District B13

Nabokov's observation that nothing's as exhilarating as philistine vulgarity applies very nicely to Pierre Morel's District B13: a high-octane junk film that is literally light on its feet and exuberantly silly. Thanks to charismatic acting, in-your-face direction, and chase-and-fight choreography that depends less on special effects trickery than breathtaking real-life stunts, this chop-socky buddy picture, which pits an odd-couple match-up of cop and convict against a bunch of scummy lowlifes in a confined environment (one of the oldest setups in the world), is surprisingly effective. The giddy quality here stems from the low-key but electric personality of David Belle, who actually invented the “sport” known as parkour (“free running”), in which players leap over, around, and across any obstacles presented by the urban landscape. Belle plays Leito, a straight-arrow resident of the titular district in 2010 Paris—an area so crime-ridden that it's walled off from the rest of the city—unjustly jailed after tangling with a drug lord who has kidnapped his sister. When an undercover cop (Cyril Raffaelli) is assigned to recover a prototype neutron bomb that's been stolen by the mob boss, he secures Leito's help in navigating the dangerous suburb to defuse the device and rescue the sister. Lots of fights, twists, and chases follow, presented with hyperactive cinematography and whiplash editing. Granted, District B13 has dull spots when it actually tries to add a touch of humanity to the characters, but overall it's enjoyable, adrenaline-pumping nonsense. Recommended. [Note: DVD extras include a 55-minute “making-of” documentary, an extended fight scene (3 min.), three minutes of outtakes, and trailers. Bottom line: a solid extras package for a fun film.] (F. Swietek)