Film: “Le Samourai” starring Alain Delon

Remember a time where crime dramas weren’t packed with car chases or CGI? Film Forum does and we must thank them for screening such film-noir classics like Jean-Pierre Melville’s “Le Samourai” (1967).

Alain Delon plays Jef Costello, a killer for hire who plans his assassinations with the precision of an antique clockmaker. But during his latest assignment, which was to be carried out in a nightclub, his plans go awry. Jef is very clearly seen leaving the scene by the club's piano player, Valérie (Cathy Rosier) and is arrested in a sweep of suspects. He is released when the main witness does not come forward, but the police are still suspicious and the inspector (Francois Perier) warns everyone to stay all over this guy.

Jef does want to get paid for the killings though so he arranges for a meeting with the go-between, “The Man on the Bridge” (Jacques Leroy). Jef eventually forces the man to identify his employer as Olivier Rey.

Meanwhile the Paris police are out in force, tracking Jef’s every move through the Paris Metro. Jef manages to escape their grasp at every turn. He finally confronts Rey (Jean-Pierre Posier) which leads to a finale that is film-noir personified.

Despite the chase scenes and the ending, the movie candidly tends to drags a bit. The chief pleasure is watching Delon, impeccably clad in a fedora and trench coat, his face a total mask. When asked at one point why he kills people, he responds, “I was paid to.” Jef recoils from the expression of emotion, and it is as if the film follows his lead.

Directors from Walter Hill to Jim Jarmusch to David Fincher have been influenced by Melville, who in turn changed his own surname (Grumbach) to pay homage to his favorite author. In short, “Samourai” digs deep into the psyche of the criminal who believes “there is no greater code than that of samurai, unless it is that of the tiger in the jungle.” That’s a quote from Bushido, the code of the samurai. Arrigato, Film Forum.