ElMaruecan82
I bet that no review of "OSS 117: Nest of Spies" started without mentioning that its hero, Secret Agent Hubert Bonasseur de la Bath, was created by French writer Jean Bruce in 1949, which means four years before Ian Fleming wrote the first 'James Bond' novel. Yes indeed, codename 117 was a precursor while 007 became the icon. This is vital information as it prevents the viewer from identifying OSS 117 only as the French answer to James Bond, or worse, to Austin Powers.The two agents were created in the most politically and diplomatically tormented era of the 20th Century and spy stories were the premises of great adventures inspired from real-life events. And movies like "Top Secret!" and Austin Powers mocked all the James Bond and spy archetypes with such a delightful zaniness that the premise of "OSS 117" might have seemed preposterous. In fact, it's genius. By using the same visual format than 60's adventure movies, from the classic Gaumont logo opening (a bit reminding me of the use of the 20's Universal logo for "The Sting") and by turning them into a parody, Michel Hazanivicius removes the dust from French cinema's forgotten gems and gives the perfect alibi so a 2000's audience can laugh with the film, but not at the film.That this audience never read any of the 265 OSS novels, that everyone still believes James Bond was the first, is besides the point, if anything, with this film, they'll make a great discovery. But they're going to be mislead too, as the original novels weren't comedies, they were actually in the same vein than James Bond (which, to a certain degree, isn't supposed to always be taken seriously) and the original agent was actually American, from Louisiana, hence his name with French consonance. Hazanavicius adapts the film into a comedy and makes the hero a French version of James Bond, two inspired choices culminating with the casting of Jean Dujardin, who can abandon his surfing suit and blonde wig from his hit sketch "Brice de Nice" and proves his acting skills with the one character that was begging to be played by Dujardin.That was before "The Artist" when only French audience knew that Dujardin was the most American-looking Frenchie, with his wide charming smile à la Gene Kelly (he's actually more handsome than him) and his forehead that recalls a young Sean Connery, and a little Errol Flynn touch, Dujardin had the looks, but not just the looks. 117 is a dim-witted, overly-patriotic agent who believes that President René Coty will belong to history. That the foreign audience (and also French) is oblivious to the identity of Coty is already the proof that the gag works; it also outdates the character, setting him in the time of the fourth Republic (before De Gaulle) where France was losing the colonies and all its prestige. Only Dujardin could pull such an anachronistic performance, of a character already comically anachronistic within the film's plot.The plot is centered on 1956's Suez crisis, and while the real players were USA and USSR, 117 is so convinced of France's importance, that any information or attitude contradicting his certitudes is welcomed by a laugh of disbelief. And I think Dujardin is the only actor who can display such a wide range of smiles, just with the way he extends his mouth or plays with his eyes, it can mean nervousness, confidence, arrogance, joy, irony and so forth. Only Dujardin can look so goofy and charismatic in the same time. And speaking of goofiness, the film doesn't spare any cliché: the low-budget special effects always symbolized by the obvious plane model 'flying' in the sky, the over the top fight that destroy all the furniture without messing the hero's hairstyle, the charm with women and the lousy covers: he's the owner of a chicken farm, which preludes the film's most hilarious running-gag, in fact, all the other spies are farm owners: each one for a different breed.And then, when 117 meets the other countries' agents, it's a moment of pure brilliance as they all start delivering off-topic philosophical quotes, for no particular reason, other than trying to outsmart each other, it's a brilliant moment of pure non-sequitur enjoyment. also love the interaction between Dujardin and the Arab population, underlining the eternal cultural shift between Europe and the Third World, his altercation with a muezzin, his patronizing tone while giving a worker the card of René Coty (as if it meant something), his non-politically correct comments, it's very cruel, but the joke is on him and it's funny, and he kind of redeems himself when he starts singing "Bambino" in Arabic, an unpredictable moment that drew a big smile in my face. Of course, being a Moroccan, I wasn't fooled by the real Cairo and the people's pure Moroccan accent, but who can't tell whether it's intentional or not. Either ways, it works.Of course, the gags don't work the same, but you spend a great moment, entertained by Dujardin's antics, and also the great performance of Bérénice Béjo, who handles her role with a natural simplicity, seductive and sexy without trying to emulate a James Bond girl. And we all know where this is coming to: if it wasn't for Hazanivicus' nostalgic trip into the 50's, with the charm of Dujardin and Béjo, we wouldn't have a movie like "The Artist" that earned Dujardin his Oscar nomination.I welcomed "The Artist" with enthusiasm, and later on, I was wondering if it wasn't just a way to kiss Hollywood's butt, so to speak. Well I apologize for this thought, because Hazanivicus actually restored French cinema with this hilarious nest of spies, made an American character 100% French (before doing the opposite) and he established Dujardin as the successor of many American entertainers and French too, as he's the closest actor to Belmondo charisma-wise.
