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| Rififi (1955) | |
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| Tweet Topic Started: Jan 4 2008, 11:12 AM (319 Views) | |
| Laughing Gravy | Jan 4 2008, 11:12 AM Post #1 |
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Four gangsters plan and pull off the perfect robbery, stealing 240 million francs worth of diamonds. Unfortunately, their post-robbery planning doesn't go off nearly as well. What a great movie. Director Jules Dassin had been out of work and living in Paris for four years, where he'd escaped after being blacklisted in the Communist HUAC hunts. Broke, depressed, and miserable, he agreed to direct this film despite his misgivings (it was based, supposedly, on the "worst noir novel ever written"). He created his greatest film, two hours of suspense, violence, eye for detail, and gorgeous snapshots of Paris streets. He created the caper film. The heart of the movie is the heist itself, more than 30 minutes of no dialog, no music, just four guys going about their business as professionally as you can. The scene is packed with surprises, and unforgettable, as is Jean Servais, who plays Tony, the weary, tubucular leader of the gang. He'll make you tired just looking at him. The entire cast is good, and Dassin himself has a key role as the safecracker Cesar, who eventually makes the slip that leads to the crew's downfall. There are some musical interludes that are marvelous, and a few very sexy scenes, and the film obviously inspired a lot of films over the decades, and... well, I loved it. This is one of the ages, and the Criterion disc is excellent. Highest recommendation. P.S. Although I didn't care for Night and the City, I loved Brute Force and Naked City and it's obvious I need to check out Dassin's Thieves Highway. |
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| The Batman | Jan 4 2008, 05:50 PM Post #2 |
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Thanks for the review, LG. As a fan of noir and Criterion, I will definitely be picking this one up. |
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| panzer the great & terrible | Jan 7 2008, 09:50 AM Post #3 |
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Mouth Breather
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There were lots of caper films before Rififi. The Asphalt Jungle and Criss Cross, for two. |
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| Laughing Gravy | Jan 7 2008, 10:24 AM Post #4 |
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Yes, and I've seen both of them. But caper films pre-Rififi and post-Rififi are two different animals. Would there be an Oceans 11 without Rififi? I thinketh not.l |
| "I'm glad that this question came up, because there are so many ways to answer it that one of them is bound to be right." - Robert Benchley | |
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| JazzGuyy | Jan 8 2008, 01:56 PM Post #5 |
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Balcony Gang, Foist Class
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This movie is about as good as a caper film gets. It was shot with a practically zero budget with several actors who were even unknown to the French. The only objection I have to the Criterion version is that the subtitles tone down some of the French terms the gangsters hurl at each other, particularly after things fall apart. In these times, there is no real reason to tone down the language in translation. The English equivalents could have been used. These guys' language can match the Sopranos' gangsters any day. That essentially silent section (there are a few sound effects) during the actual robbery are brilliant. Supposedly, Dassin took quite large liberties with the novel. |
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