A Pure Formality (1994) User Reviews (53)

Like the Sixth Sense but even Better

[Ken-208 · 9/10 · 10 August 2000]

This movie was a very interesting movie. Somewhat suspenseful but intriguing is a better description. It is very well done. At the end things suddenly change and I caught part of the meaning of the film. But then I stayed afterwards and heard other people discussing the film and I began to see there is so much more to this film than first meets the eye.

I really liked this film and I think if it was in English I could have grasped some things better. Even though this is a foreign film (in French) with English subtitles I still found it to be an excellent film.

The rest of my review has some spoilers but it may help you understand the film. (if you like to interpret the film yourself you may want to watch it first before reading my interpretation of what is happening). Here is what I think is going on in the movie:

While watching this movie it appears to be a typical story. A man got murdered. The main character is being investigated as being the possible murderer. Right at the end of the movie you learn the main character is actually dead and had committed suicide. The person he murdered was actually himself. The man is actually dead and is somewhere in between life and after life. His suicide has complicated some things and that is why he is going through this process. It's almost as though he is on trial for killing himself and reliving parts of his life. It's almost as though he could not go on to the afterlife because he ended his life prematurely and because of this he has to learn that he was dead. The guy doesn't know that he is dead until the very end of the movie (and the audience doesn't know that either).

That is interesting in itself but the movie goes one step further. If you pay attention you'll see that some of the other people involved in the movie are angels or some type of guardians to the afterlife. Other people are alive in the movie and seem to be ignoring this guy but later you realize he is being ignored by the living because he is dead and they are not aware of his presence. And I imagine there more things going on but this gives you a good idea what is happening.

This movie reminds you of the surprise that came at the end of the movie "The Sixth Sense" however there are more dimensions to this movie. It may be hard to catch everything that is going on and this is the type of movie you may want to see twice. However it is a very creative and interesting movie. I'd give this a score of 9 out of 10 stars.

In fact I liked the Sixth Sense but this movie is better. The ending is what made the Sixth Sense a great movie (8 out of 10 stars). However without that clever ending the Sixth Sense would have just been an average film. Likewise the ending makes this movie a great movie. However the other parts of this film add a lot of dimensions and interest to everything and the whole thing is a more creative concept.

That is why I think this movie ("Pure Formality") is even better than the "Sixth Sense".

Unexpected climax twist..!!

[kamalbeeee · 8/10 · 11 June 2021]

The whole movie plays in a police station..a protogonist is investigated by a inspector and a type writer notedown his statement.. But finally we came to know that it is not a policestation and protogonist also did suicide himself... Slow drama movie must have more patoence than u think.. And that protogonist and inspector(roman polanski) acted soo well.. Must watch movie..!!

Una pura fantastica!

[vensperme2003 · 8/10 · 14 April 2005]

Take a deep breath, you cinefillic voyeur! Take a deep breath, sit down comfortably on your couch and think twice before you press play on your remote controller... Think twice since you are about to witness something that has never been seen before... Actually it has been seen later, but in much more unoriginal and uninteresting way. What you are about to witness in this movie is something between ON and OFF; you'll hear one of the greatest movie dialog ever spoken, you'll see thestunning performance of unbelievably excellent Polanski and surprisingly good Depardieu; you'll learn how the direction of the movie is supposed to be handled; you'll realize that you just THOUGHT that you know what is your life turning into... And finally, you'll find out the meaning of word MASTERPIECE.

For some who did not catch it all.

[jlm-2 · 10/10 · 9 August 1999]

I will try to explain in my best english ( I am a french speaking person) the "unreal" issue of the movie. It's quite subtle but here what I understood of this story. Onoff is dead. He commit suicide (as we saw him do it) But before he can rest in peace, he has to remember and explain his acts and by the way his life and his identity to the inspector (an allegory for the guardian of The Heavens or any place you think we go after life..). Everything in this story takes place in the afterlife (except for the souvenirs of Onoff - is he On or off ?) . In this film, nobody is real. That's why everything is so strange. That's why the voice of Onoff cannot reach the woman he called at the end.

