Rating: 
Summary: A Red Ominous River Runs in White Snow; Good, Moody Thriller
Review: "The Crimson Rivers" is touted by some as an answer to "Se7en" from French cinema industry. Actually, though it shares some aspects of that Hollywood sleeper hit, "The Crisom Rivers" is a fast-paced, exciting movie, adapted from the bestselling novel of the same title by Jean-Christophe Grange (published in 1998), who wrote the screenplay of this hit movie in France, and is later to write for super-cool action "Vidocq," again a hit there in 2001. Oh, but that's another story, and wait for its release.Anyway, "The Crimson Rivers" traces the two cops' investigations one after the other, both of which point to one secluded university in the snow-capped Alps. One crackerjack cop sent from Paris (but easily terrified by a dog) Jean Reno encounters a case about a horribly cut body while angry and dissatisfied younger cop Vincent Cassel follows a seemingly minor case about a desecrated grave of a girl killed by accident 20 years ago. These two cases, however, gradually lead them to one deadly secret among the cloistered society, a secret with "Les Rivieres Pourpres." The story is always engaging, if a bit confusing sometimes, and the terrific leads are great assets of the film. Though the ending of the film sounds too incredible (and it reminded me of that of one Steven Seagal movie), the chain of thrilling actions and breathtaking photography never fails to entertain us. Probably the best thing you get in this film is its stertlingly moody cinematography with gloomy atomosphere done by Thierry Arbogast (famous for "The Fifth Element" and other Besson films). The images of morbidly real dead bodies and vivid white of snow on the high mountains will long remain in your mind after watching this great work. As far as its story is concerned, "The Crimson Rivers" may be thought as an imitaion of the likes of "Se7en" and other Hollywood thrillers, but the total touch of the film is different. For all some gory scene, the film has less sinister impressions thanks to the believable humane portrayals of two leads and Cassel's fine kung-hu action. Not a classic, but still more engrossing than many average thrillers. The director Mathieu Kassovitz, known for his acclaimed work as a director "Hate," is, of course, now remembered as an actor who played 'Nino,' the love of charming and lovely Amelie. His father, Peter Kassovitz, is the director of Robin Williams's "Jakob the Liar."
Rating: 
Summary: Stunning and atmospheric gothic French "policier"
Review: (This review relates to the French special edition release in THX. French title: Les Rivieres Pourpres) From the second the film starts, it is evident that France's Matthieu Kassovitz is more than capable of taking-on Hollywood in directing a stunning gothic chiller complete with a first class THX sound track. A badly mutilated body is found high in the Alps. The local police acquire the help of "special" police investigator, Pierre Niemans (Jean Reno), whose intent becomes not just to discover *who* committed the murder but also *why* it was committed. Simultaneously, a young Arab policeman, Karim Abdouf (played by Vincent Cassel of "La Haine"), living some 200km away is called in to investigate the desecration of a little girl's grave and a local school break-in. Both policeman are drawn slowly to the same potential perpetrator, discover two further murders and uncover a terrifying secret behind the murders. I bought the film yesterday in a French supermarket and I've already watched it three times. The style of the film, the photography and camera-work, the music, the twists and turns of the plot all make this a brilliant film. The actors are perfectly cast, with Jean Reno presenting a softer more thoughtful character than in the book of the same name whilst Vincent Cassel displays the edge of racial anger that was so visible in La Haine. The ending will probably generate a lot of discussion as to what exactly it means but, if the film is released in the same special edition form as in France, the additions on the second disc provide a level of insight rarely seen in other special edition DVDs - and supply that elusive answer! Buy it as soon as it is released!
