![This summer we've seen action films that take place within comic books (Scott Pilgrim vs. The World) and dreams within dreams (Inception). But what about some real-life Inglorious Basterds (taking part in true events, no less)? In what the New York Times calls "a passionate act of remembrance," director Robert Guédiguian has made a heavily-populated film that recounts the lives of the ragtag band of 23 youngsters and immigrantsâ"salon communists"âwho saved France not only from the Nazis, but from internal oppression as well. The Army of Crime has been criticized for its scatterbrained web-of-life plot, but overall critics seem engrossed, even charmed. Writes Michelle Orange at the Village Voice: "Virginie Ledoyen stars as [political chief Missak Manouchian]'s impossibly lovely, stalwart wife, and a troupe of supporting players give life to the men and women who died not for the miserable France of that moment, but for the vision of what it could be."](https://api-prod.gothamist.com/images/276469/fill-700x467|format-webp|webpquality-70/)
Click on the film stills for more details on reviews of this week's new releases and repertory screenings, which include The Army of Crime, The Switch, Lottery Ticket, Mao's Last Dancer, Nanny McPhee, Piranha 3D, Soul Kitchen, Hiding Divya, The Tillman Story, Blue Velvet and an Eric Rohmer retrospective.
Published Aug 20, 2010
Modified Aug 20, 2010
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