Rent 35 Shots of Rum (2008)

Such a boring film - 35 Shots of Rum review by PV

I usualy like foreign language films - though French ones have a reputation for being slow and tedious, and this is no exception. The movie can be summarised thus: lots of ethnic minority people go to work and come back to their tower block in the suburbs of Paris, then go out in a taxi, break down in the rain, go to a bar, drink run (though no-one ever explains why 35 shots of rum...) and a man drives a train; their is much philosophical and depressive talk of age and death. A shame really: there are much better films to be made about the French immigrant population. Perhaps it's because it's directed by a woman, and women directors usually focus on family relationships and soapy stuff rather than good plot and the story. Maybe this would have been better as a TV series?

So, in summary - if you want good entertainment, do not watch this self-indulgent French yawn-fest. If however you are suffering from insomnia, however, and need something to put you to sleep, this movie is highly recommended.

One or two stars - maybe one and a half, for the good acting.

Pointless - 35 Shots of Rum review by SJ

This disk did not have subtitles (no matter what I tried, and I tried everything) and I don’t speak French :-(

What is the point? 

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Be honest… - 35 Shots of Rum review by SG

Remake this film with white people and it would be very dull. If you enjoyed it, whoever you are, examine why. Lots of people seem to have rated it highly but were unable to give a reason.  Do not fear any spoilers in reviews because nothing happens and the characters undergo no development. You are just expected to be mesmerised by the presence of non-whites who do exotic things like smoke cigarettes while deep in thought (about what, we have no idea) or drink lots of shots of rum while deep in thought (about what, we have no idea). A sense of deep seated anguish pervades as the characters enjoy a material standard of living that most can only aspire to. There’s also a sort of fetish about rice (perhaps to signify the characters’ otherness, yawn) that climaxes in the appearance of a second rice maker…and now I’ve spoilt it.