Without being an annoying adolescent about it, I can't really understand why this film is so highly regarded. It seems a decent but average film, particularly when compared with the utterly remarkable French films of the 50s and early 60s, like Clouzot's "Diabolique", Bresson's "Pickpocket", Melville's "Bob le Flambeur", and Truffaut's "400 Blows". The direction is minimalistic, but not enough to transform it into a style like Bresson did. There is a certain tension, but that tension never reaches anything transcendent as in Clouzot's films.
Overall, it adds up to an above average genre film. That's not really a bad thing, as I enjoy a good genre film. It's worth watching, to be sure, but not exactly a masterpiece, in my opinion.
But, of course, it's possible that I'm just missing something here. I do that sometimes.
Overall, it adds up to an above average genre film. That's not really a bad thing, as I enjoy a good genre film. It's worth watching, to be sure, but not exactly a masterpiece, in my opinion.
But, of course, it's possible that I'm just missing something here. I do that sometimes.