'Racer And The Jailbird' Trailer Accelerates Passion

We don’t always have the same opinions here at The Playlist, and “Racer And The Jailbird” is one such case. Where Jessica was able to roll with the film’s “drunken romanticism,” when I caught the movie at TIFF I thought it was just plain drunk. The overly long, two-hour-plus film lurches from one unbelievable plot twist to the next, in a crime picture/love story that never knows when to slow down. All that said, the commitment of the leads holds it together.

Indeed, it’s hard to take your eyes off Matthias Schoenaerts and Adèle Exarchopoulos, who dive into their roles of a bank robber and race car driver, respectively, who fall in love and see their passion for each other tested when the world around them starts to unravel. Co-written and directed by Michaël R. Roskam (“Bullhead,” “The Drop“), ‘Racer’ certainly goes for broke, but mileage will definitely vary. Here’s the synopsis from TIFF:

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Gigi Vanoirbeek (Schoenaerts) belongs to a notorious Brussels gang responsible for a string of expertly executed, high-net-worth robberies. Under the cover of his luxury automobile import-export business he meets Bibi Delhany (Adèle Exarchopoulos), a gorgeous and glamorous race-car driver with roots more respectable than his own. Despite their wildly different backgrounds, this unlikely pair falls for each other, fast and hard. Gigi manages to shield Bibi from his illicit activities and begins to wonder what another life might look like. But already deep into the planning of his next heist with his all-too-eager associates, and with law enforcement hot on their heels, will it be too late?

“Racer And The Jailbird” will be released in the U.S. by Neon, but no date has been set. For now, check out the latest international trailer.