Pfeiffer a luminous ex-pat If there were ever a film that succeeds thanks to the charismatic turn of its lead performer, it’s Azazel Jacobs’ French Exit, an adaptation of Patrick DeWitt’s novel that rests firmly on Michelle Pfeiffer’s shoulders. It goes without saying that she’s more than capable of bearing this load as a New York socialite who, having run out of money, flees to France to live in a friend’s vacant apartment, her son Malcolm (Lucas Hedges) in tow. It’s a delight to see the screen veteran cast a withering look, toss off a barbed bon mot or instantly take control of a room by simply strolling in as she navigates a new life that seemingly will lead to no good end. The film gets off to a rocky start, but rights itself in the second half, and while it would be a bit unfair to say it would be a failure with anyone else but Pfeiffer in the lead role, it’s hard to imagine it succeeding at all without her. Available on Video on Demand.
Backstage and the LIVE Network are delighted to announce an exciting new letter writing project with acclaimed writer, Patrick DeWitt, author of ‘The Sist.
Directed by Azazel Jacobs.
Starring Michelle Pfeiffer, Lucas Hedges, Tracy Letts, Valerie Mahaffey, Susan Coyne, Imogen Poots, Danielle Macdonald, Isaach De Bankolé, Daniel DiTomasso, Eddie Holland, Matt Holland, Christine Lan, Robert Higden, and Larry Day.
SYNOPSIS:
An aging Manhattan socialite living on what’s barely left of her inheritance moves to a small apartment in Paris with her son and cat.
It doesn’t take long before the reasons pile up in regards to loathing the characters of
French Exit, but here’s the most telling: audiences are supposed to empathize with the wealthy 12-years widowed Frances (Michelle Pfeiffer, who at least plays the role of privileged and condescending with intermittently amusing bite) has spent years ignoring her financial advisor that the money left behind is going to dry up. There’s going broke for legitimately unfortunate circumstances and then there’s introducing a protagonist who not only went broke because of their own dumbassery