clock … watching time, the only true currency

After much debate on Saturday afternoon, we agreed on seeing Le petit lieutenant that night. As the title suggests, this is a French film. Subtitles, even! Two attributes were even more French — or at least less Hollywood. First, one of the lead characters dies. Second, there are several scenes where no one is talking, just emoting for the camera. A bit of silence was fine, although my American impatience twitched a bit once or twice.

It was a good story, well told, if a bit quiet for a police movie. No need for the big screen, though. Which was just as well, since Opera Plaza’s screen wasn’t much bigger than a minivan. Oh well.

Metacritic score of 71 might be a touch high. The San Francisco Chronicle reviewer loved it, which tipped our scales enough to see the film.