Spoiler Warning: The next article accommodates main spoilers for Advert Vitam. For those who’ve but to observe the 2025 Netflix film, please go watch it earlier than returning. Effectively, except you need main plot factors ruined.
Each from time to time, a random film will shoot to the highest of the Netflix charts and catch the world abruptly. Not even two weeks into the brand new yr, Advert Vitam grew to become a success with individuals with a Netflix subscription and virtually immediately grew to become the number-one film on the platform. Being somebody who likes trying out the finest motion films in my free time, I made certain to observe this enjoyable and intense French thriller a couple of former elite cop having to show his innocence and get again on the males who kidnapped his spouse.
Like every good thriller, Advert Vitam was filled with so many nice twists and turns, together with one within the early a part of the film that legitimately caught me abruptly. And now I’ve to speak about it and why it made an already nice motion flick into among the best I’ve seen in fairly some time.
Once more, main spoilers observe…
Okay, Advert Vitam Is A Enjoyable And Thrilling Motion Film With Some Nice Twists
Clocking in at slightly over 90 minutes, Advert Vitam is a quick and livid motion thriller that wastes little time getting issues going with its wild set items and intense story a couple of former gendarme named Franck Lazareff (Guillaume Canet) coming to phrases with an incident that led to the demise of his finest good friend, and in addition led to himself being hunted by a shadowy group of presidency brokers. Critically, this film places the pedal to the metallic just about from the beginning line and doesn’t let off the fuel till the credit roll.
Each time I had a sense I knew what was occurring or tried to anticipate the subsequent step, the film would throw in one other twist and one other badass motion set piece, leaving me much more excited to see how it will play out. However there was one twist that particularly I believe was pulled off higher than anything. Let me clarify…
The Reveal That Léo Is A Badass Who Can Deal with Her Personal Was Unbelievable
When the masked gunmen broke into Franck and Léo’s (Stéphane Caillard) condominium about 10 minutes into the film, I assumed we had been about to see the “damsel in misery” motion film trope once more the place the hero was going to have to save lots of his pregnant spouse from the dastardly villain. And whereas that’s partly true and Franck is motivated to guard Léo, it’s revealed that she’s a complete badass who can deal with her personal in hand-to-hand fight and with firearms.
Going in opposition to standard motion film knowledge is nothing new for Netflix films, as Insurgent Ridge, among the best 2024 thrillers, did that splendidly, however after it looks as if she’s stored out of the loop on what is going on on together with her husband as much as that time, I used to be pleasantly stunned to see Léo throwing dudes round, disarming them, and kicking a complete lot of ass, much more so contemplating she did all of that whereas eight months pregnant.
Up till this level, as a result of her-backstory hadn’t been revealed but, I had no thought she was able to combating like 5 gunmen without delay, which made the scene all of the extra impactful. Then the film took an enormous shift to the previous, and it began to make sense.
The Narrative Construction (Current, Flashback, Current) Labored Completely For Léo’s Character, And This Reveal
I’ll be the primary to confess that I’m not the most important fan of flashbacks, particularly these the place we spend the bulk, or a minimum of a big portion, of a film displaying how issues went down prior to now. Nonetheless, the narrative construction of Advert Vitam is completely excellent and the entire flashback part makes it a fair higher film.
Not solely does the flashback to 10 years prior to now present us why Franck’s life is so tousled within the current and why he’s not a member of the elite squad, but it surely additionally focuses a whole lot of time displaying Léo being a headstrong, clever, and fiercely unbiased member of his elite squad (with negotiating abilities). Although I do suppose having a extra conventional construction might have labored, director Rodolphe Lauga’s choice to startle the viewer with a her combating abilities on the leap earlier than breaking down who she is, helped Léo’s story tremendously.
Léo Capturing Dangerous Guys In A Excessive-Pace Chase Whereas Pregnant And Wounded Was Legitimately One Of The Most Badass Issues I’ve Seen
The massive chase scene on the finish of Advert Vitam is a wild and thrilling spectacle that’s a ton of enjoyable from begin to end, and there’s quite a bit to like. As a lot as I really like Franck doing essentially the most badass tuck-and-roll out of a dashing automotive I’ve seen in years after which evading the police with the assistance of a paraglider, I haven’t been in a position to cease fascinated with the couple of minutes earlier than when Léo is taking dudes out from her seat whereas pregnant and having a gunshot wound to the arm.
This entire sequence cemented Léo as a grade-A ass-kicker who wasn’t simply going to cower and conceal to guard herself or her unborn child. The grace, the ability, and the dedication of her actions not solely made among the best automotive chases even higher, but it surely added a lot to the film as a complete.
Then Léo, Whereas Caring For A New child Child, Solves The Entire Thriller And Clears Her Husband’s Title
After the large shootout and chase sequence, Léo has her child on the hospital whereas Franck is taken into custody by authorities. Together with her husband awaiting trial for crimes he didn’t commit, Léo goes on a quest to clear his identify and expose the high-ranking members of the French authorities who put the plan into movement. Although I want the film would have proven extra of this, it was wild to consider this deeply devoted spouse and police officer going to nice lengths to save lots of her husband, all whereas carrying a new child round.
This exceptional and gratifying ending tied the bow round Advert Vitam and wrapped issues up in an important and fulfilling method. However the factor I appreciated essentially the most about all of it, was the truth that it was Léo who saved the day, each together with her bodily capabilities but additionally her eager investigation abilities from her years as an elite officer. She’s actually one of many finest feminine motion characters I’ve seen in years.
General, Advert Vitam has absolutely earned a spot on the record of finest Netflix films, in addition to an important thriller that has all types of nice twists and turns. Whereas I don’t know if we’ll get a sequel at any level (I can solely hope), there are some nice upcoming releases on the 2025 film schedule, together with some high-profile motion flicks.
If you wish to revisit Advert Vitam, you are able to do so proper now because it’s streaming on Netflix.
Stream Advert Vitam on Netflix.