Armaguedon (1977) User Reviews

Average thriller

[michelerealini · 6/10 · 21 September 2005]

The movie is worth seeing because it stars Alain Delon (a psychologist who collaborates with police) and Jean Yanne, a psychopathic criminal with terrorist aspirations.

Maybe the film is more interesting today than in 1977, because now we live in a period in which terrorist threat is global. In a certain way "Armaguedon" is 25 years ahead of its time.

Unfortunately, although still watchable, the movie lacks a real confrontation between the two main actors, and that's a pity -because thriller is one of the genres French filmmakers are excellent in. In the film Delon and Yanne never meet really... It's a script mistake, which director Alain Jessua admits.

There's some action, but the film is more psychological than physical -it's not like many banal Hollywood action movies. But it's not a memorable movie, the final part goes too fast -it spoils the tension settled so far.

How can you die if nobody knows you are alive?

[Hey_Sweden · 7/10 · 7 May 2023]

Jean Yanne plays Louis Carrier, a repairman who comes into a substantial amount of money after his brother perishes in an accident abroad. But he decides to use his newly acquired fortune to launch a campaign of terror, while assisted by his simple-minded associate Albert (Renato Salvatori), whom Louis affectionately dubs "Einstein". Louis proceeds to threaten various public figures, and a prominent Interpol criminal psychologist, Michel Ambrose (Alain Delon, also the films' producer) is called in to help with the case.

Adapted by director Alain Jessua from a novel by David Lippincott, the French thriller "Armageddon" is no great shakes, as it never really generates much dramatic tension, and may be just a bit too subtle for its own good. What it does succeed at is creating some interesting, nuanced characters. The antagonist, in particular, is ultimately a rather pathetic figure who desires to stop toiling in anonymity and enjoy hearing people talk about him. In that sense, the film is good for exploring the idea of real-life people who manipulate the media to achieve infamy. And protagonist Ambrose is a compassionate sort who resolves not to judge his nemesis too quickly.

While Jessua admits that it was a mistake to not give the two opponents more of an extended confrontation (the ending is over a little too quickly), he created a fairly absorbing, enjoyable picture that does go fairly far on the talents of the cast (also including Marie Dea as Louis' loving aunt, Michel Creton as a blackmailer, Robert Dalban as a taxi driver, and Michel Duchaussoy as Ambroses' police inspector friend).

Although some thriller lovers may find it to be not completely satisfactory, others may appreciate it for taking a more psychological approach than a visceral one. In any event, the final moments of the film are really quite sad. All in all, it's a good film if not a great one.

Seven out of 10.

looking for infamy

[SnoopyStyle · 7/10 · 13 January 2023]

Louis Carrier gets a large payout from his brother's life insurance. He quits his workman job and promises to do something memorable. He is about to shoot the Prime Minister, but somehow he ends up greeting him with a handshake. He goes down the rabbit hole. With his idiot sidekick Einstein and the nom de guerre Armaguedon, he starts causing chaos with his random acts of terror and brutal murders. Dr. Michel Ambrose (Alain Delon) helps the police by profiling the unknown suspect.

This is an odd surreal crime drama. I would call it a thriller if it's actually thrilling. It's not and that's not the point. It's a study in nihilism. Quite frankly, it may not have made sense back in the day. This is a guy looking for infamy, looking for the clicks. He's every insel who shoots up a school to make himself a name. He's that guy who shot up a concert in Las Vegas a few years ago. He's not doing it for an actual cause. His cause is nothing but a word salad. It's infamy that he's looking for.

I do not want to die unnoticed

[dbdumonteil · 9 December 2007]

What can people do to draw people's attention?Some go as far as to kill their fellow men to achieve that;

Louis ,a humble craftsman, inherits a lot of money.He's got fortune,but he wants fame too.He has his friend Einstein(sic) take photographs of him among crowds of celebrities.He sends them to the Police and threatens to commit crime as "Armaguedon".

Alain Jessua was certainly one of the most underrated of the French directors of that era:"traitement de choc" (probably his most successful effort)"les chiens" and "paradis pour tous" all ventured off the beaten track;they were sometimes close to sci-fi. While "Armaguedon" seems more realistic,it is an absorbing thriller.

Unbelievable French drivel

[newjersian · 1/10 · 27 January 2021]

This movie is slow, boring and predictable. Apparently it was initially created for unpretentious and stupid audience.

At every turn of the plot you wonder how could the criminal be so dumb to leave such a trail of damning evidence behind and how the police can be even dumber not figuring it out.

I never saw Alain Delone being so bored in any of his many movies. Probably he understood that he's taking part in creating a real cinematographic dreck.

Worthy attempt at a pressing subject.

[jimmydavis-650-769174 · 5/10 · 10 December 2023]

This film is not a great one, not a complete take on what is anyway, a vast subject for debate. However it's a worthwhile attempt and one which succeeds far more than many others have on vastly superior budgets.

Alain Delon and his lack of development is perhaps the greatest let down in this film, his companion, for some of the film, Michael Duchassoy, would infact have made a better casting choice as ghe psychiatrist, with Delon performing better as detective. Jean Yanne, as always is a magnetic presence, reminding me here a little of Peter Sellers.

The film itself is a bleak look into the depths of an ordinary, yet extreme human being and the depravity he will go to in order to gain recognition, a sure precursor to where we find ourselves now, in the age of social media. The first part of the film sets the character of Louis up, with his side kick and his plan and works convincingly. The second tranche is where the action occurs and doesn't live up to the hopes of the first, the relationship between Delon and Yanne remaining largely unexplored. The final scenes at the theatre where the TV show is filming lack tension and the plot itself is, of course unable to provide that. That is the point, Louis is not a terrorist and that is perhaps the film's sucker punch, he is an everyman of sorts.