I hope this will enlight some of you.

One Pure Cinema ....

[ramsri81 · 10/10 · 8 January 2008]

One word that can sum up this movie is Fantastic!!! The thing about this movie is I wasn't lucky like a few other people over here to watch this movie without expecting anything. I almost knew everything I needed to know about this movie even before I bought the DVD. The movie was a pure cinema in every sense of the word. I expect the movie to contain a decent story, good actors, a little bit of suspense, a little comedy (not mandatory) and a classic ending. This one provided me with all of these things and more. The movie is really a manifestation of some one's mind. The acting is uniformly brilliant. I know Polanski is a decent actor and I loved him in The Tenant, but here he is just pure Master Class.Gérard Depardieu is a legend in France and in International Cinema and he shows in this movie why is that. In a short summary the movie involves a person being questioned for staying out in the woods without any identification. When it turns out to be the Great Writer Onoff who doesn't quite remember how he came to that place. How the Inspector Da Vinci(Polanski) gets out the answer forms the rest of the story. Enjoy the movie except for one scene of crude nudity from Gérard Depardieu. That was scary!!!! I rate this movie 10/10 (inspite of Gérard Depardieu's scary back!!!)

Who Are You?

[theairburns · 17 June 2009]

Those who have seen Roman Polanski in his film "The Tenant" will not be surprised by his pitch-perfect acting in "A Pure Formality". Nor will they not exult in his masterful attention to detail that he is famous for (as when he moves a pan of water on the floor with the toe of his shoe as he stares eternally at the source of a ceiling drip).

There are a host of meditations in this film, and have no doubt that this film is pure artistic meditation. The one that concerns me most is the meditation on what constitutes identity, and I would guess that Tornatore might respond that it can be found in one's cosmic gift and calling, whatever that may be. The universal existential problem arises when we mistakenly believe that gift and calling and our very lives have everything to do with ego and all its vain pursuits.

Deeply strange

[robert-temple-1 · 7/10 · 27 April 2013]

This is an extraordinarily bizarre film written and directed by the immensely talented Giuseppe Tornatore, who is so well known for CINEMA PARADISO (1988), EVERYBODY'S FINE (1990, see my review), THE LEGEND OF 1900 (1998), THE UNKNOWN WOMAN (2006), and other films. He does not always get it quite right, as for instance with THE STAR MAKER (1995), which I thought misfired somewhat. In this weird, intense and claustrophobic film, Tornatore attempts to keep us on the edge of our seats for the entire time with suspense and tension, but it is only partially successful. The film stars Gerard Depardieu and Roman Polanski, who confront one another continually throughout the film in an interrogation situation, where Polanski is the 'Commissaire' (police chief) of an obscure place where it is always raining and the ceiling leaks, and Depardieu is the murder suspect. The film is shot in French, despite having an Italian title. DVDs with English subtitles are now very rare, and have become something of a collector's item, for those who want to collect it, that is! I sat through the whole thing and kept wishing Tornatore had pulled it off entirely, but both actors were incapable of the extreme, unrelenting intensity and the vast range of changing emotions required. There are moments when Depardieu is absolutely brilliant, especially when he becomes wistful. But the cascades of alternating confrontation and sympathy between the two men required greater masters of the acting art, and perhaps a more subtle script. Also, the film is deeply depressing and a real 'downer'. All that gloom and dripping water really gets you down after a while. Of course, the story has a profound explanation, the mystery is indeed deeply intriguing and surprising, and it all turns out to make perfect sense, and has a message as well. But to explain that would require discussing the ending, which is against IMDb rules. Anyone interested in Tornatore and his career needs to see this, as it is a one-off. The film is not recommended for light entertainment purposes. In other words, this is a film for cineastes, not for ordinary viewers. Of course, if you have a deep interest in Depardieu and Polanski as actors, you will need to see it, as they never did anything like this before, or since.

