Angel-A

André, a con artist who cannot escape his debts, is preparing to jump from a bridge in Paris when the woman beside him jumps first. He pulls her out of the water. Angela is an angel sent to help him, and her job is to repair what he thinks of himself. Luc Besson directed, returning to the chair after a six-year break. Jamel Debbouze plays André and Rie Rasmussen plays Angela. Cinematographer Thierry Arbogast shot it in black and white, producing what critics called a storybook-noir atmosphere. It was filmed entirely in Paris over nine weeks in the summer of 2005, with locations including the Pont Alexandre III and several bridges over the Seine. The reception was mixed. Rotten Tomatoes sits at 47 percent, with critics praising the stunning, poetic cinematography and faulting the dialogue. It grossed around 10 million dollars worldwide, taking just over 200,000 in a limited US release. Who it is for: viewers who want Paris in black and white and like films built like fables. Who it is not for: anyone who cares about dialogue. That is precisely where it takes the most criticism.