Review of Le Samouraï (1967) by Anna L — 23 Oct 2010

Everything in, and about this film comes back to one man, Jeff Costello. From the moment we first see him adjusting his coat and straightening his hat in the mirror, he gives of an unmistakable aura of mystery and danger.

This impression is confirmed within the next few minutes. He effortlessly steals a car without being noticed. In a nearby garage, the license plate is replaced, a gun is received, and a fistful of bills changes hands without a word from either party. At the club, he walks confidently past the bar and dance floor, and into the manager's office. When asked who he is, he replies simply "It doesn't matter. As to his business, he is equally direct. "I'm here to kill you." And then he does, with a single shot to the head, before escaping into the night.

This man is more than dangerous. He is fearless, ruthless, utterly professional, and one of the very best at what he does. He also lives by a personal code of honor. Killing is obviously not a problem, but he doesn't kill indiscriminately. There's no collateral damage the club, and later he spares a man he has good reason to kill. And more importantly, if he's agreed to kill someone, he'll see it through to the end. For him, nothing is more important than the contract.

But even Jeff Costello is not untouchable. From the moment he kills the club leader, the police have reason to suspect him. He avoids charges thanks to an alibi prepared with his girlfriend Valerie, plus a witness who lies for reasons of her own, but detectives continue to follow his every step. Worse, his panicked employer decides he's become a liability, and that he must be killed. Costello must now kill his former backer- whose identity he doesn't know- while staying one step ahead of police surveillance.

As hinted at earlier, one of this film's great strengths is its ability to tell so much about Costello with so little dialogue. His actions speak volumes, and when he speaks, there is not a single unnecessary word. A short exchange with the piano player from the club sums up the nature of his day to day existence.

"Why did you kill Marty?".

"I was told I'd be paid.".

"What did he ever do to you?".

"Nothing at all. I didn't even know him.".

"What kind of man are you?".

What kind of man is he? That is the question. For all that we know about Costello, there is still so much we don't know. Where does he come from? What led him to become a hit man? Payment is of great importance to him, but is that his only motivation? Or does he live for the thrill and challenge of the carrying out a hit? And what of his relation to Valerie? Are they really lovers, or is she just a handy alibi?

And the ending, with its unexpected revelations, brings only more questions. But in the end, what we don't know about Jeff Costello is as important as what we do. He remains a man of mystery; a man with no past; a hardnosed killer, yet somehow noble. It is these unknowns which make him loom larger in the viewers mind, and which make Le Samourai a truly great film. Four Stars.