This double-feature DVD collection compiles suspenseful but unrelated films from writer/director Henri Verneuil. It’s perfect for fans of ‘70s conspiracy thrillers such as The Parallax View and All the President’s Men, sharing some distinct similarities with them.
Buy Two Political Thrillers by Henri Verneuil DVDIn I…for Icarus (1979), when the French president is gunned down during a public appearance, it’s up to Attorney General Henri Volney (Yves Montand) to sift through the evidence to find the real killer. Echoing JFK conspiracy theories, there’s a dead presumed suspect who Volney rejects as the killer, even when everyone else in the investigating government commission disagrees with him, leading him on a solo quest to uncover the truth.
Verneuil somehow manages to keep the pacing tense throughout most of the minutiae of the super dry, clinical investigation, with Volney chasing his theories with the help of assorted subject matter experts. The only lag is a long sidetrack about a psychological experiment undertaken by the patsy, with the doctor walking Volney through its concepts and lengthy stages utilizing another test subject, far more detail than we need to get the gist of the results.
The film is bolstered by Montand’s mesmerizing performance, infusing Volney with wisdom, dignity, and a twinkle in his eye that makes him a fully compelling protagonist. The music is also superb, as composed by the legendary Ennio Morricone. However, for some bizarre reason, the production design of Volney’s office includes a complex miniature cityscape outside its windows, complete with moving miniature traffic that sometimes lurches quite unnaturally. Every time he was in his office, I was so transfixed by the ridiculous models in the background I ignored Montand. Luckily, he doesn’t spend too much time in the office as he pursues leads all over France.
Mille Milliards de Dollars (1982) follows a young newspaper reporter named Paul Kerjean (Patrick Dewaere) who stumbles across a multinational conspiracy when a shadowy informer tips him off. The setup feels very reminiscent of Deep Throat’s interaction with newspaper reporters in All the President’s Men, even as the conspiracy spirals outside of French borders into the realm of increasingly powerful big business conglomerates. In one especially prescient scene, Verneuil has a character ruminate about the endgame of capitalist mergers and acquisitions, as hundreds of large companies consolidate into dozens and eventually into a handful of all-powerful entities that rule the world.
The troubled Dewaere is in full control of his talent here in one of his final performances, but he’s no Montand. His Kerjean is a bit squirrelly, with nervous, twitching energy that conveys the intensity of his high-stakes investigation but keeps the audience at arm’s length. Jeanne Moreau pops in momentarily, but not enough to make any meaningful impact. Also, Verneuil’s pacing isn’t as crisp, with enough dull spots that it took me three tries to get through the film due to dozing off. Still, it’s an admirable political thriller with a strong voice about the dangers of big business, and even speaks to the xenophobic closing of borders we’re seeing play out in real life today.
While there are no bonus features about the production of the films, theatrical trailers are included. Both films are presented in their original 1.66:1 aspect ratio with Dolby audio, and they look fine on DVD, with Icarus benefiting the most from slightly better cinematography.
