Un flic aka A Cop/Dirty Money (1972)

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July 22'nd!

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[dave jenkins]

I like Melville, but I don't like this, uh, flick. That heist with the helicopter and train is done with obvious models, and if you can't believe in that scene the whole film falls apart. Plus this was remade as the awful Tequilla Sunrise, and I can never get that out of my mind as I watch the original.

Anyway, this is not the first time it's been released on DVD, as I already have an earlier edition. (Sorry to rain of your parade).

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I'm celebrating its wide release in R1 land.

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Jean-Pierre Melville's Un Flic - 7/10

This film kind of rubbed me in an odd way. I LOVED the two heist scenes(but damn the helicopter ), and I thought the story of the thieves was fun to follow, but Delon's story was a little dull. After seeing the film I kind of see what the point was but I couldn't help but think that it was dead weight when first watching it. I'm always used to Melville's films having no fat around the edges, but that's how it felt. Maybe when I watch it next time I'll think diferently.
His use of that metallic color scheme didn't really turn me on. In the outdoor daytime scenes it was perfect, but it looked disgusting anywhere else, especially during indoor scenes. It was interesting to see Melville with a new 'color scheme' though.
When one keeps his other color films in mind as well as the fact that the two films preceding this one were films he had wanted to make for years it is a little uneasy watching this less-than-great film. I wonder if he would've gotten his flame back had he lived. Watching him put his style in practice is always fun, though.

I give this a 7 if only because its positive qualities, mentioned above, are enough for me to say this is a good film, but I think I'll appreciate it more on the next viewing.

[titoli]

I go with the 7\10, though maybe it's worth  even more but for three elements: the toy train and helicopter; Delon too young and pretty for the part and, even more important, the botched up finale which doesn't stand to reason. I mean: Delon says to Crenna he's on to him for no apparent logical reason, except, maybe, to let him warn Cucciolla and induce him to suicide (but that is a very long shot) and, further, to let him unearth the drug and catch him with it. But that is even more incredible: once warned Crenna should stay put or try to make himself untraceable. Instead he talks freely on the phone to Deneuve  as not even suspecting the police is on the other end. A more logical ending should have been Delon giving the word to the people from whom Crenna stole the drug  and let them do the work for him. But still, the inside the train sequence is masterful.

[drinkanddestroy]

This wasn't bad, I'd go up to a 7/10. I couldn't stand all the process shots, and there are a lot of them, as Delon spends so much time in his car. It makes no sense that Crenna doesn't have a gun on him at the end; he's carrying all this dope, if he is caught, he is going to prison for a very long time, how much worse could it be if he has a gun on him?

The opening heist is really good.

The film isn't up to par of some of Melville/Delon's other crime films, but when considered on its own, it's a good movie.

[moorman]

This is the weakest of the Melville Heist films, if you can call any Heist film he did weak.  I'm gonna get straight to the point.  Melville had another masterpiece working but two elements killed that.  First, the contrived 3 way relationship between Delon, Crenna and that lady was just that, too contrived and artificial.  It took away from the film GREATLY.   Second, the heist on the train was ruined by the toy train and remote controlled helicopter. It reminded me of the sequence in " The Sicilian Clan" that ruined a part of that film.   If you take those two elements and correct them, Melville has another masterpiece.  As is I rate this one 7 out of 10 based on potential...