Le Samouraï

Every once in a while you will come across a film that from beginning to end you know you are watching a masterpiece. Once again we come across Jean-Pierre Melville but this time I am reflecting on his 1967 classic Le Samouraï. The film came out in 1967 in France starring Alain Delon based on Joan McLeod’s novel The Ronin.

The film opens up with slow, patient Hitchcock zoom while our protagonist smokes in his bed and an empty apartment besides a tweeting bird and big windows. You can tell this man is organized, professional, and most of all efficient. The cinematography right off the bat is gorgeous and you can feel the sensation that your about to go an a cinematic thrill ride. With an amazing performance from Alain Delon, we follow the hit man as he goes on a job at a nightclub. The music and sound is very specific and makes us focus in more on every movement and noise. After his hit we start seeing the police investigation as Costello (Delon) he goes through a police line up and investigation. The police continue to try to convict him by bugging his room, following him, even threatening those few close to him. All of them fail, but something more interesting has happened, the people who hired him have almost killed Costello. Now everything is spiraling, Costello must survive the police and his enemies in enough time to get revenge and learn about why he was betrayed.

The story here is great but what really stands out here is the amazing, incredible filmmaking going behind the camera. This film has some extraordinary camera movement and cinematography; the look of the film itself reflects our protagonist. There are some awesome sequences as well in the film including when the police try to follow Costello (failing) and the western shootout feel that occurs when another hit man attempts to kill Costello. Another attribute that takes this film to the next level is the overall cool factor that Costello has. Everything that this man wears and does feel immediately bad ass and you want to be just like him. He seems untouchable, able to get away with murder and escape the police right when they have him under their nose. Even the music makes him feel suave and mysterious!

It is just one incredible film! It requires a tad bit of patience but not like 2001: A Space Odyssey patience. It is remarkable shot and made, the framing is extraordinary, and a classic in cinema. It is a highly influential film, just look at The Killer and Drive!  A must see for any fan of film!
4/4