ma-cortes
A spoof on James Bond about OSS operative stunningly performed by Jean Dujardin . Comedy spy-thriller with Jean Dujardin as inept secret agent versus nasty high-ranking Nazis and arms smugglers . Secret agent OSS 117 foils Nazis , beds local beauties , and brings peace as well as mayhem to Cairo . It's 1955 by time of dictator Nasser and the secret agent Hubert Bonisseur De la Bath, a.k.a. OSS 117 is ordered a dangerous investigation in Cairo , there he has to take his place at the head of a poultry firm . Hubert Bonisseur is the French spy considered by his superiors to be the best in the business , this time his assistant is the charming Egiptyan agent Larmina performed by Berenice Bejo , director's wife . He's been sent on a mission to El Cairo , Port Said , to look for a former agent who has been eliminated . His eventful mission takes him all across Egypt accompanied by a beautiful girl and taking on a lot of adventures , risks and double-crosses . The man is charming , and so is the young girl spy . Filmed on luxurious sets their tale is by turns an exciting intrigue and a love story . He acts as a playboy , this results to be his cover while he is busy investigating , foiling Nazi holdout and bedding local beauties . Hubert Bonisseur De la Bath, a French spy, is in Cairo to investigate the disappearance a French agent . He is he smart spy , or is he an imbecile ? He fights well but he's supremely smug and self-confident, even as he's deaf to cultural nuance and others' feelings , so the odds are even that he might survive .Funny moments along with embarrassing in this first entry about secret agent OSS 117 with a likable Jean Dujardin , role of the accidental spy who doesn't know fear or danger in this comedy spy-thriller . In this entertaining adventure , the most unlikely intelligence officer in French Secret Service must stop a group of international Nazi conspirators , quelling a fundamentalist rebellion and deal with an intrigue about weapon smuggling . Hubert Bonisseur, a French secret agent who dreams of rising beyond his menial job within the OSS organization, after all the other agents are bumped off is hired to discover a mysterious ring . With one shot at redemption, he must employ all kind of means to unravel a web of conspiracy that runs throughout an ambitious plot . Hubert must use every trick in his play-book to achieve his objectives . For Hugo Bonisseur, disaster may be an option, but failure never is. This original installment is an acceptable comedy though the formula is well known with 'The Pink Panther' series and recently with 'Johnnny English' by Rowan Atkinson . It stars clumsy Jean Dujardin as one man show accompanied by a gorgeous Berenice Bejo . The movie gets entertaining and hilarious moments here and there. This slapstick picture contains amusing , funny scenes , fresh and diverting moments but also flaws and gaps . Jean Dujardin steals the show parodying the ordinary international secret agent , James Bond-alike , including his ordinary faces , grimaces and gestures ; he plays stunningly the highly unorthodox agent, the inept and bungler secret agent from OSS . There appears two beauties as Berenice Bejo and Aure Atica . The actors seem to enjoy themselves immensely giving funny interpretations . Lively and atmospheric music by Ludovic Bource . Colorful and glimmer cinematography by Schiffman . Other films about this famous spy are the followings : "O.S.S. 117 Is Not Dead" with Ivan Desny ; "Panic en Bangkok" with Kerwin Mathews ; "OSS 117: Mission for a Killer" with Frederick Stafford ; "OSS 117 Double Agent" played by John Gavin and "Vendetta of espies" performed by Luc Merenda . The film was well penned and directed by Michel Hazanavicius that maintains the slapstick franchise . He also directed in similar style to the original film a sequel titled ¨OSS 117 Lost in Rio¨ with Jean Dujarjin , Rudiger Vogler and Louise Monot . Director and actors , Dujardin and Berenice Bejo , will repeat in the successful and recent ¨The artist¨ including Golden Globes and Oscars . Several chuckles and gags , the result of which is one acceptable entry on spoof genre . The flick will appeal to comedy buffs and Jrean Dujardin fans .
Muhammad Ali
I just saw this movie, actually it was a decision after watching "Jean Dujardin" amazing performance in "The Artist".The movie is nice and funny and sense of humor is surprising and far from being French.What really annoyed me is everything in the movie is not Egyptian or has do anything with Cairo. It's such a shame for a movie that's produced in 2006 to be unable to deliver such basic things, any kid can Google and get these info. The dialect is Moroccan -which you can consider a complete different language than the one spoken in Egypt, the Arabic translation is wrong with all plaques and signs in the movie, the customs, dresses and outfits are Moroccan, the locations and building styles are all Moroccan. I know it sounds irrelevant to most of people, but for me being Egyptian it does make a difference. Plus, you spend all that money on a movie and neglect such a thing where you could have easily hired some Egyptian staff to guide you through it on 2006? Other than that, it's a nice and funny movie and I recommend it!