Rating:
Summary: Spectacular suspense
Review: A murder had just happened in a sleepy town somewhere in France. A seasoned cop from Paris was summoned to investigate the case, & that cop was none other than Jean Reno. At the same time, a young cop from Paris was transferred to the same town & he was to investiage a cemetery that was desecrated. As Jean dwelled further into the case, it seemed the university where the victim worked hid a dark secret. The body of the victim left clue(s) for a possible next victim(s) & that propelled Jean to think ahead of the killer(s). Thus, a cat & mouse game ensued. Instead of following a typical & predictable Hollywood storyline, this movie got more exciting when both cops collided by accident, only to realise subsequently, they worked on a bigger case than they would ever imagine. The movie was suspenseful throughout & challenging viewers to think the reason(s) why outstanding members of the university were murdered in the most grosteque manner. Towards the end, we started to wonder if the killer(s) were to be blamed or that the victim(s) deserved their horrid end. An intelligent movie with beautiful cinematography, charismatic acting by Jean Reno, a solid story line, undoubtedly one of the best movies from France to date. In some instances, it reminded us of "Silence of the Lambs" without the Hannibal factor but all & all, it was a French movie with an occasional sly remarks & unexpected mannerisms. Highly recommended & deliciously grippy from beginning till the end. Spread the good words as long as you don't reveal the ending & the plot.
Rating: 
Summary: The French mimic Hollywood in this second-rate thriller.
Review: A secretive, insulated university in the French Alps is threatened by a diabolical killer. A brutally mutilated corpse and a graveyard desecration send two cops, both well-stocked in the attitude department, on converging paths. Together they confront the university's dark past and the killer's bizarre plan.
Combine equal parts of "The Boys from Brazil" and "Smilla's Sense of Snow," remove all the best bits, add a touch of "Se7en," coat liberally with Hollywood-grade icing... and you've got "The Crimson Rivers." This film stumbles from one hackneyed cliche to the next, never getting up on its own two feet to do the honest work of storytelling. The copses are nasty, yes, but the film never takes the real sort of risks that "Se7en" does. The cop characters are the most basic sort of archetypes--the moody old guy, and the young hothead who starts fights with scummy lowlifes for no good reason. Their clues and connections come too easily, playing like a childish game of connect-the-dots. The film also includes one laughable scene in which characters make a completely impossible escape from certain death. Worst of all, the killer is painfully obvious much too early in the film--except for a garish, melodramatic twist at the end.
At the 2001 Seattle International Film Festival director Mathieu Kassovitz was asked, during a Q&A, about a certain element of the Commissaire Niemans character, played by Jean Reno. Kassovitz answered with: "It's just a gimmick." Ugh. Isn't there a list handed out at film school regarding what directors should never, never, never admit?
Rating:
Summary: Fantastic Script, great acting!
Review: Another movie I saw out of reviews on numerous sites. It was definitly worth my while, for I ending up loving it. For Starters because I wasn't aware of this, the movie is Dubbed, so it will look a little wierd but heh, it is still a great flik :) The music in the film was fitting to the movie, It has great enjoyment to it, and as I said at the top, GREAT ACTING! Definitly worth your hard earned cash, I wouldnt keap it if it [stinks] thats for sure. The story is the best thing about it so make sure you watch ALL of it :D -Luke Thuemmel-
Rating: 
Summary: Rough Waters For 'The Crimson Rivers'
Review: Beautiful snow-capped mountain locations can't save "The Crimson Rivers". It's rough waters all the way for this one; the film is too long and almost uncomprehensible due to Jean Reno's heavy accent. The film would have been better and made more sense if it had been released in French and subtitled. You really have to listen very closely and carefully, plus keep your finger on your remote's STOP/REWIND or BACK button, to get a handle on what's going on. Some of the grisly images are truly that but--without giving away the end--how one in particular could have been accomplised considering who did it, puts too much of a stretch on the imagination.
Rating:
Summary: Rough Waters For 'The Crimson Rivers'
Review: Beautiful snow-capped mountain locations can't save "The Crimson Rivers". It's rough waters all the way for this one; the film is too long and almost uncomprehensible due to Jean Reno's heavy accent. The film would have been better and made more sense if it had been released in French and subtitled. You really have to listen very closely and carefully, plus keep your finger on your remote's STOP/REWIND or BACK button, to get a handle on what's going on. Some of the grisly images are truly that but--without giving away the end--how one in particular could have been accomplised considering who did it, puts too much of a stretch on the imagination.
