemistry together but also create two sympathetic and interesting characters who together and separately have specific reasons for acting the way they do, which is not always apparent to the audience. Like any great director, Truffaut unfolds this story slowly and paces it well enough that we understand the gist of what he is trying to say without bludgeoning us over the head with his message. Clearly, the message has to do with the importance of art and how it is able to transform and prolong our happiness and understanding in times of great trouble. Using such a well-known period like World War II can be troublesome, but Truffaut underplays the Nazi element of the story, utilizing it more as a backdrop than a necessary part of the film. In short, this is a very entertaining and worthwhile film that celebrates art, particularly the positive effects it is capable of, which I'm sure we all would love to see more of.

Hitchcoc One criticism of this film is that it doesn't portray the German occupation with enough power. It is a film of little violence and a more subtle, restrained view of Paris during World War II. I have to believe that much of life went on during this time and this is a small cross section of that portrayal. The Germans sort of absorbed France and went about their business. Much of the horror goes on offstage, but the focus of the movie is what happens to a small theatre on a day to day basis. Catherine Deneuve is a woman who manages to pull something from her limited resources to maintain what she loves, including her husband who hides in the cellar of the theatre. She dominates the screen. Also, Gerard Depardieu is excellent as the young actor who works for the underground while those around him see him merely as a flippant letch. This has a lot of flaws, and perhaps a little trouble with verisimilitude, but it is an inspiring story of strength and endurance and is very enjoyable.