Ceci n'est pas un prophete

I have a friend who refuses to watch foreign films. It kills me. Every time I try to suggest a non-English film, he goes into a long-winded diatribe about not being able to concentrate because he's too busy reading. I suppose it's not for everyone, but I can't seem to imagine my world without films like A Bittersweet Life or Gomorrah in it. In fact, if I were to make a list of my top ten, I'd be willing to bet the majority would come from beyond our borders. Well, time to add another film to that list. Un Prophete has got me searching Craigslist for a used Rosetta Stone box on French.

I rolled my eyes when I read the DVD box boasts of comparisons to the Godfather (1-2 only, I had hoped -- part 3 doesn't even exist as far as I'm concerned), but was willing to take a chance. Cannes and The Academy can't be all wrong... usually. Like most great things in life, it started out slow and ended with me begging for more. As cool and tough as it is engaging and beautiful, this film comfortably settles toward the middle of my ten. "If you have the means, I highly recommend picking one up." Trailer after the jump.