L'Assaut

I am not very familiar with the director Julien Leclercq, but he has convinced me, for the third time, that he can make quality, sophisticatedly shot films which aren’t afraid of suspense or action. And I don’t think that is a coincidence. At the same time, the comparison with Paul Greengrass is clearly appropriate, because this film brings the exact same realistic editing that only he can do in Europe. The first half is therefore rich in dialogues. The director presents the viewer with a situation that is absolutely crazy. It may be boring at times, but it always makes sense. As soon as the boys from the French GIGN anti-terrorist unit appeared, I bated my breath for so long I started to suffocate. (04/11/2018)

The Assault was a very pleasant surprise at the 2011 French Film Festival. It operates on the same principles as the success of Greengrass' famous film United 93. It is a depiction of real events surrounding a French plane hijacked by Islamic fundamentalists and the subsequent liberation of hostages by a special unit. The film crew focused on the maximum realistic capture of each phase of the hijacking and the atmosphere, both on the plane and in the government crisis team, as well as among the members of the unit preparing for the strike. Authenticity, the exceptional nature of the crisis, and the tension supported by a well-chosen dynamic musical element are the main strengths of Leclercq's film. He does not hide the fact that the film is paying tribute to the work of security forces and, in certain moments, there is a certain pathos and the documentary concept of the film is disrupted at times through slow-motion shots. One could also criticize the storyline surrounding an ambitious official from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, who is essentially unnecessary in this concept and disrupts the polarity of the battle between the criminal organization and their police opponents. Nevertheless, it is a strong and quality film, whose effect is emphasized by a very reasonable duration and a balance between the psychological drama of negotiation and the action-packed finale. Overall impression: 90%. (26/11/2011)

On the one hand, the movie appears incredibly realistic but at the same time is highly stylized, losing its realism due to colored filters or even slowed-down or silent shots, which in my opinion simply don't work and rather detract from the film. The Assault didn't work for me at all. (05/05/2017)