Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #26766 in DVD
• Released on: 2004-01-13
• Rating: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)
• Formats: Closed-captioned, Color, DVD, Subtitled, Widescreen, NTSC
• Original language: Arabic, English, French, Italian
• Subtitled in: English
• Number of discs: 1
• Running time: 128 minutes

Amazon.com
Claude Lelouch may never be the most profound director in the world, but he sure knows how to whip up a catchy distraction. And Now Ladies & Gentlemen finds Lelouch in a skippy, unpredictable mode. Jeremy Irons, who seems to be enjoying himself enormously, is a thief who sets out on a sailing voyage, only to fetch up in Morocco after he blacks out at the helm. There he meets sultry singer Patricia Kaas (her first acting role); it turns out they both might have brain tumors. Did someone say this is a romantic comedy? It is, complete with musical numbers (Kaas glides through a cozy cross-section of French pop music, including the theme from A Man and a Woman, Lelouch's '60s smash). The movie's all over the place, and it spins its wheels for the final half-hour, but there are certain kinds of romantics who will find this sort of thing irresistible. --Robert Horton

Customer Reviews

A Lovely Escapist Venture
Claude Lelouche has once again teamed with Michel Legrand to continue his examination of the vagaries of love in AND NOW LADIES & GENTLEMEN. There is a Gallic magic about Lelouche's view of love that is irresistible and this rather long film journey is no exception. Jeremy Irons is a thief who creates sophisticated heists of jewels by adopting disguises. He is jaunty, loves the beautiful things in life, and decides to spend his won money to sail a yacht on a long-dreamed journey. While at sea he has his first blackout which we later learn is due to a brain tumor. He is taken ashore in Morocco where he encounters a lounge singer (Patricia Kaas) who likewise is subject to blackouts and has strayed to Morocco after the end of an affair with a trumpet player. Together they plan a pilgrimage to a site of healing, but Irons' character is followed by the police for his jewel heists and is captured, is unable to remember his thefts, and finally is diagnosed as having a brain tumor. Postop he reconciles with his singer and makes amends for his life of crime.

As with all of Lelouche's films there are episodes that blur dreamlife with reality and in this film he uses this technique to perfection. Much of what really happens is left to the individual's perception. The settings for this escapade are truly splendid - Morocco has never looked so dreamy, so dramatic, so sun-drenched and inviting. The real joy of this film are the performances of Irons and Kaas and the added pleasure of seeing old (!) faces from the past such as Claudia Cardinale - no longer the beauty she once was! Patricia Kaas is a very fine singer and her renditions of old standards take on new substance in her sensitive interpretations. The only flaw in this film is that it is filmed in both English and French and the dubbing barely matches the subtitles. That is very distracting. But forgive that and you have a film that will let you take flight - lightly as with an elegant French aperitif!

Glorious cinematography, compelling acting
One of the most cinematically beautiful films you will see this or any year. It is a treat for serious cinephiles; but is probably too subtle and slow for most mainstream tastes. Jeremy Irons is wonderful, as usual, and Patricia Kass is hauntingly beautiful and compelling. The story is thought provoking at times, slightly quirky, and implausible with moments of subtle humor; but it is all thoroughly enjoyable to watch. The script too is mostly perspicacious with a few memorable lines such as, "Life is a deep sleep. And love is the dream." The film is mostly in French with some English. The subtitles are easy to read on the widescreen DVD format.

Simple, Complex, Delightful
I'm sorry this film disappeared from the theatres so quickly. I wanted to see it again and take my friends. The story is a new twist on the old theme of the erudite jewel thief. The balanced mixture of French and English languages was stimulating and pleasing for me. I felt the love story was just the right blend of disappointment and satisfaction. The location shooting in France and Morocco entertaining. Jeremy Irons' acting was superb. The story and dialogue over all was multi-layered and mysterious - an experience worth repeating.