Review of Le Doulos (1962) by Christopher S — 07 May 2009

After knowing director Jean-Pierre Melville's reputation as a master of crime films, I've been mostly disappointed upon actually seeing them. This one is no different - as cool and stylish as it is, it lacks an overall energy, maybe because it places cool style over the urgency of the story.

That said, this is one of Melville's better films, with strong characters and a clever story, even if it does get off to a slow start and the languid pacing is trying at times. Not the classic it's been made out to be, but a solid crime drama fans of the genre will appreciate.