Although the director, Melville, explained that his film can be analyzed from two perspectives - that of the existentialist contemplation of death or that of the psychoanalytical scope of schizophrenia - it is often best to take the film for what it seems to the layman: A wonderfully shot, minimalistic and a representation of what noir should really be.
What makes this film most incredible is its minimalism. Despite being very simple in its story, there is something gripping about watching the events unfold - i.e. the execution - and to reiterate this use of minimalism, to be more specific it is in the use of camera, the choice of choosing a focus on action over dialogue, and colours that are (as Melville stated) an attempt to take the hitherto defining attribute of black-and-white noir into colour. He indeed pulled it off successfully, managing to focus on muted blues, greys, and other darker tones.
To give important informative background:
The way of the Samurai lay in death. There is a point in the story being entitled such, however, the depth behind exactly why does hold implications that are, fortunately, easy to understand. It is the whole "schizophrenic" interpretation that will be more than likely very difficult to construe.
Noir, meaning "dark," is an art movement and genre established by the French that is defined by an at-the-time revolutionary casting of an anti-hero as the protagonist, controversial subject matter - usually related to murder and mystery- and often filled with clever twists that lead to death or incarceration. The coined "femme fatale" (fatal woman) came from this genre, as well, the genre was defined by an emphasis on use of shadows and contrasting black and white.
Last but not least, the actors are wonderful. The star, Alan Delon, is perfectly cast, as well as everyone else, however; Delon has this stage presence that is so overwhelming that it's no wonder he is seen as the pinnacle of "cool" by so many. It's neat too, because he is an actor that is quite capable of playing a range of emotions based on other films I have seen him in.
This is my personal favorite movie of all time. I recommend it with immense passion to absolutely anyone who is even remotely interested in either noir or hit-man films.
If you like this, I strongly suggest watching: The Killing *
Following * Leon (The Professional) * The Postman Always Rings Twice
What makes this film most incredible is its minimalism. Despite being very simple in its story, there is something gripping about watching the events unfold - i.e. the execution - and to reiterate this use of minimalism, to be more specific it is in the use of camera, the choice of choosing a focus on action over dialogue, and colours that are (as Melville stated) an attempt to take the hitherto defining attribute of black-and-white noir into colour. He indeed pulled it off successfully, managing to focus on muted blues, greys, and other darker tones.
To give important informative background:
The way of the Samurai lay in death. There is a point in the story being entitled such, however, the depth behind exactly why does hold implications that are, fortunately, easy to understand. It is the whole "schizophrenic" interpretation that will be more than likely very difficult to construe.
Noir, meaning "dark," is an art movement and genre established by the French that is defined by an at-the-time revolutionary casting of an anti-hero as the protagonist, controversial subject matter - usually related to murder and mystery- and often filled with clever twists that lead to death or incarceration. The coined "femme fatale" (fatal woman) came from this genre, as well, the genre was defined by an emphasis on use of shadows and contrasting black and white.
Last but not least, the actors are wonderful. The star, Alan Delon, is perfectly cast, as well as everyone else, however; Delon has this stage presence that is so overwhelming that it's no wonder he is seen as the pinnacle of "cool" by so many. It's neat too, because he is an actor that is quite capable of playing a range of emotions based on other films I have seen him in.
This is my personal favorite movie of all time. I recommend it with immense passion to absolutely anyone who is even remotely interested in either noir or hit-man films.
If you like this, I strongly suggest watching: The Killing *
Following * Leon (The Professional) * The Postman Always Rings Twice