Film Shapes

This version of author Georges Simenon's famous detective is the latest in a pedigree stretching back to the 1930s. Pierre Renoir (son of Impressionist Pierre Auguste, brother of director Jean), Charles Laughton, Jean Gabin, Richard Harris, Michael Gambon (two Dumbledores right there) and even Rowan Atkinson have all played Detective Maigret. That could play as a variation of the game Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon - what links Mr. Bean to Luncheon of the Boating Party? Anyway, this 2022 iteration is housed in the formidable personage of Gérard Depardieu and he's calmly excellent. He can do this kind of role in his sleep, and I'm nicking this adjective from Roly - what he does in Maigret seems effortless. Whether it's Simenon or writer/director, Patrice Leconte or perhaps co-writer, Jérôme Tonnerre to thank, they give Depardieu some golden lines to deliver. His grumpy coaxing of his underling in how to smoke a pipe is top drawer - "You're sucking it, you have to p...