Although Yves Montand became slightly more 'conservative' with age he never ceased to be a political animal and frequently spoke out on corruption in high places. He had already appeared in the excellent 'Trilogy' of Costa-Gavras and one can fully understand why this film of Henri Verneuil would appeal to him as there are obvious parallels here with the assassination of John Kennedy sixteen years earlier, not to mention the deeply flawed findings of the Warren Commission and the unexplained deaths of eye witnesses.
The subject matter itself is dynamite but the film alas is a wet fuse.
Despite being lumbered with an utterly ridiculous grey wig and a pair of heavy spectacles Montand's star quality still comes through and his riveting performance is the only redeeming feature of this dull and dreary opus.
All of the other characters are one-dimensional and acted for the most part by a cast of 'planks'.
We also have to endure an interminable scene which replicates the 'obedience to authority' Milgram experiments carried out at Yale University.
So as to avoid depicting any particular country the makers of this have chosen to ulitise the 'new' town of Cergy, the monstrous modernity of which mirrors this films absence of character and soul. A few colonnades, arches or domes would surely have made this film more watchable.
The last scene in which Volney stands far too close to the window is effective and means that the film is finally over.
The excellent production values, cinematography and the Gallic good taste that one comes to expect from Verneuil are totally lacking here and its overall tackiness gives one the feeling that it represents a cynically commercial attempt to appeal to the lowest common denominator.
As every schoolboy/girl knows, Icarus flew too close to the sun. This film does not come nearly close enough to be of lasting value.
Review of I... For Icarus
