Onoff (Gérard Depardieu) is a famous writer. He is taken into custody on a stormy night and relentlessly grilled by an inspector (Roman Polanski) about a murder until the truth finally seeps out. A Pure Formality is almost entirely Gérard Depardieu and Roman Polanski's show. Depardieu gives one of the best performances of his career, but Polanski, while obviously not known for his work as an actor, manages to match his intensity. Visually, the film is stunning — the leaky, decrepit police station that the characters almost never leave creates a thick, sopping wet atmosphere. Its twist is somewhat predictable, but the way it is revealed and presented is impressive. Definitely worth checking out.

Outstanding. This film is among Tornatore's best. The music by Morricone is spectacular and the direction is top-notch. This film inspired two of the most popular PG-13 modern horror/thriller films, but I can't mention them, or I would be spoiling this gem entirely. Essential viewing.

80/100

Tornatore, Polanski, Depardieu, Morricone. UNA PURA FORMALITÀ hält einige Hochkaräter parat. Und die haben ihren Job wirklich gut gemacht. Der Film - ein spannendes Kammerspiel - ist zwar etwas zu lang geraten, wartet aber mit tollen Dialogen und einem interessanten Verlauf auf. Unterstrichen wird das von einer nervenaufreibenden Akustik. Nicht nur der Soundtrack ist super, auch die Effekte tragen zur Spannung bei. Da lohnt es sich mal reinzuschauen.

Do yourself a favour. This movie is an experience and as such, it should be lived without having anyone try to set your expectations on your behalf beforehand.

So if you haven't watched it yet, stop reading reviews and go in blind as soon as time allows you. Not for the possibility of a spoiler as much but for the mere descriptions of the setting and mood that are bound to place you in a certain mindset, no matter your will and conviction.

Do it right and when you're done you'll be left with the added bonus of knowing that when you inevitably rewatch this, not only will you get to re-experience it, but it will be anew, from a different angle, something that renders A Pure Formality... a... well... bogof deal, I suppose.

Exceptional film.

Roman Polanski is an underrated actor.

The title might as well be a tongue-in-cheek self-reference, because on a purely formal level, this is splendid. I couldn't care less for the story; it's all about the direction. Scene after scene is filled with visuals so memorable and beautifully in sync with the overall tone they made me go "hm, nice" - like when the taps of a bathroom sink are blocked and Gerard Depardieu has to stick his hands out of a window to let the rain wash off the soap. Occasionally it veers into gimmicky territory - how many shots from the inside of a typewriter do you really need? - but never so much as to become annoying. Uncle Roman is convincing, and the police station clerk has the kindest face in the world.
Trigger warning: they do sneak shots of a nude Depardieu in here.

Anscheinend ziemlich unbekannte Perle von Tornatore, dieses sehr feuchte und dunkle Psycho-Katz-und-Maus-Kammerspiel. Depardieu und Polanski spielen hervorragend, die Dialoge sind sowas von geschliffen, die Kamera fängt die klaustrophobische Stimmung perfekt ein, und der Morricone-Soundtrack ist absolut packend. Nichts negatives nach dieser Erstsichtung - 2te unausweichlich.
Aber bitte bei Interesse auf keinen Fall den Trailer hier schauen und sonstige Spoiler- und Twist-Gefahren meiden; ist manchmal schwer, lohnt aber in diesem Fall besonders.

If The Shinning, Adaptation, and Barton Fink haven’t said enough, A Pure Formality just reiterated this very message again:

Writing as a career can kill.

Gutes Kammerspiel mit zwei starken Darstellern.
Insgesamt die ein oder andere Länge.

Fajny klimat świetne aktorstwo dobra rzecz

Such an engaging mystery which is let down at the end. The acting is great, good camerawork, many bifocal shots are there. These old school thrillers are long gone...now it's all 'show don't tell'

Unglaublich eindringlich inszeniertes Kammerspiel mit einem Plot-Twist, den ich (vor Faszination für den Ganzen Rest) noch nicht in Gänze verstanden habe.

Eindeutige Empfehlung, der Film verdient mehr Aufmerksamkeit.

I dig two-hander police interrogation movies, but this is too overwrought to be much fun.

Grandissimo noir di Tornatore con protagonisti Gérard Depardieu e Roman Polanski (sorprendente come attore).
Film molto particolare, più vicino allo stile di Polanski che a quello del regista siciliano.

Interamente ambientato in una gendarmeria durante una notte tempestosa, il film è costruito in maniera eccellente, tra confusi flashback e dialoghi assurdi, fino ad arrivare ad uno splendido finale.

Una garanzia le musiche di Morricone.

Un trabajo bien ejecutado con literarios y ricos diálogos de Pascal Quignard y solvente dúo interpretativo pero, como toda película de misterio que sólo se centra en resolver la incógnita, se hace divertida durante el visionado y olvidable al terminar el metraje.

(karantén 10. nap, holnaptól mehetnék bármerre, erre ma megkaptam a pozitív covid-teszt eredményemet)

Az az utolsó 20 perc!

84/100 WORTHWHILE

- An existential meditation on death, memory, guilt & regret set in a decrepit, Kafkaesque police station.

- Cinematography, camera direction is superb as are the performances especially from Depardieu.

How had I never before heard of this 1994 movie starring Gerard Depardieu and Roman Polanski in a cat-and-mouse interrogation thriller?? Directed with absolute gusto, dope Morricone score, pretty and stylish. 

P.S. I really wish anyone but Polanski was in this, but what can you do.

Beyond the banality of the synopsis, i was pretty much hooked beginning to end.
It's hard to deny the strength of that editing, those performances and that drenched set that frames the whole thing.
Still too fresh in my mind perhaps, but i think it one of my favorite renditions of this idea.

The wine pour montage... Phew.