Rock'N Roll

Rock'N Roll is a 2017 French comedy-drama film that explores the themes of stardom, aging, ego, and the absurdity of the entertainment industry in an amusing yet insightful way. Co-written and directed by French filmmaker and actor Guillaume Canet, this self-mocking film also stars Canet himself and his real-life partner Marion Cotillard, with a guest appearance from their friend Gilles Lellouche. The film blurs the line between reality and fiction, with the stars playing exaggerated versions of themselves.

Rock'N Roll begins with a seemingly unexceptional day in the life of Guillaume Canet. The audience is introduced to a comfortable, successful actor and director who lives in the Parisian countryside with Marion Cotillard, his partner, and their young son. Canet's comfortable world is shattered during an innocuous interview where he is told that he is not considered 'rock 'n roll' anymore, a French slang that means cool and rebellious. This small comment stirs up a profound internal crisis within Canet and becomes the driving force of the film. Concerned about this perception of him, he embarks on a hilarious and sometimes cringe-worthy attempt to rebrand his image and regain his lost youthfulness and 'rock'n roll' status.

The title Rock'N Roll refers not to the style of music, but to a state of being, an attitude, a way of life that Canet, the character, feels he's lost along the way to turning 40 and settling into a comfortable domestic life. It is his quest to reclaim this essence of his lost 'coolness' — in essence, his struggle with middle age — that provides the backbone for the film's story.

Marion Cotillard, playing herself as Canet's partner, provides many of the film's comedic highlights through her commitment to her latest film role. Her dedication to the craft is depicted as comically obsessive, a play on the popular perception of method acting taken to ridiculous extremes. As Canet's foil, she underscores both his lack of perceived 'coolness' and the absurdity of his methods to regain it.

The film also includes real personalities from the French film industry, like Gilles Lellouche, who also play versions of themselves. Their integration into the narrative lends a touch of authenticity to the film's absurd premise. In many instances, these figures serve as mirrors reflecting Canet's anxiety back onto him, creating humorous situations that are only enhanced by the blurring between their on-screen and off-screen lives.

One of the striking aspects of Rock'N Roll is its metafictional nature, where actors are playing versions of themselves in a fictional story. This mirroring creates an intriguing interplay between fact and fiction, the public and the private, and the performer and the person. It's a blend of biopic, comedy, parody, and character study wrapped into a humorous, thoughtful exploration of existential crisis.

Canet's directorial style in Rock'N Roll is engaging, maintaining a balance between the comedic elements and the more serious themes of identity, aging, and the pressure to conform to societal standards. He uses self-deprecation and satire for levity while simultaneously offering a subtle critique of the film industry. Although the premise of a famous actor grappling with a midlife crisis may seem privileged and detached from the concerns of 'ordinary' people, Canet's direction and his and Cotillard's performances lend a relatable touch to the story.

In appearance, Rock'N Roll embraces the aesthetic of modern French cinema, capturing the charm and allure of the Parisian suburbs with its chic cinematography. But it also satirizes the very nature of this allure, adding an extra layer of complexity and intrigue.

To wrap up, Rock'N Roll is an alluring mix of comedy and drama that blurs the line between reality and fiction. Led by convincing performances by Guillaume Canet and Marion Cotillard, the film succeeds in mocking fame and the film industry's vanity while maintaining a level of authenticity that will resonate with many viewers. It's a fun, thought-provoking watch that merges laughs with intriguing insight into the world of entertainment and the toll it takes. It is recommended for fans of French cinema and anyone looking for a fresh, unique take on the mid-life crisis genre.