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• Director: Louis Malle
• Genre: Thriller/Crime/Drama/Foreign
• Year: 1958

A look at the date will tell you that yes, this is an old school film and that it is black and white. One look at the Genre will tell you that it is not a movie in English. I am sure by now 90% of the people have lost their interest in this, so…allow me to address the remaining 10% that may still be interested. This movie is good, in the old school sense.

One thing that has changed over time is the way we as an audience perceive information. MTV style editing has drastically shortened our attention span. I suppose this can be both good and bad. Good in the sense that much more data can be consumed more rapidly and readily…but bad in the sense that rarely do we pause to take a look at the beauty in slower films, like Terrence Malick’s films or Wong Kar Wai’s…or this one, which is actually not really a slow film, just slower than contemporary thrillers.

In fact, this movie loses very little time getting into the meat of the story, with a murder taking place during the opening scenes, an act that is so cleverly planned, it is flawless, except for one little oversight in the part of the assassin, Mr. Tavernier (a former soldier), who has killed his boss in order to hook up with his boss’ wife. One little mistake, which when he goes to back to correct, ends up multiplied in severity when Travernier finds himself stuck in an elevator when the power is cut by the guard.

At the same time, we are introduced to a young couple of reckless kids who steal Travernier’s car and assume his identity, complicating matters for a man who already has enough to deal with and for his love, who is going to and fro trying to locate her lover whom she fears has ran off with another man.

Long takes are abundant but not wasteful, serving to settle the mood of the movie that bounces between a thriller and a slightly dark humor. Interesting characters are peppered throughout, though the movie does not entirely avoid clichés, which is unfortunate and as can be expected, sound editing is not flawless either, which draws attention to a few spots in the movie which were entirely unnecessary. Nevertheless, this movie is conciced, flows well and keeps you engaged throughout. And you can not go wrong with a soundtrack that features the one and only Miles Davis.

Rating: 4 out of 5
Notes: Pretty clean movie, some very brief nudity, not much language. French with English subtitles. And is it me or does Jeanne Moureau bear a striking resemblance to Helena Bonham Carter?
Quote: Julien Tavernier: How many billions did the Indochina War bring you? And now Algeria, how much?