Ordinary people who end up in extraordinary situations can produce fascinating results in films. And if a film does this well, you as a viewer can imagine that it could happen to you and it will make a film memorable. That’s something like A Simple Plan proved for example. Such a scenario also happens in The Fall of the American Empire, but is this also a good film?
Pierre-Paul Daoust (Alexandre Landry) sees himself as a genius. Yet he consciously has a job as a parcel delivery guy. During his round he witnesses a robbery, in which almost everyone is killed and two bags full of money are up for grabs. He decides to load them in his van and lie to the police. But with organized crime looking for the money and surveillance by the police, the question is how he can do something smart with the money. In the end, it is a prostitute and a former biker who has just been released from prison who help him with that.
I have no problems with bizarre stories and this film contains enough elements to be categorized as such, but then everything must come together in a way that makes you feel involved. Unfortunately, The Fall of the American Empire does not quite succeed. Alexandre Landry’s Pierre-Paul Daoust is not a sympathetic character and since that is the main character, it is difficult to really care for him. In her role as a prostitute, Maripier Morin knows how to give the film a bit of a heart, but you still don’t have the feeling that you are watching real people. There are too many stereotypical characters, the acting is not very strong and the message from director Denys Arcand that we should pay more attention to the homeless in Canada is not well realized. Not a great film, but the cat-and-mouse game that is played with the police is still entertaining.
[score5]