Rust and Bone (2012)

This movie has almost everything I like. The acting is great. The story is unusual, the characters felt fresh, and I really found myself considering their motivation - what made them do the things they did. I loved the cinematography and the art direction. They didn't try to make everyone look pretty all the time. And these people felt real - they did stupid things and had questionable behavior.

I did not like the ending. It was tied up pretty damn neat, which is not unusual for American films, but was a little shocking for a French film. Oh well. This is still a great film - especially if you want something that's not your usual superhero / cop / rom-com.

Marion Cotillard will likely get a Best Actress nomination for her role here as a whale trainer (like at Sea World), Stephanie, who loses her legs in a freak work accident. Already sounds a bit different, right? While recuperating, and while depressed, she randomly calls the number of a bouncer, Ali (Matthias Schoenaerts), she met previously in a one-off encounter. Ali has recently arrived from Belgium with his five-year old son, and is living at his sister's while he picks up odd jobs as a bouncer, security guard, and then bare knuckle fighter.

These two stories are united by Stephanie and Ali's friendship, which is unusual and constantly evolving. It's very interesting, and I really recommend this movie. As a character study, it's fantastic. And the acting is out of this world.

Jacques Audiard directed this, and he also directed The Prophet. I loved that movie as well, and will get the rest of Audiard's movies in my queue.