Rating: 
Summary: A Positively Wholesome, Extraordinary Delight, Au Francais!
Review: "The Barbarian Invasions" (Les Invasions Barbares), with its' thickly-accented storyline, including a heavy emphasis on drama, not to mention a fine supporting cast, is sure to please even the most enthusiastic foreign film die-hard, for a month of Sundays on end. Suddenly stricken with the news of his father gradually and painfully dying of a terminal illness, a son (played with an exponential degree of courageousness by Stephane Rousseau) must fly from London to Montreal to be by his father's bedside during his last days. Along with running business errands for his home office via cell phone, Sebastien must comfort his father Remy (Remy Girard) through means of visual and verbal images of Remy's youthful, happier and carefree days, therefore getting his father's mind free of his difficult physical struggle. The more, the merrier, as is the case, as Remy's many friends and former co-workers join in on Remy's fond reminisces of his "past" (current) life, both as a publisher/writer, and as a worldly "playboy" of sorts. Coming to terms with his illness feels like an immaculate challenge to Remy, who, upon advice through various medical staff, refuses to seek appropriate treatment in the U.S., which would help him immensely, seeing that a certain hospital across the border has the proper equipment and facilities which would keep Remy alive longer, but due to expense (and foolish pride), Remy refuses to be put through the ringer. Through a secondary option, Sebastien learns of another way in which to keep his father on life support for an even longer period of time - through an enormous supply of heroin. This hypnotically powerful drug, although with its' use being illegal for medical purposes, Sebastien manages to locate a supplier, who has the proper connections. This particular method of use (through a form of freebasing) appears to work, but only has limited positive short-term effects for Remy, so he must have friends and family by his side continuously in order for the therapy to be of any benefit as well. Although a majority of "The Barbarian Invasions" was filmed in Montreal and the surrounding Quebec countryside, a little more could have been done to beef up the physical scenarios more. But, as is, the producers provided a nice touch with the lake scenery complete with a beautiful maple oak-laden wooded cottage (where Remy would ultimately spend his final days), surrounded by the finest maple trees in all of Canada, as Quebec is known for its' thick, robust maple syrup. Complete with English subtitles, not to mention a plot filled with endearing emotional subtleties by the dozens, "Les Invasions Barbares" is destined to become an underground favorite at art-house locales across the United States (including various other places around the globe). Want to see what all the fuss is about (with the film's smattering of Academy Award nominations and Cannes Film Festival Awards)? There's a seat with your personal name on it at a local venue near you. Oh, and you'll most definitely want a copy of "The Barbarian Invasions" for your video & DVD collection as well. Break out the croissants, escargot(s) and Chardonnay for this "...Invasion", 'cause you're gonna need 'em after fighting a war as grand as this one!
Rating:
Summary: A MASTERPIECE
Review: A masterpiece of cinema and brave social commentary.
This is what cinema is and should be not all that CGI rubbish that is eating away people's ability to think and feel.
By the way the state of medical care in Quebec is terrible but I caution those Americans who want to use this for a pro Neo-Con agenda.
The situations depicted happen in the US, Canadian and British healthcare systems...three different types of system but all suffering the same failings. Unless of course in the USA you have lots of money then you can have any treatment you need immediately. But where does that leave the poor and uninsured?
Waiting in an ER for an entire day before someone sees them.
So Americans please no gloating over the bad state of Quebec health care.
Rating:
Summary: wonderful
Review: a staggeringly enjoyable and lasting film that moves the spirit, challenges the mind and creates lasting memories.Exceptional film-making!
Rating:
Summary: Richly deserving of its 2003 Academy Award
Review: Along with "Pieces of April," "Invasions" is the best film I've seen in the last two years. It is richly deserving of its 2003 Academy Award for best foreign language film. The acting ensemble here was first featured in writer/director Denys Arcand's first film, "The Decline of American Civilization" (1986). Now, Arcand has reassembled the troupe, with the idea of celebrating the final days of lead character Rémy (Rémy Girard), suffering from inoperable stomach cancer. He's not going down without a fight.
Watching the "Making of..." feature on the DVD, there's no doubt that the cast represents the elite of Quebec's acting intelligentsia. The level of discourse that takes place amongst the cast is impressive. They've seen layers of the film that are two, three levels deeper than I would have thought.
Sitting silent through most of this discussion is Stéphane Rousseau (who plays Rémy's son Sébastien). He's a stand-up comic by training, not a professional actor. You'd never know it. The differences between idealist socialist Dad and realist capitalist son drive a lot of the film. Rousseau is the breakout star here, along with Marie-Josée Croze (as junkie Nathalie), whose eyes could melt a snow bank.
Arcand gets in some good shots along the way on Canada's socialized medicine, Catholicism (comes in for a series of blows from different directions), the U.S., unions, the failure of Quebec's political idealism....and probably a bunch of other targets that I'm not astute enough to pick up on. All of this mixed in with the compelling, but never maudlin, story of Rémy's last days.
