This film plays with the question, "What if God was one of us?" What if he was a normal old person with a wife and a daughter? Its an interesting concept that devolves into a satire in The Brand New Testament. Upon seeing the trailer, I was sold on this film because of the hilarity and insanity that was portrayed. The film was very funny but also somewhat repetitive, leaving me with a feeling that the story could have been so much more.
Seeing God as a curmudgeon who is abusive towards his family is quite harsh and shrewd. Yet, I like the tone that is set up by the main characters. Dark comedy is on the top tier of my favorite genre pyramid, except for when repetition comes into play. When a film is too repetitive, it lacks any sort of smooth pacing and unpredictability. The Brand New Testament is not nearly as repetitive as say Don Jon or The Edge of Tomorrow, but its just repetitive enough for me to start tuning out after the first hour or so. I expected a bit more spontaneity in this film, but it was just too focused on one theme.
While the film may be slow and grueling at times, the acting is well done. Pili Groyne does a great job playing an ambitious girl who is tired of her father's monopoly over playing God. As Ea, she shows both a sympathetic personality, but also a dark and mischievous personality as she journeys to create her own bible. Benoit Poelvoorde also gives off a great performance, creating an image of God that the audience can't help but laugh at. As Dieu, Poelvoorde comes off as the type of out-of-luck villain you would see in the Home Alone film franchise. I felt a bit of sympathy for him towards the end, but for the most part, he is just a man taking control of innocent peoples's lives.
The Bottom Line: Its a bit slow, but the acting and comedy are still fun to watch.
Score: 8.7/10
Image Credit: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/0/0e/Le_Tout_Nouveau_Testament_poster.jpg
Seeing God as a curmudgeon who is abusive towards his family is quite harsh and shrewd. Yet, I like the tone that is set up by the main characters. Dark comedy is on the top tier of my favorite genre pyramid, except for when repetition comes into play. When a film is too repetitive, it lacks any sort of smooth pacing and unpredictability. The Brand New Testament is not nearly as repetitive as say Don Jon or The Edge of Tomorrow, but its just repetitive enough for me to start tuning out after the first hour or so. I expected a bit more spontaneity in this film, but it was just too focused on one theme.
While the film may be slow and grueling at times, the acting is well done. Pili Groyne does a great job playing an ambitious girl who is tired of her father's monopoly over playing God. As Ea, she shows both a sympathetic personality, but also a dark and mischievous personality as she journeys to create her own bible. Benoit Poelvoorde also gives off a great performance, creating an image of God that the audience can't help but laugh at. As Dieu, Poelvoorde comes off as the type of out-of-luck villain you would see in the Home Alone film franchise. I felt a bit of sympathy for him towards the end, but for the most part, he is just a man taking control of innocent peoples's lives.
The Bottom Line: Its a bit slow, but the acting and comedy are still fun to watch.
Score: 8.7/10
Image Credit: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/0/0e/Le_Tout_Nouveau_Testament_poster.jpg
