An Utter Classic
Starring an ugly fat guy and an alleged child rapist no longer allowed into the USA, this stunning movie about self-seeking and introspection is worth ANY price. One has to wonder why the USA only produces god-awful excrement like "Legally Blond" and appalling and unnecessary sequels to already excrement-like movies. Depardieu and Polanski are just "heavenly" in this wonder of a film, the likes of which are impossible from the minds of American filmmakers.

Excellent movie with a delicious twist
This is an excellent thriller with outstanding performances from both Polanski and Depardieu. The song at the end still comes to my mind from time to time, which is why I got reminded to review this film. For some people it will appear slow and the viewer will for quite some time be wondering what is really going on. Actually only at the very end will this become clear and sometimes only upon reflection a la "Aha!"

Highly recommended and a timely reminder of our short sojourn here on planet earth. Choose to watch it in French with subtitles. It was the best movie that I watched that year!

one of my favorites
The whole movie is not what it seems to be, and neither are the characters in it. The director is a magician, very subtle but nonetheless only able to convey his meaning to those already somewhat close to his wavelength. That the diamonds remain inaccessible to a lot of people, does not discredit his work.

Too bad its hard to get money to make more movies that aren't targeted at the well known lowest common denominators of film making.

An Excelent foreign film
If you have the patients for sub-titles, you will love it. Very unpredictable, you'll never guess the end. And even after you know the end, the film still has "rewatchability."

Not as novel a subject as it seems to be
This film touches upon a topic that is better depicted in "Lulu on the bridge" with Mira Sorvino and Harvey Keitel. I say better because the anguish of the central character in that film is juxtoposed more effectively against the desire for life and love.

In Pure Formality one cares very little about the main character's misery (unless you happen to be a frustrated writer by profession) and the absence of a main female character makes the film that much less interesting and captivating.

However, both Depardieu and Polianski are superb in their performances.