Moving, Worth seeing .

[JSebastien · 10/10 · 30 November 2001]

An anti-hero, proletarian, and idealistic man, Louis Carrier (played by Jean Yanne) craves for waking people up to their conditioning as larvas in today's society and puts a plan into action upon inheriting some insurance money from his deceased brother...

Jean Yanne gives a moving, authentic, and powerful performance opposite Alain Delon who plays with lucidity and presence a renowned psychologist hired by the police to hunt down Carrier.

Most likely, this movie will communicate emotions to those who wish for a better world !

Delonaguedon.

[morrison-dylan-fan · 8/10 · 5 March 2017]

Getting home after a night out,I watched Alain Delon's Three Men To Kill,and found it to be a slick,easy-going Action flick. Whilst dealing with a hangover the next day,I started checking a DVD sellers page,and I spotted a wonderful sounding Delon title,which led to me getting set for armaguedon.

The plot:

Inheriting lots of cash, repairman Louis Carrier decides that he should make a name for himself,and become a master criminal. Teaming up with a henchmen he keeps switching from calling either Albert or Einstein,Carrier gives himself the name Armaguedon,and begins sending threatening messages to world leaders. Trying to get Carrier to calm down, Dr. Michel Ambrose starts coming up with ways for the world to survive Armaguedon.

View on the film:

Only available as an English dub, (with some non-Sub Titles scenes with a naked women spliced in!) the limitation actually helps to emphasis writer/director Alain Jessua deliciously bonkers atmosphere. Popping Armaguedon's attempt at a mythical image with his adaptation of David Lippincott book,Jessua glazes the screen with peculiar dialogue,which bounces along on off-the wall situation that includes a kinky slice of S&M and Ambrose struggling to meet Armaguedon's demands for a Eurovision break.

On the road to meeting Armaguedon,director Jessua and cinematographer Jacques Robin crack a hard-nose Italian Crime mood that whips up a dingy hideout with scatter-gun whip-pans locating those facing their end from Armaguedon. Up against Jean Yanne's great,calculating slime ball Armaguedon, Alain Delon give a terrific calm and super-smooth performance as Ambrose,who sets his sights on stopping Armaguedon.

inspired portrait

[Kirpianuscus · 25 March 2016]

an idealist ordinary man. and his desire to transform the other's perspective about life. a lucid psychologist who looking solve a case. result - a film who could seems boring at the first sigh. because it is not a crime but it has each ingredients of one. it is not a political film against the elements who defines in this sense. it is only a sort of cry of a man who has the hope/faith to do the expected revolution . a Don Quixote in new clothes. inspired portrait of contemporary society, it is the film who remind and not present. the duel between Delon and Yanne is , scene by scene, build in the precise manner. one of films who could be useful when the challenges of everyday becomes more bitter. because the chance to discover yourself in the gestures of Carrier or Ambrose, sides of same coin, is the great virtue of the film.

Good social drama under the thriller genre.

[searchanddestroy-1 · 8/10 · 30 March 2021]

I have always compared Alain Jessua's filmography with Serge Leroy's one; interesting topics which analysed very brilliantly and in the best intelligent way the problems of the modern world, or human nature. And they often used the thriller pretext to do this. Check every of their films, for both of them and you'll have confirmation of what I say. For Leroy, LA TRAQUE, ATTENTION LES ENFANTS REGARDENT or LEGITIME VIOLENCE, LE QUATRIEME POUVOIR; for Jessua, ARMAGUEDON, TRITEMENT DE CHOC, LES CHIENS; all topics about social issues and human behavior. The adaptation from the David Lippincott's novel is rather faithful and that remains a very good French yarn. Yanne is exquisite in this ambivalent character. The relationship between his character and Renato Salvatori's one is very touching, so unusual, which reminds me OF MICE AND MEN, between George and Lenny.

Engaging Delon thriller with some social commentary

[udar55 · 8/10 · 12 September 2006]

Not to be confused with the Bruce Willis asteroid pic, this French film stars Alain Delon. Everyman maintenance worker Louis Carrier (Jean Yanne) receives an life insurance payment when his brother accidentally dies in a car accident. Sensing the opportunity for a new life, Carrier quits his job along with mentally challenged co-worker Albert aka "Einstein" and pursues his dream of worldly recognition. Unfortunately this dream is a bit twisted as he begins donning disguises and having "Einstein" photograph him with various famous people (ranging from the Minister of France to Mick Jagger!). He then sends these photos to the police with audio recordings stating he could kill anyone of them at any time. Using the moniker of Armaguedon, he demands that the police follow his orders. Interpol brings in Dr. Michel Ambrose (Delon) to help solve the case and track down this potential killer. Playing on the real life murderer/communicator events of people like The Zodiac Killer (and, more likely, DIRTY HARRY's Scorpio), this effective French thriller can be seen as the cinematic granddaddy of films such as CACHE. It highlights a person who feels they have been marginalized by society and they somehow feel they can enact their revenge by making others experience their situation. Delon is his usual cool self (he is introduced calmly talking a topless girl out of jumping off a roof) but the film really belongs to Yanne as the titular terrorist. The odd thing about ARMAGUEDON is that he makes Carrier a slightly sympathetic character. After all, who wouldn't cheer a guy who tells the public to wake up from their sheep-like state? Well, he does kill a hooker dressed in a scuba suit too so he is kinda bad.