Netflix has a lot to be blamed for. Binge watching in particular. It may be OK to sit down and watch a web series with its brief episodes in one sitting, and (almost) socially acceptable to view some 30 minute episodes of a sit-com without a break. However when you stumble over a TV series that is filmed in 1 hour programs, and you watch all six episodes in one go, then that could be considered morally reprehensible. In this case it gets worse as Call My Agent has already recorded three seasons of their addictive program, which once you start, is nigh on impossible to tear yourself away.
This new object of our affection Is a French TV series that is set in a boutique movie star Agency. Think ‘Entourage‘ but without the manic sarcasm and the over-the-top outrageous antics of Jeremy Piven. ASK Agency have four main agents who each have a roster of about 80 actors each and who are driven to do their best for their clients to keep them happy and in work that they will enjoy and can earn them their 10%.
The regular talented cast is supplemented each episode with at least one very famous French actor playing themselves in a fictional situation which often takes aim at some of the-behind the-scenes slight absurd dramas that we never usually hear about . In the first episode two-time César Award winner Cécile de France wants to be cast in a Tarantino film, but she is turned down because he says a 40 (!) she is too old. Her agent rails “what’s the part? a child?”
This is France and not Hollywood and whilst she is tempted to get some work done on her face for a brief moment, we know she will never do that like one of her American peers who would happily agree. There is another rather wonderful episode with Oscar winner Juliette Binoche playing herself as the MC at the Opening Ceremony at Cannes when she has her only Harvey Weinstein moment (and this was filmed before his troubles went public).
Besides the star studded guest list each week (it includes Nathalie Baye & her daughter Laura Smet, Monica Bellucci, Isabelle Huppert, Jean Dujardin, Isabelle Adjani, Beatrice Dalle, Christopher Lambert, Fabrice Luchini the regular extremely talented cast have an extraordinary chemistry between them that makes the whole thing so compelling.
It’s gentle soap-opera dramas have more than their share of humorous moments but unlike Entourage, Call MY Agent, does not profess to be a comedy. It is all about relationships. Making them, breaking them and trying to mend them. All the Agents excel at this when its comes to their actors, but seem not to be able to repeat this success with their own lives most of the time.
Interesting enough it is Andrea (Camille Cottin) the lesbian Agent who seems to have more sex than the rest of them put together which makes for a refreshing change.
Its a real gem of a series with well-rounded characters that are extremely relatable too, and quickly have you invested in their personal and professional futures. It’s quintessential ‘Frenchness’ not only elevates it from the norm but makes the whole European world of acting so much more attractive and real than Hollywood
View Series 1 – 3 HERE
