Inspector Bellamy (2009) ***

BellamyHere is a film I really wanted to like; a film directed by a seasoned filmmaker -- Claude Chabrol in his 50th and final film before passing away, and featuring one of my favorite actors ever -- Gerard Depardieu. Unfortunately, the greater the expectation the bigger the disappointment. Inspector Bellamy, which at one point almost reminds a poor version of Thin Man’s Nick and Nora, is simply dull, making one wish it was jazzed up like Nick and Nora. Chabrol created a character that has a seemingly complex life, with a brother that appears his evil alter ego, a wife he loves monogamously or maybe just have an obsession with her breasts, and a life that feel purposeless. The plot gets resolved very quickly and is quite corny. As a friend, with who I saw the film, said after the screening was over- I just didn’t care. Not even the great Depardieu can breathe life into this pompous empty shell. The rating for this film should be two stars but as a Depardieu fan, it gets an extra star because Depardieu is great even at his weaker films...