Hors-la-loi 2010

Stephen Holden, New York Times: With its mixture of righteous politics and family turmoil, this didactic, unashamedly manipulative film wants to be something like a cross between Army of Shadows, Jean-Pierre Melville's 1969 classic of the French Resistance, and The Godfather. Read more

Bill Goodykoontz, Arizona Republic: "Outside the Law" is an epic film about Algeria's fight for liberation from France, with three outstanding performances and a grand, sweeping feel. Read more

Lisa Schwarzbaum, Entertainment Weekly: Bouchareb's intensely dramatized, passionately partisan story of militancy in the struggle for Algerian independence from France after World War II makes effective use of Godfather storytelling theatrics. Read more

Betsy Sharkey, Los Angeles Times: Read more

Rene Rodriguez, Miami Herald: Read more

Richard Brody, New Yorker: Brings significant historical events memorably to life, largely through the galvanizing force of a trio of committed and thoughtful performances. Read more

Lou Lumenick, New York Post: Extremely well-acted, suspenseful and produced on a lavish scale, "Outside the Law" may oversimplify the complex politics, but it's a worthy companion piece to "Army of Shadows." Read more

Carrie Rickey, Philadelphia Inquirer: A gripping French-Algerian coproduction that makes Algeria's epic struggle for independence from France look like a gangster movie. Read more

Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times: "Outside the Law" is at the very least a superior action film, in which the action sequences are plausible and grounded in reality. Read more

Walter V. Addiego, San Francisco Chronicle: The movie is impressively made but finally feels rote and, at 138 minutes, outstays its welcome. Read more

Colin Covert, Minneapolis Star Tribune: It's a ham-handed "issue" movie that preaches to the converted, but the mid-century threads look cool and those Coppola moments remain effective all these years later. Read more

Jennie Punter, Globe and Mail: Read more

Liam Lacey, Globe and Mail: A potentially inflammatory story about Muslim freedom-fighters/terrorists in France during the Algerian independence war gets the generic gangster-epic treatment. Read more

Peter Howell, Toronto Star: Think The Godfather II as told through France vs. Algeria tensions, and you have the essence of Rachid Bouchareb's vivid combo crime saga, action movie and historical drama. Read more

Dave Calhoun, Time Out: It's a big, bold film defined by a reserved passion, a stately style and strong performances from its three leads. Read more

Jay Weissberg, Variety: Read more

Nick Pinkerton, Village Voice: The production design is nice enough, but Bouchareb's four-country co-production isn't an epic-it's just long. Read more