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With A Friend Like Harry 
I went to see With A Friend Like Harry based on the quotes I read in the movie's newspaper add. I realize this method of movie hunting has proven to be somewhat unreliable, as the recent fake critic story has unfolded. In this particular case, however, the movie lives up to its billing as a psychological mind thriller mixed with dark comedy. As the initial credits flashed over a black screen I quickly realized that I was about to watch a subtitled French movie, not what I was expecting. I'm the first to admit that I am often too quick to dismiss subtitled movies. This film, along with Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon has shown me that an interesting story can make the words at the bottom of the screen seem almost like spoken dialogue. After the viewer in engulfed in the story, subtitles certainly do not detract from the movie as a whole. In With A Friend Like Harry, Michel (Laurent Lucas) and his wife Claire (Mathilde Seigner) are on the vacation from hell with their three loud, young daughters in a car that lacks proper air conditioning. During a break in their journey, Michel runs into a former classmate, Harry (Sergi López), in the bathroom. A few words are exchanged and before long Harry has invited himself and his fiancée, Plum (Sophie Guillemin), to Michel and Claire's summer home. When Harry and Plum arrive at Michel and Claire's house it becomes crystal clear that Harry either has an amazing memory or has a few screws loose in the cranium. Harry talks superlatively about Michel's former talents as a writer and even recites a silly poem called The Dagger in the Skin of Plight with complete and utter seriousness. As the days pass Harry stays and attempts to fix all of the problems that Michel and Claire are faced with saying repeatedly that "money is no object." The remainder of the film centers on Harry's growing obsession with Michel and the steps he takes to ensure Michel's happiness. The success of this movie is based upon subtlety and acting and both are displayed almost perfectly in this film. Director Dominik Moll avoids the cliché, in your face shocks that are all too prominent in today's horror movies. Instead, he opts to use take advantage of a constant feeling of pending doom to grip the crowd. It is unavoidable to compare his manipulation of the audience and their feelings to Alfred Hitchock's mastery of the same principal. The acting in this film leaves nothing to be desired as Laurent Lucas and Sergi Lopez play their respective roles amazingly well. Lucas never overreacts to the things that he is confronted with and maintains his calm demeanor throughout. Lopez's portrayal of Harry as a seemingly happy but deeply disturbed man is the highlight of the show. With A Friend Like Harry is certainly not a perfect movie, but a very fulfilling one that will make you appriciate good film making and foreign language films. In a summer riddled with highly disappointing releases such as Tomb Raider and Pearl Harbor, you could do a lot worse with your $8.50. |