A masterpiece

[saugoof · 10/10 · 6 August 2002]

Film making does not get much better than this. This combines clever writing with great cinematography and fantastic acting. Without giving away too much of the story, Gerard Depardieu plays Onoff, a burnt out writer who finds himself at a country police station in the middle of the night in a big storm. He is being interrogated by Roman Polanski for a murder. However, this plot is just a framework of something bigger which I'm not going to give away here. The whole film takes place in one night and virtually the entire movie is shot within the police station.

There are a lot of things that aren't initially clear in the movie and this is definitely one that rewards repeated viewings. The ending is unexpected but after knowing how it finishes, watching the movie again really helps you pick up things that will make a lot more sense than on first viewing. This all makes it sound like a complex movie to watch, which is true to some point. However what makes this so rewarding is that even if you don't realise everything that is going on here, it still is fascinating to watch.

The cinematography is excellent and gives the movie a really claustrophobic feel. The attention to detail is quite breathtaking too, there is nothing that goes on that hasn't got some relevance to the story and much of it is not really obvious on the first viewing. The writing is very clever and I'm sure it was an inspiration for movies like "The Sixth Sense".

All this is good by itself, but the two things that really lift the movie above any number of other great movies is the acting and the use of language. Depardieu has made some stinkers in his time, which isn't surprising considering his workload. But that doesn't change that he can be one of the finest actors around. He's certainly not afraid to come across as a very ugly man here, physically and emotionally. But while great acting can be expected of him, the real revelation is Roman Polanski. He doesn't act in a lot of movies these days, in fact the only other movie I've ever seen him in was "The Fearless Vampire Killers". He plays the Inspector who admires Onoff but nevertheless has to interrogate him. The exchanges between him and Depardieu are an absolute pleasure to watch. Polanski speaks surprisingly good French and although Depardieu gets the better lines, as he would since he's a writer, Polanski is the smarter person and ultimately outwits him.

The acting, and indeed the entire film, has a bit of a theatrical feel about it. One the one hand you could almost say that it's bad acting since it never feels like you're watching anyone else than Polanski and Depardieu on screen. But they deliver their lines so well and work of each other so well that this is totally inconsequential. The other thing I have mentioned before is the use of language, this film is full of memorable lines and not a word is wasted. This is probably the closest I have seen films come to pure poetry on screen.

Interesting and solid but not excellent

[Horror-yo · 7/10 · 30 May 2016]

As to not reveal any spoiler about the film, I will just say it belongs to a very specific category in cinema and because it borrows so much from other pieces in what it essentially is, there is necessarily a drop in just how much quality could be attributed to it. Despite that, fundamentally it is different and brings together its very own flavor and works coherently with itself to deliver what it ultimately means in a way authentic enough. Depardieu is awesome in this, as always, while Polanski is at times quite mediocre but overall puts in a fair performance. These are the two main protagonists mind you, and the entire film happens through these two characters' consciences and the dialog they establish (which is very play-like in its rhythm and structure). It was a very tough task to write this film and with how very little there was to deal with as far as matter to fill a full length motion picture, this is remarkable work. It's a film all in subtlety, dialog though not without any events, atmosphere, tension, and serves as a palette of the various human emotions as they transpire through the exercise of maieutics. But yet, it lacks a certain dynamic overall in what it ultimately sets out to deliver and the film as a whole doesn't ring as memorably or as emotionally as the film should intend.

One of the Best films I've seen

[bicgus1 · 10/10 · 21 December 2003]

I must thank Imdb, because I would have never watched this masterpiece if it weren't for it's user comments. The film is indeed remarkable, in the style of Adrian Lyne's "Jacob's Ladder", and although it's the kind of film that needs a second watch in order to get everything together, and that I got everything together thanks to some user comments, I was astonished to see how it worked over my feeling as if another part of me had completely understood the plot with just one watch. Warning: you might feel somewhat sad when watching this film. Not the kind of feeling of sadness of typical films in which a boy gets leuchemia; I'm talking about a DEEP, REAL feeling about life. The actors, the words, the scenography, they are all WONDERFUL. All. Do not miss it.