Rating:
Summary: French CSI. Not perfect but very entertaining.
Review: Crimson Rivers is a beautifully shot, well acted thriller. While many compare it to Silence of the Lambs and Seven; The Crimson Rivers feels more like an episode of CSI. The emphasis is on the crime investigation, not the crime itself. While Seven (which I loved) wallows in gore and filth, The Crimson Rivers focuses on the beauty of the Alpine village Guernon, and contrasts it to the murders taking place therein.
In the end The Crimson Rivers could have used a small dose of tension. While there were scenes where the cops played by Reno and Cassell's lives were in grave danger. What was missing was the atmosphere of doom and danger that hung so ominously over greater films like Seven, Jaws, or Marathon Man.
I would give the movie 4.5 stars if it were possible. But I'll give it 5 because of the fantastic acting of Jean Reno and especially Vincent Cassell.
Rating:
Summary: Ultra-commercial Gallic thriller
Review: CRIMSON RIVERS [Les Rivieres Pourpres] (France 2000): The discovery of a corpse in the French Alps brings together two high-powered police investigators (Jean Reno and Vincent Cassel) - both working on apparently separate cases sixty miles apart - in search of a serial killer whose crimes are linked to a forgotten tragedy and a mysterious university steeped in blood and horror... Ultra-commercial thriller from director Mathieu Kassovitz (LA HAINE), teaming Gallic superstars Reno and Cassel in a high-concept exploration of human callousness and depravity, reminiscent of similarly-styled murder mysteries like SE7EN and MESSIAH. Not as gruesome as those offerings, but certainly as sober, CRIMSON RIVERS - based on the novel by Jean-Christophe Grange - locates its horrors within the panoramic grandeur of the French Alps (gorgeous widescreen cinematography by Luc Besson's regular DP Thierry Arbogast), loaning the film an intense cinematic quality, typical of recent European blockbusters. Kassovitz keeps his camera moving at all times, maintaining a breathless pace as the protagonists wade through an accumulation of clues and details, some of which may elude less attentive viewers, and Maryline Monthieux's razor-sharp editing keeps the pot boiling throughout. Reno and Cassel are perfectly cast in the role of mismatched detectives, each dedicated to the task at hand, each using very different methods to solve the mystery unfolding around them. Dynamic set-pieces include an Argentoesque confrontation with the killer following the discovery of a murder victim arranged in ghoulish splendor, resulting in pursuit across an icy landscape at midnight, and a thrilling night-time car chase on a lonely mountain road, conceived and executed with genuine visual flair. The film's climactic revelations are so convoluted as to be virtually impenetrable, but the finale is suitably explosive, and even if you're able to guess the killer's identity before he/she is unmasked, screenwriters Kassovitz and Grange have more than one surprise up their sleeve during the closing sequence... Aside from one significant flaw, Columbia TriStar's DVD is magnificent, with faultless sound and picture quality. Viewers are advised to choose the original 5.1 French soundtrack to experience the movie as Kassovitz intended, though the dubbed English option (in both 5.1 and 2.0 surround) is adequate, and Reno dubs his own voice. Viewers are advised that the killer's identity is easily deduced from comments made in an insert included with the DVD, in which Kassovitz talks about a particular cast member's ability to play two sides of the same character, which kinda gives the game away. Same goes for the lengthy supplementary materials, featuring a series of filmed interviews with the movie's principal participants, in which they discuss the film's production and the genesis of several key scenes (Kassovitz and producer Alain Goldman emphasize the film's strengths whilst also conceding areas in which things could have been better). First-time viewers are warned these extras contain extensive spoilers, along with a detailed explanation of the killer's motives, which makes up for some of the confusion generated by the film itself. There's an audio commentary involving the director and some of his cast, but in French only, with NO subtitles!! Columbia TriStar have been aware of this problem since the disc was first issued, but they STILL haven't corrected the mistake, which renders this crucial extra completely redundant. 105m 39s
