Talking to a fellow IMDber about the Robert Hossein Film Noir Night Is Not For Sleep (1958-also reviewed),I got given a list of French Film Noir (FFN) recs.Cutting away the FFN's I've seen,I spotted a Fabulous-looking Film Noir that Criterion has put out,which led to me deciding to risk it.
View on the film:
Running out of the tracks,the opening 30 minutes of co-writer/(along with José Giovanni & Pascal Jardin) director Claude Sautet's adaptation of fellow director (and ex-gangster!) Giovanni's book moves at a lightning fast speed,shooting up Film Noir loners, fiery shoot- outs,and the killing of major characters.
Coming along with Stark in the ambulance,the writers display a superb eye for when to press the Film Noir gear down on Davos,which gives his touching, bitter-sweet relationship with his kids room to blossom, as the Film Noir crimes Davos committed start to circle round and close in.
Going into hiding with Davos,director Claude Sautet & cinematographer Ghislain Cloquet bask in an anxiety-drenched Film Noir mood,where the raw sounds of speeding cars and gun fire keep Davos permanently on edge. Folding other gangsters into Davos tragic family drama,Sautet and Cloquet keep Davos undercover with a Film Noir elegance,with long shadows curling round each of Davos and Stark's hide-outs, until they all choke on Film Noir doom.
Fighting at the side of the road,the gorgeous Sandra Milo gives a superb performance as Liliane.Dressed as a hard-edge Punk Rocker,Milo gives Liliane a warm,heart-felt mood,as Liliane gradually finds herself being on Stark's side.Entering as an outsider, Jean-Paul Belmondo gives an excellent performance as Stark,thanks to Belmondo threading Stark with an out of his depth eagerness,with rough Film Noir street fighting smarts.
Trying to keep his sons away from seeing his work, Lino Ventura gives a magnificent performance as Abel Davos. Displaying a touching tenderness to the kids,Ventura crushes any aww-shucks sides from Davos with a cold- eyed Film Noir intensity,as Davos and the kids are rushed by Stark to Film Noir A & E.
View on the film:
Running out of the tracks,the opening 30 minutes of co-writer/(along with José Giovanni & Pascal Jardin) director Claude Sautet's adaptation of fellow director (and ex-gangster!) Giovanni's book moves at a lightning fast speed,shooting up Film Noir loners, fiery shoot- outs,and the killing of major characters.
Coming along with Stark in the ambulance,the writers display a superb eye for when to press the Film Noir gear down on Davos,which gives his touching, bitter-sweet relationship with his kids room to blossom, as the Film Noir crimes Davos committed start to circle round and close in.
Going into hiding with Davos,director Claude Sautet & cinematographer Ghislain Cloquet bask in an anxiety-drenched Film Noir mood,where the raw sounds of speeding cars and gun fire keep Davos permanently on edge. Folding other gangsters into Davos tragic family drama,Sautet and Cloquet keep Davos undercover with a Film Noir elegance,with long shadows curling round each of Davos and Stark's hide-outs, until they all choke on Film Noir doom.
Fighting at the side of the road,the gorgeous Sandra Milo gives a superb performance as Liliane.Dressed as a hard-edge Punk Rocker,Milo gives Liliane a warm,heart-felt mood,as Liliane gradually finds herself being on Stark's side.Entering as an outsider, Jean-Paul Belmondo gives an excellent performance as Stark,thanks to Belmondo threading Stark with an out of his depth eagerness,with rough Film Noir street fighting smarts.
Trying to keep his sons away from seeing his work, Lino Ventura gives a magnificent performance as Abel Davos. Displaying a touching tenderness to the kids,Ventura crushes any aww-shucks sides from Davos with a cold- eyed Film Noir intensity,as Davos and the kids are rushed by Stark to Film Noir A & E.