Intriguing and stagy film with tour-de-force acting from Depardieu and Polanski

[ma-cortes · 7/10 · 20 March 2023]

Onoff (Gerard Depardieu) is prestigious and unsettling writer who hasn't published any new books for quite some time and has become a recluse . When he is picked up by the police one stormy , thunderous night , without any identification , out of breath and running madly, without clear memory of recent events, he only claims that he has a meeting with the Ministry of Culture on the next morning , but there's a murder and the chief Inspector (Roman Polanski) considers him as prime suspect , while a subordinate policeman (Sergio Rubini) writes on his typewriter the declaration of the accused . Through interrogatory dialectic , the head of this oddly sinister , seemingly timeless police station attempts to establish what has occured , by delving into the mind of his writer-hero, and clearing up a mysterious murder.

Essentially a stagey two-hander in which, in a lonely , isolated, broken-down police station , inspector Polanski interrogates the partly amnesiac Depardieu , who claims he's a famous author but who may in fact be responsible for a murder committed near the novelist's house . This is an emphatically methaphorical flick and full of thumpingly obvious symbolism . A deliciously sardonic and witty movie , being excellently starred by a magnificent protagonist duo ; both are the peak of their game in this dazzling yarn . This interesting flick is plenty of twists and turns and stunning surprises , made in similar style to classic ¨Sleuth¨(1972) by Joseph L Mankiewicz , including ordinary battle of wits . Splendid and fascinating performances , a real Tour De force for two stars . Tornatore's movie depends heavily on the two leads for effect , Depardieu's broader turn outshines Polanski's shrewd, sly acting , but even they can't distract from the twisted contrivance of the movie's threadbare central conceit .

This intriguing and suspenseful picture was very well directed by Giuseppe Tornatore . He even composed the song "Ricordare" for this film. In the years before his death, composer Ennio Morricone stated on several occasions that the only director he would consider coming out of retirement for would be Tornatore . He is a writer and director, known for making similar nostalgic films including good actors , such as ¨Malena¨ with Monica Belucci , ¨ The star maker¨ with Sergio Castellito , ¨Baaria¨ with Raoul Bova ; and ¨La Leggenda del Pianista Sull'Oceano" (original title) or "The Legend of 1900" or "The Legend of the Pianist on the Ocean with Tim Roth . Being his English-language debut feature titled ¨The professor¨ with Ben Gazzara . Cinema Paradise . Rating : 7/10 . Better than average, well worth watching for exceptional cinematography , first-rate acting and Morricone's marvelous score .

I never forget this film

[m_m-3 · 10/10 · 17 February 2006]

It was a fantastic movie and it has a shocking ending. The performances was great specially Gerard Depardieu. It was one of the best mystery films after The Usual Suspects. And I think it should be in top 250 but it is not.

The direction was brilliant and you can not guess the ending. We can not forget the screen play all of It's words was amazing. All of the film is an investigation but you never feeling tired and I think the direction and screen play make it like this. You see this movie when you have an open mind because it makes some question in your mind. At last: I really enjoyed that and I gave it 10/10

In Purgatory

[claudio_carvalho · 6/10 · 2 September 2016]

There is a murder in a stormy night and a man (Gérard Depardieu) wandering without any protection from the heavy rain is arrested by the police with no documents. In the police station, he claims that he has a meeting with the Ministry of Culture on the next morning but he needs to wait for the Inspector (Roman Polanski). When he arrives, the man is arrogant and tells that he is the famous and reclusive writer Onoff. The Inspector is his fan and quotes many books written by him. When the Inspector interrogates Onoff, he is not able to recall his last four hours. Along the rainy night, the Inspector insists in interrogating Onoff since there was a murder nearby his house and the victim can not be identified. Who might be the victim and the killer?

