MR BLAKE, AT YOUR SERVICE/ COMPLETEMENT CRAME

France, 2023, 99 minutes, Colour.

John Malkovich, Fanny Ardant, Emilie Dequenne, Philippe Bas, Eugenie Anselin.

Directed by Gilles Gardinier.

This is a surprisingly nice French film. The French title is somewhat obscure. The English title much more indicative. And in some areas, there was a new English-language title, Well Done!

And the question, of course, who is Mr Blake?

In fact, we find at the opening of the film, that he is one of Britain’s leading business entrepreneurs, about to be given a significant honour at a crowded banquet, but not turning up, not feeling up to the occasion, really wanting to retire and disappear. And, he has been grieving for his deceased wife. So far, so intriguing.

But, for many filmgoers over the decades, the actor playing Mr Blake will be something of a surprise. At the end of the 90s, there was an interesting fantasy film exploring identity, actors and their characters, Being John Malkovich (and the actor himself contributing to the issues by appearing in the film). Mr Blake is played by John Malkovich.

Looking back over the career of John Malkovich, light comic touch is not a quality that immediately comes to mind. He can be extremely enigmatic. (A recent example would be his character in the television series, Ripley, with Andrew Scott.), He has a distinctive voice. It can sound menacing. And he has often been a sinister villain.

And, while he still looks the same here, and sounds the same, he is challenged to be a very nice person – and, surprisingly, he succeeds very well.

The story is somewhat tongue in cheek. Mr Blake decides to retreat from the world, return to the French château where he first met his wife, hoping to settle there quietly. The château, visually magnificent interiors and lavish grounds, is managed by a widow, played by Fanny Ardant (who has also played some serious, sometimes sinister, roles in her past but who is really charming here). Mr Blake thinks that rooms are available and would like to stay. This turns out to be a great misapprehension!

The housekeeper, a Odile, very strong minded and determined, has placed an ad for a Butler and makes the assumption… Mr Blake is given a pokey room, given the time of trial to see whether he is suitable as a Butler – and his big advantage is that he is English and therefore the possibility of being a proper Butler personified.

So, the enjoyment of the film is seeing Mr Blake becoming the Butler and how he handles the expected routines. After a rifle being pulled on him, he befriends Magnier, one of the workers on the estate (who actually is very shy but is attracted to Odile). And, there is the maid who comes in regularly and is now pregnant, the father of the baby vanished. Mr Blake has to be something of a Fairy Godfather, so to speak, listening to all the characters, providing opportunities for them to develop and flourish, trying his best to help the owner of the château who is trying to manage the finances, being forced to sell the château.

And, at one stage, who should turn up but his close friend from England and his wife, enjoying ribbing Mr Blake about his new status and his serving drinks…

It is amazing how John Malkovich embodies Mr Blake, being kind, helping, some comic moments (the wig and lipstick so that Magnier might polish his table manners and learn how to speak to Odile), the robbing of a hoity-toity so-called friend of the owner of the ring, the complicated way to help the owner and her resistance.

And, nice romantic touches, the visit to the Cemetery, the sad truth about the owner’s marriage.

For audiences, probably older rather than younger, who would like a very pleasing film night out, Mr Blake is definitely at your service.

1. The title, French and English? The focus on Mr Blake?
2. The settings, London, the banquet, flat? Transition to France, the countryside, the château, interiors, the grounds? The musical score?
3. John Malkovich is casting as Mr Blake? Against type? His success?
4. The introduction to Mr Blake, the banquet, the crowd, announcements, the award? The phone call, his not wanting to go? Richard and his reaction?
5. Mr Blake, leaving London, going to France, arrival of the château, his expectations of a room, memories of his first meeting his wife, meeting Odile, the reaction, her ad for a butler, his shock, the pokey room? On trial? His agreeing to the situation? The perfect English butler?
6. Nathalie, her situation, the death of her husband, financial, the plan to rent rooms, renovations and expenses, the pressure to sell the château? Her personality, her response to Mr Blake, as butler, busy with her expenses, talking to the mannequin of her husband, the later revelation of the truth about his mistress, the is to in the grounds but no words? Her manner, towards Magnier, compassion towards Manon and the pregnancy, allowing her the room and the château? Working with the Odile, housekeeper, maid? Not wanting Mr Blake to interfere, underestimating him?
7. Mr Blake adjusting to the situation, the dress, the routines of the butler, service, trays? A Odile and her demands? The mobile phone, Magnier and his rifle, they’re talking, friendship? His attraction to a Odile, the loner, awkward? Helping with the video of the gate? Other jobs? Mr Blake and the wig and lipstick, the rehearsal for good manners, talking to women, the effect on Magnier, Mr Blake softening Odile, her response? Manon, the pregnancy, the father going off, sleeping out, her mother rejecting her, Mr Blake getting the room, Nathalie and her permission? The household? Mr Blake having to be a kind of Fairy Godfather?
8. The obnoxious visitor, the chat, disdain towards the butler, Nathalie selling her ring, the decision for the robbery, masked, frightening the woman, giving it up, the restoration?
9. The visit of Richard and his wife, the pretence, enjoying having Mr Blake serving drinks as the butler? The later return, the negotiations for the finance?
10. Mr Blake ending the tenure, staying on, the personal relationships, the relationship with Nathalie?

The revelation of who he was? Support – an