Hitting the blu-ray/dvd shelves today from Magnolia Home Entertainment is writer/director Fred Cavayé’s (The Next Three Days, Anything for Her) adrenaline fueled French thriller, Point Blank (À bout portant). The film, which stars Gilles Lellouche (Tell No One), Roschdy Zem, and ElenaAnaya (The Skin I Live In), is one of the more exciting French films to be released since District 13: Ultimatum..
“Samuel is a nurse working at a hospital when his pregnant wife (Anaya) is kidnapped before his very eyes. Knocked unconscious, he comes to and discovers that a dangerous criminal named Sartet (Zem) is responsible, and if he’s ever to see his wife again, he must do Sartet’s bidding. Samuel quickly finds himself pitted against rival gangsters and trigger-happy police in a deadly race to save the lives of his wife and unborn child.”
This is the second time I’ve seen Point Blank and I loved it just as much as the first time. Gilles Lellouche immediately draws you into his world and you have no problem empathizing with him. Roschdy Zem, who plays Sartet, is easy to hate at first but after one key scene in which Samuel helps him kill some dirty cops, the two become an unlikely team with vastly different, yet eventually connected motives. The movie evolves from a traditional rescue based thriller like Taken, into a smart survival based one that takes you on front row rollercoaster ride.
Since the movie is only 84 minutes it wastes no time in getting to the point. The film opens with a gun chase which leads to the street followed by a little character development, Samuel saving Sartet and then his wife getting kidnapped. While it moves at such a rapid pace it is extremely easy to follow due to its clear story arc, solid performances, and some terrific editing. What you’ll appreciate even more is that Gilles did most of his own stunts which allows for plenty of close-ups and the ability to make the film seem a bit more interactive and personal, giving you the chance to truly experience Samuel’s crazy world.
The Blu-ray includes the original trailer for the feature along with a 50 minute long behind the scenes documentary offering us a detailed look at the filmmaking process and the minds behind its creation. I actually really enjoyed it because it gave me a glimpse of what it is like to make an awesome thriller with a budget much 
smaller than you would have in America. Time and money is always an issue but it’s fascinating to see how the French adapt to their conditions and take full advantage of every person on the set. It is definitely worth a watch if you decide to pick up the film. Additionally, the film looks absolutely stunning in blu-ray, that’s probably an important tidbit if you’re deciding which format to get.
As you might be able to tell I thoroughly enjoyed watching Point Blank as I am a sucker for these types of thrillers. While the downside is the story’s inherent predictability, Cavayé is able to keep your attention with multiple heart pounding chases, realistic stunt work and constant tension that keeps your eyes glued to the screen. So if you’re a fan of The Next Three Days, Taken, Running Scared or any other “on-the-run” thriller then do yourself a favor and either rent or pick up a copy of Point Blank, it’s a good time and worthy of 84 minutes of your life.
Rating: A well executed and fast paced French thriller (7/10)
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