"That's how you became unemployed."
#90 on Berken's Favorite Movies Of All Time

There's fewer greater feelings in the life of a cinephile than starting a new movie by a new director and immediately becoming aware that you are in the hands of a master.

Le Samourai opens to a quote that introduces our protagonist as the solitary king of his own jungle and a mise en scène that does the same twice over. In the startlingly accomplished first shot our protagonist occupies a tiny portion of the screen yet nevertheless dominates it, both with his gaze and the casual puffs of smoke that he releases into the air, as if it too were his own. The dank and lonely…

There is no solitude greater than that of the samurai unless it be that of a tiger in the jungle... perhaps...

There's a reason the word suave originates from the French language. This fantastic film noir, from its opening shot, swept me along accompanied by smooth jazzy music and told me the story of an incredibly intriguing protagonist.

Alain Delon is captivating. I watched him in a daze as he portrayed the steely eyed, methodical and outwardly emotionless killer. His look in this film has an iconic feel to it and, apart from being an important element in the first half of the film, really strengthens this film's fantastic style.

Melville is almost as methodical as his hero. He structures…

Film 45 of The December Project

Great ways to be very self-conscious without even leaving the house, #121: review this film on this site.

Le Samourai doesn't look so much like cool as a stealthy deconstruction of cool.
Jeff Costello walks not with the relaxed confidence of someone secure in his own power, but with nerviness – a controlled, athletic nerviness - a man who doesn't really want to be where he is, doesn't want to be seen (and not just by the witnesses to his hits).

The guy who hired him says he's a really good hitman; presumably he has been until recently, but we don't see it. His efficiency is crumbling as his subconscious rebels against his detached…

"Heaven knows I'm not Alain Delon". Thus goes the chorus of a song by a lesser known Norwegian pop band. Truer words were never spoken.

In the back of my mind I've always known that Le Samouraï would be right up my alley, but I've put it off for what seems like an eternity. Pushing play for the first time tonight made me sad and filled with joy at the same time. The opening is breathtaking in its minimalism. Melville's mise èn scene has Delon's Jef Costello lying in the bottom right corner of the picture, smoking. The camera stays still for what feels like an eternity, and I mean that in the most positive way imaginable. It sets the…

Le Samouraï is a very stylish movie, considered to be one of the best french crime films by many. Jef Costello is such a cool and disciplined character and something I found interesting is that you can identify several aspects of a samurai's principles and conducts in the main character's personality, such as loneliness and bravery. The ending scene is memorable and just reinforces that similarity. However, the main problem I had with the film is that it lacked suspense and intensity , being a bit tiresome at times. Also, Jef is supposed to be a perfectionist who always plans very carefully his hits so he doesn't get caught. He actually makes a lot of obvious mistakes here so I…

Part of the Around the World in 30 Days: A 30 Days, 30 Countries Challenge

Film #2: France

French cinema has a wealth of excellent films, and I had a particularly hard time choosing just one! I was so spoilt for choice with directors such as Truffaut, Louis Malle and Eric Rohmer to begin with. (European cinema on the whole is so prolific.) But I eventually decided on this one, because it's been on my watchlist for so long, and it's a favourite of Adam Cook's so I had to see what all the fuss was about!

Going in I had no idea what this film would be like - whether it was a minimalist, abstract film or a naturalist…

4th Movie, 4th Country (France) in the May 30 Days, 30 Countries (Berken) Challenge

Jeff Costello: Why say you did not recognize me?
Valérie: Why kill Marty?
Jeff Costello: I was to be paid.
Valérie: What had he done to you?
Jeff Costello: Not a thing. I didn't know him. I met him for the first and last time 24 hours ago.
[pause]
Valérie: What sort of man are you?

I decided to change my movie for France from Breathless to Le Samouraï after hearing all the hype about this movie on Letterboxd, so I had very high expectations for this movie. Within the first 5 minutes I already sensed that I was in for a treat. There was no…

"Heaven knows I'm not Alain Delon". Thus goes the chorus of a song by a lesser known Norwegian pop band. Truer words were never spoken.

In the back of my mind I've always known that Le Samouraï would be right up my alley, but I've put it off for what seems like an eternity. Pushing play for the first time tonight made me sad and filled with joy at the same time. The opening is breathtaking in its minimalism. Melville's mise èn scene has Delon's Jef Costello lying in the bottom right corner of the picture, smoking. The camera stays still for what feels like an eternity, and I mean that in the most positive way imaginable. It sets the…

"That's how you became unemployed."
#90 on Berken's Favorite Movies Of All Time

There's fewer greater feelings in the life of a cinephile than starting a new movie by a new director and immediately becoming aware that you are in the hands of a master.

Le Samourai opens to a quote that introduces our protagonist as the solitary king of his own jungle and a mise en scène that does the same twice over. In the startlingly accomplished first shot our protagonist occupies a tiny portion of the screen yet nevertheless dominates it, both with his gaze and the casual puffs of smoke that he releases into the air, as if it too were his own. The dank and lonely…