THE CONQUEST is excellent and timely biopic - which is shaping up to be a theme for my movie watching lately. Originally reviewed for dvdsnapshot.
Official Synopsis:
The Conquest
is that rare specimen produced while its political subject is still
in power. Denis Podalydès delivers a witty yet commanding portrayal
of Nicolas Sarkozy and his rise to the French presidency through the
lens of his unraveling marriage to wife Cecilia (Florence Pernel).
This vivid film depicts the future president of France as a bold and
unashamed virtuoso of political combat. Brilliantly etching sharp
characterizations of living politicians, The Conquest
never veers too far from reality, even while deploying a
larger-than-life sense of humor and a buoyant, Fellini-esque score
that giddily evokes a circus-like atmosphere of modern politics.
Our Take:
Films about politics are always a
strange breed, taking you behind the headlines while usually positing
that their subjects are amoral monsters behind those shellacked,
calculated smiles. Power and celebrity are sexy, but fame derived
from elected authority always seems suspect. Perhaps because of the
hunger required to throw your had into the ring? We always assume the
best man for an office is the one too smart and decent to run. The
best political stories also emphasize those pulling strings and
smoothing feathers to keep the political machine on track. It's the
wives and advisers (Eve Carringtons and Iagos?), usually far more
Machiavellian than the candidate himself. This film isn't a political
fiction, though dramatic license was taken.
The Conquest
is a flashy account of Nicolas Sarkozy's political rise to the
Presidency of France in 2007 contrasted with the bittersweet
disintegration of his second marriage. Hitting DVD right before
Sarkozy lost his 2012 bid (oddly and perhaps unintentionally
foreshadowed in one scene), and knowing he'd remarry (following a
whirlwind romance) soon after his election, it's a fascinating look
at a man known to many perhaps more for those public upheavals of his
personal life than the leadership of his country. He's depicted here
as an honest and driven man, never hiding his motive to become
President. Wife Cecilia proves as shrewd a political calculator as
her husband, and gets a fair shake here. She's played as a
complicated, intelligent equal partner in the job of “politician”
who, after a simple change of heart, becomes a begrudging public
prop. (She'd make a great subject for a film in her own right.) Denis
Podalydès disarms with a shuffling walk played against his
gravelly, near-surly speeches. He
and Florence Pernel create a believable dynamic as this power couple
evolve. It's criminal these actors are not better known to American
audiences.
Starting
with Mr. Sarkozy feeling resentment to only be appointed Minister of
the Interior instead of Prime Minister, he starts a five year
journey of doing what all good politicians do; positions himself as
the most visible politician in the country who isn't (yet) the
President. The political conflicts come from Jacques Chirac, who
holds the job, and Dominique de Villepin, shown as Sarkozy's
main rival for all political jobs. Living
life like a Reality TV star, dubbed here the “Premature
Gesticulator,” Sarkozy wastes no time in gunning for the big job...
and showing the strain of a life lived in front of cameras. In the
quest for the presidency his marriage also changes, depicted as
evolving from authentic partnership to an act of political
expediency.
If
you're unfamiliar with French politics, don't worry. You may not
recognize the names, but the maneuvering is universal. The film keeps
a brisk pace, especially for one that's mostly dialogue scenes.
Details and references constantly propel the story along. Frequently
depicted are meetings with President Chirac and lunches with Villepin
that dependably benchmark developments in Sarkozy's career.
Intelligent storytelling across the board, the closest thing to a
stumble made here is the introduction of Cecilia's affair. As a
modern symbol of infidelity, cell phone abuse lacks a certain
dramatic sizzle. (Likewise, I wonder if Sarkozy's mid-film adoption
of cigars is supposed to be as heavy-handed a representation of his
heart's becoming coarsened during the acquisition of power as it
comes across?) The Conquest
is an easy recommend for politics junkies and fans of real-life tales
recounted with energy and flare.
Special Features:
Audio is offered in French 5.1 Dolby
Surround and 2.0 Stereo with optional English subtitles. The
excellent score is very well served in this regard. The handsome,
clean cinematography makes good use of the Widescreen format here, as
well (though one glaringly awful moment of digital compositing throws
you completely out of the film). The only extras are trailers and a
34 minute behind-the-scenes documentary, “The Making of The
Conquest.”
Conclusion:
Even if you have no familiarity with
French politics, The Conquest
is an absorbing and bittersweet depiction of the career of President
Sarkozy and the marriage that didn't survive the rise to that lofty
office. The carnival of public life and chess matches of government
grab you through energetic storytelling and excellent actors playing
very real, flawed characters.
Overall Picture:
Movie: A-
Extras: B-
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