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Rivals

Play trailer Rivals 2008 1h 46m Action Crime Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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69% Tomatometer 13 Reviews 43% Popcornmeter 250+ Ratings
François (Guillaume Canet) is a young detective hoping to find a group of bank robbers before they stage their next heist. Though he's ambitious, he's poorly regarded by the rest of the police force, and his relationship with a convict's wife isn't helping matters. Now his life is complicated even further as his older brother, Gabriel (François Cluzet), is released from prison. Though Gabriel has pledged to go straight, the temptations of his former life make it a difficult promise to keep.

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Rivals

Rivals

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Critics Consensus

Atmospheric, 1970s set, French crime drama delivers hard-bitten dialogue and impressive wigs.

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Critics Reviews

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Rosamund Witcher Empire Magazine 12/05/2008
3/5
The setting is a Paris packed with tight leather jackets, big hair and foxy girls, and the action, sex and family drama make for an enjoyable ride. Unfortunately, the denouement is frustratingly abrupt. Go to Full Review David Jenkins Time Out 12/05/2008
2/6
This frisky if long-winded and derivative French policier never gets off the starting-blocks despite some charismatic performances and intriguingly executed set-pieces. Go to Full Review James Christopher The Times (UK) 12/05/2008
3/5
This being the gritty 1970s, the subtitled dialogue is as hard as nails. The Cain and Abel rivalry unfolds like a dismal episode of Minder. Go to Full Review Mike Edwards What Culture 03/24/2011
2/5
Why remake a decade? Go to Full Review David Nusair Reel Film Reviews 04/15/2009
3/4
...an absorbing crime thriller. Go to Full Review Trevor Johnston Film4 12/05/2008
2/5
Although it draws on a real-life memoir, this Gallic crime drama never really gets going. There's potential in the tension between a wavering ex-con and his cop sibling, but the actors seem to have been cast the wrong way round. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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05/25/2013 It's a beautiful story about two brothers on the opposite side of the law but that love each other deeply in spite of their differences. That's what makes this french movie a good option to watch at home: it touches you and will make you cry, besides the great costumes and scenarios. On the other hand, their love interests are quite amusing but aren't explored in the script the way they deserved, which is a shame. The soundtrack is weak too as Canet's performance. See more 01/24/2012 The story, the directing and the actors make it a very good film ... it's just that it really is UNFINISHED!!! Hate the ending, honestly. See more 09/19/2010 I love European crime movies and I particularly like European crime movies of the 70s... This movie, although not an out and out crime movie is set in the 70s and explores the tumultuous relationship between two brothers, one a cop and one a criminal. This sort of relationship and interplay has been explored before and this film, while does not offer anything fresh is still an enjoyable affair with good performances Guillame Canet and Franois Cluzet. See more 05/21/2010 Du bon cinéma français, bonne reconstitution des années 70 (à part une belle boîte de benco de 2010 :D), et deux acteurs au top ! Dommage qu'il y ait trop de trous dans le script. See more 05/11/2010 Bon polar et un duo Canet et Cluzet excellent! a voir... See more 10/13/2009 Deux frères, l'un flic et l'autre bandit, un duo Canet Cluzet dans un polar à la française très correct. Se laisse voir. See more Read all reviews
Rivals

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Cast & Crew

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Jacques Maillot

Director

François Cluzet

Gabriel

Guillaume Canet

François

Marie Denarnaud

Nathalie

Clotilde Hesme

Corinne

Mehdi Nebbou

José

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Rivals

Rivals (2008) View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis François (Guillaume Canet) is a young detective hoping to find a group of bank robbers before they stage their next heist. Though he's ambitious, he's poorly regarded by the rest of the police force, and his relationship with a convict's wife isn't helping matters. Now his life is complicated even further as his older brother, Gabriel (François Cluzet), is released from prison. Though Gabriel has pledged to go straight, the temptations of his former life make it a difficult promise to keep.
Director
Jacques Maillot
Producer
Cyril Colbeau-Justin, Jean-Baptiste Dupont
Screenwriter
Pierre Chosson, Jacques Maillot, Eric Veniard
Production Co
LGM Productions, France 3 Cinéma, CinéCinéma, Umedia, StudioCanal, Sofica Europacorp, Canal+, uFilm, 13e Rue, Le Tax Shelter du Gouvernement Fédéral de Belgique
Genre
Action, Crime, Drama
Original Language
French (France)
Runtime
1h 46m