Some movie critics are calling this the best movie of 2007. Some critics need to be thinned from the herd. In case you haven't heard of this flick it's because it's French. French movies are hardly ever advertised here in the states. The snobs who go to these little art films like that. It means they can brag about loooooving some boring piece of foreign crap their friends haven't seen.

After reading this review you will probably recommend it to your enemies. Or maybe schedule an appointment with your proctologist before even thinking of plunking down 10 bucks or 10 Euros to see this mess at your local googleplex/screaming-baby-emporium. Could it be that bad? Let's just say I think this is not really a movie. This is an elaborate practical joke the French are playing on us Yanks. The entire movie is about a man who is paralyzed in the prime of his life. Instead of action, you the viewer get to live inside the head of this man. Sound like fun? Since this is a French movie the man is skeptical, sardonic and somewhat of an intellectual. He doesn't believe in God. Frankly it doesn't seem like God believes in him either. What kind of deity would trap a person in their own body?

The fabulously socialized health care system of France does manage to prolong his life however. Michael Moore take note! Another thing the French are known for is being one of the very first nations to produce movies over one hundred years ago. In all that time you would think the frogs would have figured out that motion pictures are supposed to actually move. They are not supposed to remain fixed on a motionless man in a wheelchair.

Despite the boredom of the audience watching this series of non-events the doctors and nurses in the movie are fascinated with their patient. This is because he suffers from an extremely rare malady of the brain stem. He can think and dream and see clearly. Below the stem of his brain his body is useless. Much like this film.

"Diving Bell" is intended to be Oscar bait from the land of escargot-paced movies. The sick thing is that this moribund gloom festival has a chance of winning since the average age of Academy voters is dead.

--Dan_in_Cincinnati