The Conquest
Music Box Films | Release Date: November 11, 2011 CRITIC SCORE DISTRIBUTION
62
METASCORE
Generally favorable reviews based on 14 Critic Reviews
Positive:
6
Mixed:
8
Negative:
0
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Critic Reviews

Critic scorePublicationBy date
80
Los Angeles TimesKenneth TuranNov 10, 2011
A smart, involving and strikingly adult drama about Sarkozy's rise to power. Read full review
75
Chicago Sun-TimesRoger EbertJan 4, 2012
The result at times approaches screwball comedy. But no, this isn't deliberate comedy. It's essentially realistic. It's simply that the real lives of these figures are funny. Read full review
75
Christian Science MonitorPeter RainerNov 12, 2011
Still, I prefer a bit more drama in my political docudramas. The Conquest never really breaks out of its genre in the way that, say, "The Queen" or "Il Divo" or the more fictionalized "In the Loop" did. Read full review
75
The A.V. ClubNoel MurrayNov 9, 2011
The Conquest offers that familiar thrill of being allowed to peek behind the curtain and see what our leaders are really like, and while it's more rote than revelatory, that may be because the American way of wielding power - and telling stories about it - has gone global. Read full review
70
Village VoiceMelissa AndersonNov 8, 2011
Aided by an excellent ensemble cast, director Xavier Durringer and his co-scripter, Patrick Rotman, don't refrain from showing this truly repellent side of Sarko during his rise from minister of justice in 2002 to the highest elected office. Read full review
63
Slant MagazineAndrew SchenkerNov 5, 2011
Even as it takes pleasure in imagining the wheeling and dealing that politicos make when no one is looking, it never offers as much insight into the process by which a president is made as its premise would seem to promise. Read full review
60
Chicago ReaderJ.R. JonesJan 5, 2012
This French biopic of Nicolas Sarkozy plays like a competent TV miniseries, moving briskly and focusing on the hustle and bustle of electoral politics as the protagonist climbs toward the presidency. Read full review
60
Time OutDavid FearNov 8, 2011
A drama about the dirty business of gaining power, it needs bared fangs - and more bite. Read full review
60
The Hollywood ReporterJordan MintzerNov 7, 2011
An amusing yet lightweight political farce. Read full review
60
VarietyBoyd van HoeijNov 7, 2011
Picture takes genre helmer Xavier Durringer ("Chok-Dee") back to his theater roots, with most of the narrative mayhem and laughs coming from the picture's sharp dialogue and strong work by seasoned thesps, who just manage to avoid caricature. Read full review
50
San Francisco ChronicleAmy BiancolliJan 5, 2012
The film is a vehement drama and a fitfully amusing snark fest set to Nicola Piovani's jaunty circus music. It winds up only half-succeeding at both. Read full review
50
Washington PostJohn DeForeNov 17, 2011
Where the film might have found its greater meaning is in the interplay between Sarkozy's public and private lives - an especially fertile ground here, given that wife Cecilia (Florence Pernel) was a key adviser and their very public separation threatened his eventual run for president. Read full review
50
New York PostV.A. MusettoNov 11, 2011
The film opens with a disclaimer: "Although based on real events and people, this is a work of fiction." There should be another warning: Unless you're up to date on French politics, a lot of Googling is needed to follow the players. Read full review
50
The New York TimesStephen HoldenNov 10, 2011
The movie, which begins with Mr. Sarkozy's election-night victory in May 2007, only intermittently rises above the tone of an arch, sniping drawing-room comedy peopled with mild caricatures. Read full review
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