Rating:
Summary: The cynical camera
Review: Few movies I've watched proved to be as intriguing as 'Les invasions barbares'. From the title relation with the story, to the acting and, most of all, the script, this is one of the most interesting and cynical movies I've ever seen. The plot is simple enough: Remy, a middle-aged french-canadian history professor, is dying. Remy has always been a ladies-man, self-minded, rude, raw. And even so, at his deathbed he's able to reunite his ex-wife, two old lovers, his son and the son's fiancé, friends from school, etc. It's, indeed, a big reunion. Remy has not much time left, and he knows it. His son is also a self-centered young millionaire who gives money as if it was water to get what he wants. There's also a young woman, daughter of one of Remy's ex-lover, who is a heroin addicted. Every character has an internal conflict; every dialogue has a deeper meaning, and most of the times this meaning is very hard to grasp without thought. In fact, there are many memorable lines and situations in this movie. Acting is perfect, from all actors, but Remy Girard and Marie Josee Croze are outstanding. This is that kind of movie that deserves to be watched more than once, in order to be fully appreciated. But what's fantastic about 'Les invasions barbares' is the cynical approach the director Denys Arcand has given to the script. I'll give two examples. First, the young woman who is addicted to heroine is also the person who provides Remy with the drug so he can have a lighter passing. And, in the end, she, the druggie, takes the place of Remy's daughter, who is trapped in a boat in New Zealand and won't see him bofore his death. Second, the ending is as cheesy as can be. But this is done purposefully. Denys Arcand knows the ending of his movie is cheesy, and his direction in the final scenes is the most conventional possible. He knows the viewers can't help but being moved to tears, and he's laughing at them all the time. This cynicism, the fast and intelligent dialogues, the strange and conventional easyness of the movie is what makes it great. Sincerely, to me 'Les invasions barbares' was a surprise. A very good one. Grade 9.0/10
Rating:
Summary: Wow! You'll laugh. You'll cry.
Review: I am not the type who normally likes tear-jerker, "My Mommy/Daddy/Child is dying" type movies. So when I tell you that this is a great movie that will make you laugh hard and cry hard, you know I don't say that lightly! It's just very real and full of heart. Even in French with subtitles, the fantastic performances jump right off the screen. If you are uptight about sex, infidelity, drug use, assisted suicide, or Canadians, you may not like it so much. I suggest "Terms of Endearment" instead..;-)
Rating:
Summary: A truly emotional experience
Review: I first heard of the movie in Spain and the recommendation was that if you were over 50 see it twice and those under once. This is what I want to experience in my final days. There was not a dry eye in the audience after the movie, and it took about five minutes for people to stand up and leave after the credits. You will experience the whole spectrum of emotions: fear, love, joy, hate, and most of all compansion. Compansion is the central theme.
Rating: 
Summary: Entertaining, complex, and surprisingly funny
Review: I practically laughed my ass off at Denys Arcand's Barbarian Invasions, but you wouldn't imagine such a thing would happen...considering the plot. It concerns an old college professor who learns he's rapidly dying of cancer, and the bulk of the movie comprises his evasive and emotion-phobic son assembling friends and family to guide him through his last days. Of course, the successful and filthy-rich son is doing it more for himself than his father - the plethora of old friends provides him an easy way to avoid even being near his dying dad. And thus the refreshingly non-sentimental and wickedly funny Invasions goes on. The father is a marvel in the film - an old womanizer who happily expounds upon his sexual conquests (with his ex-wife and former lovers chiming in) and doing heroin to stave off the pain. His bedside companions come from all walks of life, and each provide a wonderful little contrast to the other characters. What you'll notice about the film, though, is that not once does it pander to tear-jerking effects, nor does it attempt to offer a squeaky-clean resolution. The quirkyness of the film tends to help it and hurt it - a subplot involving an estranged daughter of one of the old man's friends works better when geared toward the old man, not the son. Then again, the whole issue with the son never really comes to fruition, and I found the movie's last-minute resolution of that plot element schmaltzy at best. But I'm nitpicking - Invasions impressed me the most because it took me off guard with its raunchy humor and vibrant characters, and I enjoyed Arcand's insistence that all dying-of-cancer movies need not be 2 hour weep-fests. The Barbarian Invasions may not be a truly great film, but it's by all means a very good one. Considering most movies of this subject are manipulative pieces of crap, I'll take Invasions' compelling absence of tear-jerking any day. GRADE: B
Rating: 
Summary: Why the bashing of the Canadian Health System?...
Review: I saw the film and in the end I felt kind of disappointed. I am no sure what kind of message the film wanted to bring to us. It just did not impress me. I also can't understand how the moviemaker tried to, hatefully, demolish the Canadian Health Care System without proposing anything in its place. Very destructive. I bet the US health corporations will love the film since for years they have been trying to demoralize the Canadian Health Care in frequent and expensive TV adds. I even wonder if they have something to do with the film...
Rating: 
Summary: Phoney Baloney Pseudo Intellectual Garbage
Review: If you have ever sat in an "art house" cinema enjoying a bloated, self-conscious windbag of a movie and find yourself drawn to join the bloated, self-conscious windbag of a moviegoer in the row behind you as he bellows "knowingly" at idiotic dialogue that he regards as witty repartee, buy this movie.
If you prefer films that involve plot, true character development and genuine acting and are in the mood for a Canadian film, check out "The Sweet Hereafter" or "Ararat", two intelligent films from The Great White North.
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