2.39:1 (Panavision) / Anamorphically enhanced
Dolby 5.1 / Dolby Surround 2.0
Dolby Digital/DTS [theatrical]
Optional French (original) and English (dubbed) soundtracks
Optional English subtitles and closed captions
Region 1
Rating:
Summary: Ultra-commercial Gallic thriller
Review: CRIMSON RIVERS [Les Rivieres Pourpres] (France 2000): The discovery of a corpse in the French Alps brings together two high-powered police investigators (Jean Reno and Vincent Cassel) - both working on apparently separate cases sixty miles apart - in search of a serial killer whose crimes are linked to a forgotten tragedy and a mysterious university steeped in blood and horror... Ultra-commercial thriller from director Mathieu Kassovitz (LA HAINE), teaming Gallic superstars Reno and Cassel in a high-concept exploration of human callousness and depravity, reminiscent of similarly-styled murder mysteries like SE7EN and MESSIAH. Not as gruesome as those offerings, but certainly as sober, CRIMSON RIVERS - based on the novel by Jean-Christophe Grange - locates its horrors within the panoramic grandeur of the French Alps (gorgeous widescreen cinematography by Luc Besson's regular DP Thierry Arbogast), loaning the film an intense cinematic quality, typical of recent European blockbusters. Kassovitz keeps his camera moving at all times, maintaining a breathless pace as the protagonists wade through an accumulation of clues and details, some of which may elude less attentive viewers, and Maryline Monthieux's razor-sharp editing keeps the pot boiling throughout. Reno and Cassel are perfectly cast in the role of mismatched detectives, each dedicated to the task at hand, each using very different methods to solve the mystery unfolding around them. Dynamic set-pieces include an Argentoesque confrontation with the killer following the discovery of a murder victim arranged in ghoulish splendor, resulting in pursuit across an icy landscape at midnight, and a thrilling night-time car chase on a lonely mountain road, conceived and executed with genuine visual flair. The film's climactic revelations are so convoluted as to be virtually impenetrable, but the finale is suitably explosive, and even if you're able to guess the killer's identity before he/she is unmasked, screenwriters Kassovitz and Grange have more than one surprise up their sleeve during the closing sequence... Aside from one significant flaw, Columbia TriStar's DVD is magnificent, with faultless sound and picture quality. Viewers are advised to choose the original 5.1 French soundtrack to experience the movie as Kassovitz intended, though the dubbed English option (in both 5.1 and 2.0 surround) is adequate, and Reno dubs his own voice. Viewers are advised that the killer's identity is easily deduced from comments made in an insert included with the DVD, in which Kassovitz talks about a particular cast member's ability to play two sides of the same character, which kinda gives the game away. Same goes for the lengthy supplementary materials, featuring a series of filmed interviews with the movie's principal participants, in which they discuss the film's production and the genesis of several key scenes (Kassovitz and producer Alain Goldman emphasize the film's strengths whilst also conceding areas in which things could have been better). First-time viewers are warned these extras contain extensive spoilers, along with a detailed explanation of the killer's motives, which makes up for some of the confusion generated by the film itself. There's an audio commentary involving the director and some of his cast, but in French only, with NO subtitles!! Columbia TriStar have been aware of this problem since the disc was first issued, but they STILL haven't corrected the mistake, which renders this crucial extra completely redundant. 105m 39s
2.39:1 (Panavision) / Anamorphically enhanced
Dolby 5.1 / Dolby Surround 2.0
Dolby Digital/DTS [theatrical]
Optional French (original) and English (dubbed) soundtracks
Optional English subtitles and closed captions
Region 1
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