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A Pure Formality
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A Pure Formality

A Pure Formality

1994
Suspense/Thriller, Crime
1h 48m
Onoff is a famous writer who hasn't published any new books for quite some time and has become a recluse. When he is picked up by the police one stormy night, without any identification, out of breath and running madly, without clear memory of recent events, the Inspector is suspicious... (imdb)
Avg Percentile 65.05% from 356 total ratings

Ratings & Reviews

(359)
Compact view
Compact view
Rated 07 Jan 2017
36
14th
As much as I wish there were more strange films like this, the story didn't really accomplish anything and I left feeling underwhelmed.
Rated 11 Jul 2013
78
75th
Atmospheric mystery with a philosophical bent and more than a touch of Kafka. The art design is terrific, the setting has a timeless quality - it could be anytime in the 20th century. Depardieu is great, as is Polanski, and I wish they still made stuff like this today.
Rated 06 Oct 2009
90
86th
Very strong, very impressive work. I never realized how good Polanski is even when he's just an actor for hire on a project. Not the kind of film you think it is
Rated 01 Jun 2009
88
80th
I really don't know why this movie is so unknown. It's entertaining, surprising, the actings are superb and the ending is... at least different... Depardieu plays the writer Onoff and the name can say something about the character(On/off). There are many ways to understand this film after the ending, You may choose the way you like...
Rated 16 Apr 2024
75
52nd
Man sollte ihn vermutlich zweimal anschauen. Einmal spät in einer Regennacht für die Atmosphäre und noch einmal am hellichten Tag, um ihn zu verstehen.
Rated 30 Dec 2017
100
85th
Very few people understood and appreciated this masterpiece. This is my favorite movie, and I saw literally thousands of them. More a play than a movie with superb acting and music that sets the tone. This is the only time (save, perhaps, for the Green Card) when Depardieu sings. Some metaphysical background would really help to fully understand and appreciate it.
Rated 27 Nov 2013
45
33rd
A likable cast battles against a forced and rather hackneyed script.
Rated 10 Aug 2011
75
57th
Un film avec musique magnifique :)
Rated 31 Aug 2010
20
44th
On sojourn in France, Tornatore has left his sentimental humanism at home in Italy, and for a change of pace plunges into a Polanski-esque thriller, dark, cramped, cryptic, unreal (or irreal) (or surreal), with Polanski himself on hand for validation. The environmental details -- the unrelenting rain, the pots positioned beneath the leaky roof, the mud-encrusted shoes, the clock without hands, the rattrap in the liquor cabinet -- are well done.

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