Le Cercle Rouge

This is pure genre style done through the Melville lens, and it’s fun. It’s not his best work, but it’s the more refined version of Le Deuxieme Souffle. It’s a steady build up through escapes and an extended heist with just enough character to build up for the audience to attach to through it all. There’s no real emotional involvement, giving us an exercise in almost pure style. In terms of effect, I’m reminded of Alfred Hitchcock’s The Birds.

The film begins with two men leaving police c...