Le Samourai - The Criterion DVD

[WillMagic]

"No answer?"

"I never talk to a man holding a gun."

"Is that a principle?"

"A habit."

John Woo called it "the closest thing to a perfect movie that (he) had ever seen."

I can't think of a better way to describe this film. There isn't a wasted shot nor an extraneous line of dialogue. This film was executed as flawlessly as any film I have ever seen, and probes deeply into the philosophy of solitude. Not only that, it's just flat out fun to watch.

I'll refrain from going into a full on review, as Berardinelli and Ebert have already done a better job than I could hope to.

But why post? Well, this film was finally released on Criterion DVD on Tuesday, and I just received and watched the DVD today. Great transfer, and it includes some fascinating interviews of Jean-Pierre Melville about not only Le Samourai but the nature and technique of filmmaking in general.

So...see it.

Will

[diebitter]

Cool movie. I want to see it again, right now!

Bizarrely, I just wrote a review of Kiss Me Deadly - a major influence on this film, I believe - and was just about to post it. I'll hold off for much later on though. Each film deserves its discussion time without overlap. This one certainly does.

[jakethebake]

Sounds good. Is this thing subtitled? Dubbed?

[WillMagic]

[ QUOTE ]
Sounds good. Is this thing subtitled? Dubbed?

[/ QUOTE ]

Subtitles. Dubbing is for bad movies.

Will

[jakethebake]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Sounds good. Is this thing subtitled? Dubbed?

[/ QUOTE ]

Subtitles. Dubbing is for bad movies.

Will

[/ QUOTE ]

I know. I'm a moron because I don't like subtitled movies. The thing is, I feel like I'm missing too much of a great movie because I'm busy trying to read the subtitles instead of watching. I may as well just read the script.

[WillMagic]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Sounds good. Is this thing subtitled? Dubbed?

[/ QUOTE ]

Subtitles. Dubbing is for bad movies.

Will

[/ QUOTE ]

I know. I'm a moron because I don't like subtitled movies. The thing is, I feel like I'm missing too much of a great movie because I'm busy trying to read the subtitles instead of watching. I may as well just read the script.

[/ QUOTE ]

Like anything else you just need to get used to it. I find it a lot more distracting when the dialogue and the actor's mouths aren't in sync. Watch more foreign films and you won't notice it anymore.

Will

[icepick]

Man, it's about time. I've been looking for a good copy of this for a long long while.

I love the 10+ minute opening sequence, with zero dialog.

[Blarg]

This one's been on my list forever. I definitely look forward to seeing it.

[The DaveR]

[ QUOTE ]
This one's been on my list forever. I definitely look forward to seeing it.

[/ QUOTE ]

[pryor15]

i so need to see this