Movie Review: A Prophet (2010)
My favorite film of 2009 finally comes to stateside theaters
Photo: Sony Pictures Classics
A Prophet has been compared to films such as The Godfather and Scarface. The comparison to The Godfather is decent thematically, although it is a bit premature to declare a film on par with a classic that has survived the test of nearly 40 years. The Scarface comparison, though, is almost an insult. As a fan of Brian De Palma's 1983 story of a Cuban refugee turned Miami drug czar, I feel confident in saying it's mere popcorn fodder in comparison to Jacques Audiard's A Prophet. Leave Scarface to the thugs that make up Matteo Garrone's Gomorrah and reserve A Prophet for people who enjoy watching Gomorrah or City of God. As I mentioned when I named it the best film of 2009, watch A Prophet as the third film in a triple-feature with those two and your cup will runneth over with quality.
I was a virgin to Audiard's work before settling in to watch A Prophet months after it won the grand prize at the 2009 Cannes Film Festival and as the film played on I was kicking myself for not being more familiar with his work up to this point. His ability to deliver an intense French gangster thriller all while maintaining an importance of human self worth was exhilarating. At the center of the story is 19-year-old Malik El Djebena played with uninhibited precision by Tahar Rahim in a feature film-starring debut that ranks among the best in the business.
The cast includes Tahar Rahim, Niels Arestrup, Adel Bencherif, Reda Kateb and Hichem Yacoubi. For more information on this film including pictures, trailers and a detailed synopsis choose from the following menu.
Review
"A Prophet" is a Sony Pictures Classics release, directed by Jacques Audiard and is rated R for strong violence, sexual content, nudity, language and drug material. The running time is 2 hours 35 minutes.
All of A Prophet falls on Rahim's shoulders and he carries it as if he's been doing it for years. What's going on behind his eyes is a mystery, but you can't help but watch their every movement for even the slightest clue as to how he is perceiving each scene as it unfolds. There is a stuttering and stammering to his speech when confronted with difficult situations, but then there are other moments when his life, or the lives of others, is on the line and he reacts with the utmost of confidence. This film could have easily been titled An Education had it not already been taken, because that's exactly what Malik is getting.
Equally magnificent is Niels Arestrup, a man I was also unfamiliar with before seeing this film despite having seen The Diving Bell and the Butterfly. Since seeing A Prophet I watched Audiard's previous feature, The Beat That My Heart Skipped, which also starred Arestrup only to realize the now 61-year-old actor is a talent I need to acquaint myself with further. Arestrup brings a certain level of venom to Cesar as the weary king of his surroundings. Comparatively Malik is simply a pawn to be done with as Cesar pleases, but his arrogance will soon get the better of him. These two actors share the majority of the film's 155 minute running time and no matter their status, as with chess, the king and the pawn are put away in the same box.
Utilizing French, Arabic and Corsican you'll be hard-pressed to find someone that doesn't require subtitles to watch this film, but this is something that also goes to the heart of the story and how we so often associate with that which is familiar and judge those who are different. It's those of us that are able to rise above our differences and embrace them who come out on top. Perhaps what's even more fascinating is that Audiard has used a prison-based gangster drama to get that point across, but to that point, where else could be better?
A Prophet is an art film as much as it is a genre film, and I would never paint it in one corner or the other. Audiard's use of sound, occasional handicapping of the camera lens and his ability to work with Rahim to create a character that is not the stereotypically gun-wielding gangster and instead a boy on the path to becoming a man who simply took a road less traveled is to be commended. Malik has difficulty realizing his goals, step one is to stay alive and step two is something he'll deal with when he's confronted with it. The choice he makes, for better or worse, will define the outcome of his life.
He talks a tough game. He works for no one but himself. His innocence could get him killed just as well as it could earn favor with even the hardest of gangsters. Only in the final moments do we really get a sense Malik knows what he wants from this world. Throughout the story much of what comes to him comes without expectation, but once he learns how easy it is to get what you want that's where the story is only beginning and A Prophet is rightly ending.
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Agree with almost everything. I didn't love it *that* much, but I would confidently call it a masterpiece. Tough, gritty, cynical, authentic, engrossing film that had me at the edge of my seat the entire time and was excellently acted, shot and directed. One of my top 5 films of '09. If it doesn't win the Oscar instead of The White Ribbon (which I absolutely despise), it'll be a goddamn crime. Great movie that I would watch several times again without hesitation.
You didn't love it that much, but would confidently call it a masterpiece. Thanks for the explanation on what kind of movie it is!
I meant not as much as Brad. It's a masterpiece, but I wouldn't call it some kind of classic for eternity, or 100% perfect movie, I would neither call it my #1 movie of 2009. There is a difference, it's very small, but it's there.
It's a good movie with some terrific performances, there is no doubt about that. But I don't think it is a classic or a great movie, let alone a masterpeice.
As for best foreign movie at the oscars, i watched The Secret in Their Eyes last night and it really blew me away. A movie that truelly deserves the oscar.
I agree with you..El Secreto De sus Ojos from Argetina will blow you away
But is it really as epic as "The Godfather?" That's what I really want to know.
Epic I would call it, but not *that* epic.
what is your favorite movie of 2009?
Basterds
hell yes!
being jewish i enjoy it just that much more
This was my film of 2009 too. The way you see Malik develop from the start of the film to the end of the film is just stunning. There's one shot in particular towards the end that sums up just how far he's come and it's an incredible cinematic moment.
I can't recommend this film enough. It had me clutching the seat in suspense in the opening moments and had my heart racing in it's final scenes. At it's heart though, it's an outstanding character study of a young boy – who is played brilliantly by Tahar Rahim – finding an education and an amazing look at what life is like in a French prison.
It's just a breathtakingly good film.
dude? – spoilers! Let me know which films you havent seen so I can wreck them for you.
What a ****!
Is this a joke? What spoilers?
I am getting quite curious avout this film after reading the praise you have been giving this film. Need to check when, and if, this film comes out to cinema near me.
With all due respect to ROS, critics have been fawning all over "A Prophet" because they think it gives them cred to pile praise on a foreign film, especially one in the crime genre. Truth is, this film doesn't come remotely close to being the heir apparent to "The Godfather" or "Scarface" for that matter. You want to compare it to something, compare it to "The Departed." It's gritty. It's raw. It has some very good performances and it can be very intense (at times). It's also pretty standard stuff. Let me put it another way. If you've seen HBO's Oz – you've seen "A Prophet." It's a very good film, but placing it in the upper echelon of crime films? I think we all remember when the critics did that for last year's way overrated Gommorra. Oh you haven't seen it? Exactly.
I kind of feel like both A Prophet and Gomorrah were better than The Godfather. Of course, I've always thought that The Godfather was popcorn kitsch.
just watched a 2nd time…thank god you brought this movie to my attention… one of my new all time favorites. This kid who plays Malik is unbelievable