222 - Le Doulos

We visit another Melville, 1963's Le Doulos, about a network of criminals searching for an informer in their midst. Jean-Paul Belmondo plays his thief with such assuredly French swagger that it's no wonder why Quentin Tarantino names this film as a significant influence, though we also pick up on the story's similarity to Reservoir Dogs, in particular the botched robbery and snitch mystery. The film has clearly been preserved beautifully, the crispness of the images on Mubi's stream simply breathtaking. As with Un flic, we consider the characters' alienation, emphasised here through composition and framing, and their decisions, including the idea that all these men try to do the right thing by their particular code. Despite looking for things to like, Mike is ultimately nonplussed and a little bored by Le Doulos, preferring, on reflection, Un flic, while José, as ever the spirit of sunshine, beams with praise for it. We can at least agree that it looks fabulous. Recorded on 3rd April 2020.