Review of Two Men in Town (1973) by Steve E — 31 Jul 2009

SPOILERS! Superb French film, with two of the best actors the cinema has given us. Very popular and respected in France, but also known internationally, solid story, and very engaging. The last 15 mins are very tense, and the ending very sad. This is clearly not a feel good Hollywood film, it's more along the brutal realism of the inherent injustices of the justice system.

A man who is pursued by his criminal past, who upon his release from prison after a 10 year incarceration, finds himself a good job, works hard, and stays clean, rejects propositions of old-time criminal buddies. But an obsessed and arrogant cop follows him everywhere, harasses him, and disturbs his life in every possible way, until the former inmate just cracks under the extreme treatment he is subjected to from the arrogant and persecuting cop. Fate will bring nothing but tragedy for this man, who gives his best shot at coming clean, but destiny deals him real bad cards.