The Story
Colette (Létitia Casta), a film professor specializing in Hitchcock’s work, suspects her new neighbor across the street (Guillaume Gallienne) of having killed his wife. Reality or professional delusion? Her husband, François (Gilles Lellouche), a writer of somewhat outdated historical crime novels, is initially skeptical of Colette’s obsession with this alleged crime. However, he gets drawn into this outrageous investigation, and as the clues pile up and the mystery deepens, this ordinary couple transforms into a formidable detective duo…
Our Opinion
After the brilliant romantic comedy “Ma Vie en l’air” (where Gilles Lellouche had a delightful supporting role in 2005, revealing much of his talent) and the touching “Le Premier Jour du reste de ta vie” (2008), Rémi Bezançon had since gotten lost in minor projects that did not live up to the expectations placed on him.
In the absence of calling it a grand comeback, “Le Crime du 3e étage” allows him to get back on track with a script that, while sometimes lacking in suspense, proves to be extremely inventive, filled with influences, particularly Hitchcockian and Shakespearean, perfectly embraced, explored, and even referenced in the text. A mechanic that he constantly plays alongside Gilles Lellouche and Létitia Casta. Inspired, the two actors form a declining couple who will be reunited thanks to this suspenseful intrigue akin to “Rear Window,” mainly set in the theater world. Guillaume Gallienne plays with finesse an ambiguous artist neighbor.
Hence, a well-thought-out entertainment piece that stands out for its tone – although one can feel that the filmmaker could have gone for an even more offbeat humor – balanced between cinephilia and accessible storytelling. When you think about it, this is not so common.
