Le cercle rouge (The Criterion Collection)

The director Jean-Pierre Melville, who passed away in 1973, has influenced several directors such as Jim Jarmusch, Quentin Tarantino, and John Woo, and his films have influenced several new films. The recent Ocean's Twelve and its predecessor appears to have been influenced by the characters in Melville's Bob le Flambeur (1955) while Good Thief (2002) is more or less a remake with Neil Jordan's own adaptation. In addition, John Woo is currently planning to shoot a remake on Le Cercle Rouge with the title Red Circle with intended release date set sometime in 2006. However, Melville's stories are nothing like the fast-paced action films by Woo, or quick-witted cinematic exploitations by Tarantino. Melville's stories focus on what is within the frame of each scene, as focus in brought on the characters and the actions of the characters. This way Melville conveys more than just the mere words of the characters, which leaves much for the audience to contemplate upon while a succession of frames leads the audience to a new and unexplored terrain of cinema.In Melville's Le Cercle Rouge, he initiates the film with a made up Buddhist saying stating that all men who are destined to meet will meet, which also refers to the films title. The `Buddhist saying' plants a seed in the audience's mind, which will have great consequence for the film's characters as they cannot escape their destiny. The saying also brings a philosophical debate in regards to existentialism through a band of criminals and a police force. Two of the characters whose future seems to be linked are Corey (Alain Delon) and Vogel (Gian Maria Volonté), both criminals. Corey is freshly released after having had served time in prison and he does not waste time as he gets back into his previous ruts as he robs an old associate and buys a car. The other character, Vogel, is transported handcuffed as he is approaching the prison where about to serve time, but he succeeds in escaping and manages to avoid the police by hiding in the trunk of Corey's car. Thus, the two men's fates to meet is sealed.Corey drives out into a secluded area of the woods where he asks Vogel to exit the trunk as he steps back from the car. Corey is also aware of a gun that was hidden in the trunk, which might have been recovered by his passenger. When Vogel steps out there is a moment of silence as the two men study each other's appearances and actions, as a distrusting pet would smell a stranger. This moment portrays the distrustful code in which criminals coexist and the meaning in which they find a purpose in life. In essence, the moment represents the red circle that has been connected as these two men were meant to meet. This leads both men to Paris where they begin to plan a jewel heist, which requires further help from a team of professionals in the field.The police are in full force searching for the escaped Vogel that eluded Police Captain Mattei (Bourvil). A rather upset Mattei is determined to recover Vogel as he has a strong sense of purpose in life, which is now spiced up since Vogel escaped. Fatigued Mattei returns to his small apartment where he feeds his cats and tries recover physically and emotionally as he recognizes the severity of having lost Vogel under his watch. The return to the apartment displays Mattei's purpose as it illustrates Mattei's personality through his actions and the mise-en-scene, which brilliantly depicts his values.Melville diffuses the drawn line between the criminal element and the law enforcement as he depicts a symbiotic like atmosphere between the two. In addition, the point that there is an overlapping between the two worlds comes across even more strongly through a dialogue between the Police Chief and Mattei. In the conversation, the Police Chief says, "And don't forget: All guilty." Mattei asks, "Even policemen?" The police chief responds, "All men, Mr. Mattei." This cynical perspective of mankind brings a humane side to people, as all people will make mistakes throughout life as Mattei did when he lost Vogel.Le Cercle Rouge is a string of awesome scenes that is tied together into a brilliant cinematic experience. The star-studded (Alain Delon, Gian Maria Volonté, and Yves Montand) cast does not become the wheel for the story's success, but the cinematic narration under Melville's direction does. The direction exhibits meticulous orientation of details as the actions of the characters, the script, the mise-en-scene, the camerawork, and the sound comes together into marvelous concoction of philosophical insights, suspense, and fate.

Item as described, thanks a lot

Top 5 on the list of best French new wave films for damn sure. Not sure what the other 4 are just yet. But I love this film, i love Jean Pierre Melville and I love Criterion Collection for reacquiring the rights to make this SUMPTUOUS 4K bluray release. I know CCs been having a bad go of it w/some of their newer 4K releases recently but Le Cercle Rogue damn sure ain't one of them. Unbelievable picture quality and color grading. So good that you can enjoy this film on MUTE. You know your movie slaps when the nightclub in John Wick 1 is named after it in homage.Easy 5 outta 5. Cop it before something crazy happens and goes out-of-print again.

