Last Updated on November 2, 2024 by
Ever found yourself captivated by a charming rogue, wondering what drives them to live on the edge? That’s the essence of Freedom, the latest film directed by Mélanie Laurent. It presents a stylish narrative about a real-life antihero whose charisma and daring escapades are both captivating and bewildering. While it may entertain with its sleek presentation, it also raises the question of what lies beneath the surface of such a glossy portrayal of crime.
In Freedom, we see the action around the main character named Bruno Sulak portrayed by Lucas Bravo who is inspired by a French criminal popular in the 1980s. The movie begins with Bruno and another character named Drago who is his best friend committing what appears to be a common convenience store robbery. When his soppy girlfriend Annie (Léa Luce Busato) waits in the getaway car, Bruno shows intelligence and bravado in executing the robbery. With this initial scene, the viewers are immediately placed into Bruno’s anarchic environment, where the excitement of committing crimes overshadows any potential acquisition of riches. When Bruno escalates from supermarket hold-ups to jewelry arbitrations, the public, and the police find themselves fascinated with him as the modern-day Arsène Lupin.
The atmosphere of the movie can be described as a stylish heist drama, which is interspersed with some comedy in the tradition of stylish heist dramas such as Ocean’s Eleven or The Thomas Crown Affair. The movie has an entertaining feel to it, blending the serious elements of crime and action with jokes that might simply be considered fun.
Thus, the two themes of the film that can easily be analyzed are the attitude toward the past and trickery in the contemporary world. There are some scenes that are very humorous that you would chuckle when watching Bruno and then there are moments of suspense, where you are literally on the edge of your seat. This is complemented by the cinematography, particularly the sweeping views of Paris plus mostly brightly-lit scenes that bring out the aspect of the city as the backdrop to Bruno’s naughty adventures.
Where ‘Ticket to Paradise’ succeeds best is in casting the charismatic Lucas Bravo as the male lead. Bruno is incarnated by him, endowed with charm and masculinity which makes him very seductive to watch on the big screen. There is more action and chemistry between Bruno and Annie through romantic scenes and the environments look appealing.
However, despite the smooth looks and the genres that range from the lively grocery stores to the glistening jewelry stores, they tend to hide the further meaning behind the picture. Unfortunately, this high-gloss treatment may leave the viewer feeling unsatisfied, as the movie fails to delve deeper into the reasons behind Bruno’s actions. Why does he endanger everything just to get the feeling of the hunt? What is expected from him and Annie in terms of the emotional investment? However, these questions still lack answers:
There is not enough depth dedicated to Bruno’s friendship with Annie despite the scenes that show them having fun, playing on the beach, or cuddling together in bed. The film only suggests that there is a deeper affection between the two of them, yet audiences still never know what brought them together or why Annie decides to constantly be with him and even endure the dangerous aspects of being a criminal. It is during one such confrontation when she comes across Bruno planning to rob a Cartier store during their particular vacation that there is the premise for an emotional confrontation. But, the moment falters in its approach not packing the punch that it should have delivered. Essentially, it means that the audience cannot be immersed in the risk of the show when their connection is not well established.
Instead, the interactions between the innocent young Bruno and the unrelenting detective George Moreas (Yvan Attal) are more suspenseful and engaging. Attal effectively captures the sexual tension as Morea alternates between displeasure and intrigue toward Bruno. Their playful chase brings depth to the movie, revealing one of the angles of law enforcement: the reaction to a criminal who does not fit the system. This relationship helps the film as it presents the disparity between Bruno’s childlike nature and Moreas’s focus on work.
All in all, Freedom may go well with audiences who are interested in watching a stylish crime film or those who want to see the heist film of the ’60s and the ’70s type. Perhaps, it has a certain degree of uniqueness that can make it quite an interesting movie to watch, especially for lovers of thrillers. Overall, if you like watching charming ‘Bad Boys’ and do not mind a tidbit of Hollywood glamour over rustic reality, this movie could be a good choice. It’s just important not to expect something deeply insightful or meaningful because for all its boisterous and brash flamboyance, it never quite provides a solid justification for why Bruno’s adventures across the globe were so riveting in the first place. Thus, while Freedom takes you on a superficial ride through the world of crime, it only makes you want to delve deeper into the life of the enigmatic protagonist.
Freedom 2024 Parents Guide Age Rating
Freedom is not rated because it has not undergone the official rating process by the Motion Picture Rating (MPA).
