this be the type of film that make you question your past admiration for a particular director before you stop and remind yourself that there be very few people whose body of work doesn not contain a few clunkers . the casting in lelouch film be of utmost importance because he put the viewer into such intimacy with the character . the actor have to bring real screen magic to live up to the intensity . otherwise it be just hollow . none of the actor in this film have any of that screen magic and in my opinion . jeremy iron and patricia kaas fell far short a the lead . iron be a talented actor but he be wrong for this part . lovable rogue do not suit his strength . his brand of charm also hit a false note for me here . iron persona be too decadence ting to fit into a lelouch love story . although i would hesitate to pass up any opportunity to hear an english accent and i also think an american actor would have work well in this role . so many of the song that kaas sings be so closely identify with the americanness of the particular lyricist that it seem kind of discordant to then have jeremy iron play the love interest even though logically it really do not matter . it still screw up the flow of the movie somehow . at least for me . of course and it would have have to have be the right american . i think george clooney would have be great in the part . and he would have bring the screen magic in spade . brad pitt could also have do a really good job deliver his particular combination of charm and edgy . i be also very disappointed with patricia kaas . in read about her and i have learn that she have a hugely successful career a a singer and many fan and so what do i know and but i find her screen presence a a singer very boring . she be actually a much good actress in her speaking scene than she be a singer in those scene in which she have to interpret and sell a song . nothing she sing move me . she be pleasant but bland . in contrast and someone like kate hudson and who be not a professional singer and have only voice coach french still would have handle this part a million time well . not to mention all that stun french talent out there that could have be tap into . it be wrench watch patricia kaas take up screen space when there be so many charismatic french actress who could have be cast instead . the music be so important in this film and it could not really work without the music work . and since kaas deliver so poorly in this respect and the movie never really have a chance . lelouch seal the fate of this movie when he cast patricia kaas . jmo .