Le cercle rouge (1970)

[Vercetti]

Le cercle rouge
The Red Circle / I Senza nome

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Director: Jean-Pierre Melville

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1970 France/Italy

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“All men are guilty. They’re born innocent but it doesn’t last”

As Corey is released from prison, Vogel escapes from the train carrying him. They cross paths and decide to team up with an alcoholic ex-cop to pull off a jewelry heist while being tracked down by a loner cop to inevitably meet in the Red Circle.

This is the first film I’ve seen from Jean-Pierre Melville. I’ve heard many things about him; mostly that he inspired many of my favorite directors such as Martin Scorsese, Michael Mann, and Quentin Tarantino. I can see this is true. All of these men create crime films that are realistic. Go watch ‘xXx’ or ‘Double Team’ and tell me how real their characters are. Show me the depth of characters like Yaz, Stravos, or xXx. Do they seem professional? Not in the slightest sense.

Vincent and Neil in ‘Heat’ are professionals. ‘Heat’ especially seems to be inspired by this film by Melville, ‘Le Cercle Rouge,’ or ‘The Red Circle.’ The opening text states Buddha said that no matter what, any two people destined to meet will meet. Corey is a thief in prison who’s about to be released. His prison guard informs him about a score that Corey is reluctant but takes it. As his story is unfolding another is, a murderer named Vogel who escapes out of the window of a train. After eluding dogs and cops he sneaks in Corey’s trunk. So I’m not giving every detail away, they end up partners in the heist along with an alcoholic ex-cop.

Melville’s direction is wonderful. There are many little instances that add up. Rather then introducing the character of the alcoholic ex-cop right away, we see an empty room of his house. We notice the carelessly placed bottle of scotch right away and can easily assume the character’s flaw. One thing that stands out is the lighting in many scenes. Many times an otherwise normal scene becomes very ominous, such as when Corey descends in an elevator with the shadows hugging his cheeks. The whole film has a dreary feel to it; Cloudy weather, little sunshine. Every scene in the woods feels like the same place Alex’s former friends tried to drown him in ‘A Clockwork Orange.’

The plot’s characters need actors to fulfill the shoes. Alain Delon and Yves Montand both bring a professional feeling to their characters. Delon is icy in many scenes, even when he’s in a weak position. Gian Maria Volonte apparently wasn’t as committed as his costars. Melville disliked the fact he was close-minded and didn’t understand the importance of lighting. Despite that he carries his role very well, although he doesn’t hold the screen presence of his two characters in the Dollars Trilogy.

This film is a great example of how to make a crime film; Real characters, environments, plots, etc. Thankfully this is an inspirational film. Not in the way ‘Halloween’ was to horror, but in a positive way. Directors like Michael Mann, Martin Scorsese, and Quentin Tarantino have brought us masterpieces to this day. Masterpieces like Heat, Goodfellas, Casino, Mean Streets, Pulp Fiction, and Reservoir Dogs. Hopefully these films we cause similar inspiration for future generations that will bring us great films.

CREDITS
Director[/b]
Jean-Pierre Melville
Producer
Robert Dorfmann & Jacques Dorfmann
Writers
Jean-Pierre Melville
Cinematographer
Henri Decaë
Composer
Éric Demarsan
Editors
Marie-Sophie Dubus & Jean-Pierre Melville
Production Designer
Théobald Meurisse

CAST
Alain Delon
Corey
Gian Maria Volonté
Vogel
Yves Montand
Jansen
Bourvil
Le Commissaire Mattei
François Périer
Santi[/size]

[Vercetti]

Revisiting this makes me wanna see more of his films.

I just installed eMule on my PC and started Un Flic. Hopefully it'll work.

[svsg]

I somehow had an irresistable urge to revisit this film. One of the greatest movies I have seen. I felt it was a bit dated, on my second viewing. I like the character played by Yves a lot.

According to IMDB, a remake of this movie is planned for 2009 (with Orlando Bloom as Corey )

[RNL]

Jun 30, 2008 18:27:57 GMT @svsg said:

According to IMDB, a remake of this movie is planned for 2009 (with Orlando Bloom as Corey )

Since I think this is the first time this irrational indignance has reared its head here, you've inspired me to post up a rant I wrote awhile ago in favour of total indifference toward the proposed Seven Samurai 'remake'.

[Blib]

svsg recommended this to me and what a great film! I knew nothing about it before I watched it and I quickly saw similarities between it and Le Samouraï, including the main actor Alain Delon. After looking it up I found out it was the same director as well. After seeing these two films I'm already a fan of Melville's style. There is a very crisp feel to both movies. Everything from the lighting and colors, to the sound and storyline. I'll be watching more of his movies soon.

[Omar]

Yeah, Melville is one of my favorites.

[Blib]

It's the next day and I can't stop thinking about this movie. I love the lack of conversation through long sections of the movie. I find myself paying attention to, and enjoying, little sounds like footsteps, car tires turning on gravel, the sound of a gun as it's handled. All those things I would normally pay no attention to suddenly seem to be more meaningful as they go along with the facial features and movements of the actors. I wish more movies today were made with less talking.

[svsg]

The ex-cop character is my favorite. The reptiles crawling scene, target practice in the park, bullet making scene and its explanation in a later scene and of course the excellent heist scene itself - all amazing.

[Capo]

I forgot about that reptile scene.

I think Army of Shadows is Melville's finest film by some stretch.