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Alain Delon,
Natalie Delon,
Cathy Rosier,
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Jean-Pierre Melville
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: Criterion
: Foreign, France, Gangsters, Neo Noir, Criterion Collection
: 95 min.
: French
: English
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Long considered a classic of European film noir, this existential gangster drama from French director Jean-Pierre Melville was released in the United States only in a severely truncated, re-edited, and overdubbed version entitled The Godson. Thirty years after its initial public airing, Le Samourai (1967) finally saw a limited American release in its intended form. Alain Delon stars as Jef Costello, a professional Parisian assassin-for-hire who, by nature of his work's solitary demands, has no friends. Although he is loved by Jane Lagrange (Natalie Delon, the star's real-life wife), Costello knows that Jane already has a lover. After he successfully wipes out a nightclub owner at the behest of his boss, Costello discovers that he was seen by the club's pianist, Valerie (Cathy Rosier). Although he survives a police lineup thanks to a lie offered up by the fearless Valerie, Costello's alibi disintegrates rapidly and his shadowy employer takes out a contract on him. As he seeks revenge on his betrayer, Costello must also stay one step ahead of a wily, determined superintendent (Francois Perier). Melville's film influenced several other filmmakers and projects, most notably director John Woo's The Killer (1989). ~ Karl Williams, All Movie Guide
Features:
- New video interviews with Jean-Pierre Melville historians Rui Nogueira and Ginette Vincendeau
- Collection of excerpts from archival interviews with Melville and actors Alain Delon, Cathy Rosier, Nathalie Delon, and François Périer
- Theatrical trailer
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| Noir Masterpiece
by Bean
October 31, 2005 - 12:03 PM PST
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5 out of 7 members found this review helpful
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| The impeccably simple, sparse scenes and dialogue are deceiving. "Le Samourai" is a masterfully controlled film-- it twists and turns, each frame a gorgeous rendering of emptiness, yet bit by bit they form layers of complexity and food for thought. The driving force here is Jef Costello (played by Delon), a stone-faced assassin. During the first 15 minutes, Costello seems a bit of an amateur, revealing nothing as far as personality, but drawing attention to himself amidst a city of darkness with his smoldering, intense good looks, wearing a beaming look-at-me trenchcoat. There's a witness to his crime. An obvious mishap to what could have been a clean kill. Or has he allowed himself to be seen? You soon realize that this is no amateur, that he is subtly and inexplicably aware of minute details, and uses this ability to elude everyone. He is a thing of beauty that cannot be captured. He's deliberate, polished, and otherworldly, making all others seem oblivious, chatty, even sloppy in comparison. In stripping away the layers of eye candy excess, Director Melville elevates the outcast, and reveals a deeper mystery in the space of silences and what is seen/not seen. This film is a showcase for anyone who loves deconstructing cinema, and refreshing to watch today, amidst so many movies that overstimulate yet say nothing. |
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GreenCine Member Rating
(Average 7.59)
115 Votes
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