"Una pura formalità" is an intriguing and theatrical film that is developed basically in one location. The screenplay and dialogues keeps the viewer curious about who killed who. Gérard Depardieu and Roman Polanski have top-notch performances and their duel is worthwhile watching. Unfortunately this film has only been released on VHS in Brazil. My vote is six.

Title (Brazil): "Uma Simples Formalidade" ("A Simple Formality")

A pure bore

[DennisLittrell · 4/10 · 30 June 2013]

I watched this with some fascination waiting for something to happened. Nothing did. Since it stars Roman Polanski and Gerard Depardieu I stayed with it until the very end. The ending is a bit of a surprise. At first I didn't realize what had happened, but my subconscious mind worked on it and at three o'clock in the morning I woke up and realized what had happened. Consequently much of the mystery and confusion (in my mind) about the film was cleared up.

However my guess is that "Une pura formalita" will be for most viewers a very boring movie. Typical of many French films it is full of talk, talk and more talk like a Romer flick. Only difference is there is no sex and no female characters. In a way it's a guy kind of film like a war movie but without the action.

Polanski plays a police inspector. Call him Leonardo. Depardieu plays Onoff a famous writer who is suspected of murder. Polanski interrogates Depardieu. That's ninety percent of the film. There are some flashed-backed, indistinct scenes and some other police persons, in particular a young policeman pounding an old manual typewriter as the two leads talk. That's about it. Depardieu's character can't remember things. Polanski's character who, as it happens, is a big fan of Onoff nonetheless suspects that Onoff is lying.

There's a storm and a blackout and incessant rain. The old country police station leaks. Candles all about in the semi-darkness. Water drips down into bowls and cups. Still nothing happens. Finally we have the surprise ending. I say "surprise ending" rather than "trick ending" because it was foreshadowed and I should have seen it coming.

—Dennis Littrell, author of the film review collection, "Cut to the Chaise Lounge or I Can't Believe I Swallowed the Remote"

A true masterpiece

[sashairk · 10/10 · 29 June 2008]

A masterpiece, in a true meaning of this word. Yet, a very few people know about this gem; further, out of those few who saw it, only a small minority truly understood and appreciated it. It is a work of art, with masterfully written dialogs, haunting music (one of a very few instances where Gerard Depardieu sings) and a shocking ending. Never take for the 'face value' what you see there; there are many hints spread across it (actually, from the very beginning) that only towards the end make sense. It is the movie only for those who enjoy films like "The Sixth Sense," but this one is made on a much more sublime and sophisticated level. One of my favorite movies, if not The One.

More here than many may think, or want to think

[bpstraycat · 9/10 · 10 May 2007]

Marvellous work. Demanding of actors, director and audience. The dialogue fills the screenspace, the performances of the two main characters are masterpieces of consistency. I enjoyed it from start to finish and I hope you do as well.

The director keeps ratcheting up the tension and letting it fall back using very few devices. It has the feel of a stage play, and would perhaps transfer very well to the theatre.

Although some accuse the director of over-complicating things, I find the whole to be satisfying and simple. The lack of clarity of the storyline reflects the confusion in Depardieu's head.

If you want non-intellectual action, this film is not for you.

Intriguing discovery

[BermudezLievano · 21 December 1999]

I watched this film captured by the presence of Roman Polanski in the credits. The result was very intriguing. Through the reminiscences of famous writer Onoff (Depardieu) and the shrewd interventions of the Inspector (Polanski) the crime is effectively solved. The dialogue is exceptional, and both men's performances are quite good. Basically this is a very interesting and intriguing film, and fortunately not pretentious. Highly recommendable.