The movie is a very slow, very deliberate kind of movie. Don't expect anything fast paced or characters spouting quips. While I can't necessarily point to anything as being bad or anything, I can't say its one of those movies I see myself watching again.

Great film, great mastering as always with Criterion

Yet another great crime, drama-thriller from director Jean-Pierre Melville (French with English Subtitles) to watch at Amazon. I really loved this film and would definitely watch it a 2nd time. Melville directed some of the most incredible movies... Le Samourai, Army of Shadow's and Bob Le Flambeur to name just a few. All great films. In Le Cercle Rouge every character is fascinating and the acting is impeccable. Suspense, action and a great thriller you will be thinking about days after you've watched it. I don't like to tell what a movie is about. I am always afraid I will end up spoiling it for someone who has yet to watch it. The chemistry between the captor and captive is amazing. This film is full of atmosphere and the suspense grows and grows. I loved every minute of this movie and plan on renting it again. You just can not go wrong when choosing a film directed by Jean -Pierre Melville. This is one of my favorites.

The movie is great even though it's made in 1970. Howver, the pleasure of watching it was spoiled as the 4k disk is defective which skip playing intermittently at 48th - 49th min. Unable to replace it as the return window has closed. It's rare that I came across a defective new disk but unfortunately I found out too late.

I love 70' cinema. There is something about the photography, the pace and the style that speaks to me very strongly. 70' cinema showed me that a strong movie does not need an overdoze of over-the-top action or be a special effect galore to be thrilling, and Le Cercle Rouge directed by Melville is celluloid proof of that. Le Cercle Rouge's narrative, atmosphere, details and beautifull photography glues you to the screen. The movie take it's time to show you what occurs on screen, no scene is rush and the pacing enable you to really soak up the story. An a very good story at that - well acted by Delon, Montand, Volonté and espacialy Bourvil - about escaping, getting out, struggling and robbing a jewllery, but mostly a story about the collision of intense men on different side of the law. So sit back, relax and enjoy Melville's amazing work.

Très bon film

Le cercle rouge Film fabuleux à voir pour son interprétation et sa qualité,Au début des années cinquante, un très grand réalisateur et metteur en scène avait déclaré , en parlant de notre irremplaçable BOURVIL :Cet acteur qui joue dans des rôles de provincial un peu naïf, nous surprendratous, car il possède en lui-même d’énormes qualités d’artiste.Son authenticité et son talent feront de lui un acteur tout à fait digne de camper dans des rôles qui surprendront une majorité de cinéphiles.En visionnant cette superbe création de JEAN-PIERRE MELVILLE , nous pouvons constater que cette analyse qui avait été faite antérieurement à l’égard de cet artiste que nous regrettons tant (ANDRE BOURVIL ), était juste.Le commissaire Mattéi, interprète son rôle de justicier d’une façon parfaite, en mettant en exergue pour mettre hors d’état de nuire une bande de malfrats qui se risquent à faire la plus grande « casse » du siècle place Vendôme.C’est l’échec complet, et le piège tendu par le valeureux commissaire Mattéï y est pour quelque chose.Il faut voir ou revoir ce chef-d’œuvre fabuleux.Ne surtout pas oublier ces très grands acteurs comme ALAIN DELON, YVES MONTANTD, ANNA DOUKING, GIAN MARIA VOLONTE, PAUL GRAUDAT, qui participèrent avec excellence dans leur rôle qui leur furent attribués dans ce super film ....Adieu ANDRE BOURVIL, vous qui aviez voulu aller jusqu’à la fin afin de terminer ce grand film, malgré cette maudite maladie qui vous terrassait et dont vous vous sentiez condamné.

La penultima obra de Jean-Pierre Melville puede ser la mejor peli de su filmografia. El casting es perfecto y los actores dan el mejor que sean Bourvil (su penultimo papel), Alain Delon, Yves Montand. El guion es maravilloso al nivel de una obra de Shakespeare.. El paquete contiene 3 BluRays: la obra en 4k, la version en full HD y uno lleno de documentales sobre el director que fue un modelo pra muchos franceses, americanos japoneses.

As a caper-movie, far too sketchy and undeveloped; as a thriller, badly lacking in the necessary plot-twists to merit that description; and with its comically feeble conclusion, hardly edge-of-the-seat material.So what's to like? Well, I rather enjoyed it as an antidote to today's hyper-kinetic cinematic fare: action at a minimum; long periods of silence; stillness; and leisurely camera-work. Just don't expect thrills.

Très bon film bonne intrigue et dernier film de Bourvil malheureusement