A man walks down a store aisle and fixates on the display of Manix condoms, looking at them longingly as if imagining what life would be like if he bought a pack. Indeed he lets his imagination run wild as we see a succession of scantily clad women in bed, and then one couple after another making out–some in the privacy of bedrooms, others in very public places.
All the action unfolds to the beat of the famed French can-can song. However there’s a price to pay for so much pleasure as we see directly related news coverage develop in various countries. One newspaper headline (translated into English) reads, “Manix condoms are being snatched up by the entire world.” We later see clips from TV newcasts throughout the world, with anchors reporting that no one is having sex without Manix condoms, another that the birth rate is taking a nosedive, followed by the report that there hasn’t been a single birth since the beginning of the year and that humanity is “headed for disaster.”
A bound bundle of foreign newspapers dropped off on the street for a newstand reveals a story headline about the fact that the 10 last remaining schools are about to close. Indeed scientists have deemed the situation hopeless as we then see more people humping seemingly everywhere. The climax: We see an aerial view of the world as it explodes into pieces.
Then we’re taken back to where we started–to the store with the guy checking out the Manix display. A parting message appears on screen: “Manix. More pleasure. More problems.”
Titled “Trop de Plaisir” (“Too Much Pleasure”), the spot was directed by Wilfrid Brimo via Paris-based Wanda Productions for CLM BBDO, Paris. (Brimo is repped in the U.S. by bicoastal Crossroads Films.)
The agency team consisted of creative directors Gilles Fichteberg and Jean-Francois Sacco, copywriter Alexis Benoit, art director Aurelie Marcellak and producer Valentine Bounaud.
Claude Fayolle and Jean Luc Bergeron produced for Wanda. The DP was Yves Kohen. Editor was Linda Attab of Wanda.
Review: Director Jon M. Chu’s “Wicked”
It's the ultimate celebrity redemption tour, two decades in the making. In the annals of pop culture, few characters have undergone an image makeover quite like the Wicked Witch of the West.
Oh, she may have been vengeful and scary in "The Wizard of Oz." But something changed — like, REALLY changed — on the way from the yellow brick road to the Great White Way. Since 2003, crowds have packed nightly into "Wicked" at Broadway's Gershwin Theatre to cheer as the green-skinned, misunderstood Elphaba rises up on her broomstick to belt "Defying Gravity," that enduring girl-power anthem.
How many people have seen "Wicked"? Rudimentary math suggests more than 15 million on Broadway alone. And now we have "Wicked" the movie, director Jon M. Chu's lavish, faithful, impeccably crafted (and nearly three-hour) ode to this origin story of Elphaba and her (eventual) bestie — Glinda, the very good and very blonde. Welcome to Hollywood, ladies.
Before we get to what this movie does well (Those big numbers! Those costumes!), just a couple thornier issues to ponder. Will this "Wicked," powered by a soulful Cynthia Erivo (owner of one of the best singing voices on the planet) and a sprightly, comedic, hair-tossing Ariana Grande, turn even musical theater haters into lovers?
Tricky question. Some people just don't buy into the musical thing, and they should be allowed to live freely amongst us. But if people breaking into song delights rather than flummoxes you, if elaborate dance numbers in village squares and fantastical nightclubs and emerald-hued cities make perfect sense to you, and especially if you already love "Wicked," well then, you will likely love this film. If it feels like they made the best "Wicked" movie money could buy — well, it's... Read More