A remarkable, if at times exhausting, achievement by Tornatore

[gridoon2024 · 7/10 · 22 April 2017]

Considering that about 90% of a "A Pure Formality" takes place inside a decrepit police station, the writer-director, Giuseppe Tornatore, does a good job of preventing it from feeling too static (with the help of some brilliantly edited fractured flashbacks). What starts as a typical police procedural turns into something more philosophical, symbolic, powerful. It wouldn't be far off the mark to call this a two-hour episode of "The Twilight Zone", and as such it is as exhausting at times as the night of interrogation is for Gerard Depardieu. But it pays off, and the two stars (well, one star and one famous director in a rare starring role) are well-matched. *** out of 4.

You will continue thinking long after the credits roll

[rex-10 · 10/10 · 14 August 2000]

It is difficult to comment on the film without alluding to the plot or the ending. I would recommend this film to anyone old enough to ponder on life and death. Of course this does not deal so much with the meaning of life, as it does with the meaning of death. Hopefully I have peaked your interest. See this film. I think it might end up as one of your all time favorites.

Not worth the rave

[jstar69 · 7/10 · 21 July 2004]

i watched this after a recommendation, and after reviewing user comments on IMDb, although a little hesitant and skeptical, felt it would be worth a watch. My conclusion? a pretty mediocre film. although the dialogue was exceptional, the ending was pretty witty but a little disappointing. Throughout the film, the setting and mystery felt like it was leading the viewer to a more suspenseful and/or shocking ending, instead i sat there feeling cheated! My first impression was "Is that it??"

Having seen the Sixth Sense before viewing this film, i felt that it was a step back from Sixth Sense, although a Pure Fomality was done before it. Therefore the Sixth Sense surpasses everything that a Pure Formality is, with the exception of dialogue. If u want to watch a film about life and death without having the fuss of reading subtitles, watch the Sixth Sense; its more worthwhile!

Excellent psychological drama with an unexpected twist.

[ana_kon1 · 10/10 · 1 May 2006]

This movie is one of the best psychological dramas I have ever seen. The unexpected twist at the end of the story will leave you shocked for many hours,may be days. Even though the story takes place in one place,and it is pretty much a play of two actors, those actors-Gérard Depardieu and Roman Polanski-actors of a world class, make it a powerful performance. The previous reviewer noted that "you expect it to get more and more tense as it goes along; unfortunately, that doesn't happen". That is true to some respect-movie lovers looking for some action may get disappointed. However, the brilliant, clever screenplay written by Giuseppe Tornatore will make you wonder and worry with the main character without even a clue on what was happening to him. This movie is absolutely brilliant. It will take a special place in my collection.

a simple story mystified

[S.C. · 7/10 · 5 September 1999]

Well, my first language is neither French nor English, so I d better make it simple. Technically, it's good. The shooting, the gaffer, the performance of the actors... all of them are good. The film does tell the story that the director wants to tell and it also creates the suspended atmosphere successfully. But should we expect more from a film? A great film must have not only good techniques but also ample contents.

Yes, the film's good, but you won't be able to remember anything about Onoff after u see the film. The characters are just too hallow and obscure. Coz it's too empty, the director must deliberately mystify the film. I believe many viewers will be misled at first and will think it as some kinda detective story.

Or, as the literature critics' cliche, its contents is its form?

This Movie should be in top 250.

[nik_arh · 10/10 · 3 February 2020]

You should not take the rating of 7.7 for this movie seriously. This was one of the greatest movies that i have ever seen and certainly with the best twist that i have ever witnessed. At the end of the day everything depends on a personal taste, but i find this movie much better than the most appreciated Tornatore's movie Cinema Paradiso.

boring thriller

[ankurmangla-46608 · 6/10 · 11 September 2019]

Why he didn't killed himself after writing a letter instead of running in a rain like a fool>>>>????? Ok, paula left and then came back with friend??? what happened to that

Lured in

[baunacholi-86159 · 2/10 · 9 March 2021]

I was lured into this movie due to all the glowing reviews. Life changing, best ever, amazing twists and other superlatives. I did not find anything near that.