The Upcoming
  • Culture
    • Art
    • Cinema
      • Movie reviews
      • Film festivals
    • Food & Drinks
      • News & Features
      • Restaurant & bar reviews
      • Interviews & Recipes
    • Literature
    • Music
      • Live music
    • Theatre
    • Shows & On demand
  • Fashion & Lifestyle
    • Accessories
    • Beauty
    • News & Features
    • Shopping & Trends
    • Tips & How-tos
    • Fashion weeks
  • What’s On
    • Art exhibitions
    • Theatre shows
  • Tickets
  • Join us
    • Editorial unit
    • Our writers
    • Join the team
    • Join the mailing list
    • Fund us
    • Contact us
  • Interviews
  • Competitions
  • Special events
    • Film festivals
      • Berlin
      • Tribeca
      • Cannes
      • Sundance London
      • Venice
      • London
      • Toronto
    • Fashion weeks
      • London Fashion Week
      • New York Fashion Week
      • Milan Fashion Week
      • Paris Fashion Week
      • Haute Couture
      • London Fashion Week Men’s
  • Facebook

  • Twitter

  • Instagram

  • YouTube

  • Tumblr

  • RSS


CultureCinemaMovie reviews

Rust and Bone

Rust and Bone | Movie review
1 November 2012
Jennifer Atkinson
Jennifer Atkinson
Avatar
Jennifer Atkinson
1 November 2012

The French film industry is certainly churning them out this year! Since the fabulous feedback of Untouchables comes the emotionally saturated Rust and Bone – a film so dedicated to its content that not one person in the audience could claim a dry eye.

Directed and part-written by Jacques Audiard, Rust and Bone stars the adaptable Marion Cotillard (Inception and The Dark Knight Rises) as Stéphanie, an orca trainer at the “Marineland Park”.  As powerfully independent as her orcas are in physique, Stéphanie plays the ultimate challenge for her ever-struggling co-star Ali (played by Matthias Schoenaerts). After a chance meeting at the beginning, the two go their separate ways; that is until a tragic accident befalls Stéphanie during one of her orca performances.

As the film takes a dramatic turn, so does Stéphanie as she resists her heartbreaking predicament. Calling upon Ali, her not-quite-knight-in-shining-armour, slowly Stéphanie begins to find herself.  And thus begins their story: an often difficult account of two people who both need saving from their individual dilemmas.

Schoenaerts plays Ali in such a way that despite his foolishness, and his desire for “one-night stands”, you can’t help but want this man to succeed.  Ali brings his son Sam into the film; an innocent pawn in Ali’s complex life.  Anna (Corrine Masiero) is the rock in Ali’s life. As Ali’s sister she helps look after her nephew Sam. She provides shelter for them both and puts food in their bellies, but even Ali can break his own rock.

Ali’s self-destructive ways (including stints working as a bouncer, a spy, a bare-knuckle fighter and finally a kick-boxer) seem to bring everyone around him down. Stéphanie’s courage infiltrates Ali’s exterior though, and very slowly he begins to face up to his responsibilities. 

The climax to the film manages to amass everything Hollywood wishes it could in terms of an emotive pinnacle – and that is where this film far surpasses any usual romantic drivel.

Audiard has brought Cotillard to the screen as a proud, but unfulfilled woman, and Schoenaerts (France’s possible answer to Gerard Butler) as a raw, husk of a man – both in need of saving, but without living their lives as victims.

The film itself provides laughter, a few brutal moments, lust, and some beautifully tender moments.  The pace of the film is just right; there is plenty going on, and all in all, this is definitely a film to be seen, especially if you loved Untouchables of which there are a few similarities.  C’est superbe!

Verdict: •••••

Jennifer Atkinson

Rust and Bone is released in UK cinemas on 2nd November 2012.

Watch the trailer here

Related Items

More in Movie reviews

Every Day

★★★★★
Catherine Sedgwick
Read More

Big Fish and Begonia

★★★★★
Chloe Sizer
Read More

Funny Cow

★★★★★
Selina Begum
Read More

The Leisure Seeker

★★★★★
Daniel Amir
Read More

Let the Sunshine In

★★★★★
Euan Franklin
Read More

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society

★★★★★
Euan Franklin
Read More

Truth or Dare

★★★★★
Guy Lambert
Read More

The Titan

★★★★★
Andrew Murray
Read More

Rampage

★★★★★
Catherine Sedgwick
Read More
Scroll for more
Tap

Tickets

Theatre tickets

  • Popular

  • Latest

  • TOP PICKS

  • Hide in Mayfair: Dabbous raises the bar of informal fine dining with his new restaurant
    ★★★★★
    Food & Drinks
  • The Vaccines and Whenyoung at Alexandra Palace
    ★★★★★
    Live music
  • Gregory Porter at the Royal Albert Hall
    ★★★★★
    Live music
  • The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society
    ★★★★★
    Movie review
  • Bat Out of Hell at the Dominion Theatre
    ★★★★★
    Theatre
  • Tribeca Film Festival 2018: On the red carpet with the stars of Westworld season 2
    Cinema
  • Bat Out of Hell at the Dominion Theatre
    ★★★★★
    Theatre
  • Hinds at Electric Brixton
    ★★★★★
    Live music
  • Faceless
    ★★★★★
    Theatre
  • Half Breed
    ★★★★★
    Theatre
  • Bat Out of Hell at the Dominion Theatre
    ★★★★★
    Theatre
  • Hinds at Electric Brixton
    ★★★★★
    Live music
  • Half Breed
    ★★★★★
    Theatre
  • Education, Education, Education at Shoreditch Town Hall
    ★★★★★
    Theatre
  • Gregory Porter at the Royal Albert Hall
    ★★★★★
    Live music

Instagram

Something is wrong. Response takes too long or there is JS error. Press Ctrl+Shift+J or Cmd+Shift+J on a Mac.
The Upcoming
Pages
  • Contact us
  • Fund us
  • Join mailing list
  • Join us
  • New London restaurant openings and pop-ups
  • Our London food map
  • Our writers
  • Subscribe
  • What, when, why

Copyright © 2018 FL Media Ltd

Alex Clare at KOKO | Live review
Alistair Taylor-Young – Holiday | Exhibition review