Un flic (“Dirty Money”)
Directed by Jean-Pierre Melville
Written by Jean-Pierre Melville
1972/France
IMDb page
First viewing/Criterion Channel
Commissaire Edouard Coleman: The only feelings mankind has ever inspired in policemen are those of indifference and derision.
Melville’s swan song is not one of his best but has elements that reveal he was still at the height of his powers.
The setting is contemporary Paris. Commissaire Edouard Coleman (Alain Delon) is an ice cold detective impervious to even the goriest of crimes. His best friend is Simon (Richard Crenna) a nightclub owner. Edouard is having an affair with Simon’s wife Cathy (Catherine Deneuve) before Simon’s very eyes.
What Edouard does not know is that Simon is the ringleader of the gang responsible for a bank robbery resulting in the death of one of the robbers. He also does not know that the next phase of the plan involves a sophisticated drug heist. A game of cat and mouse ensues.
There is not a lot of dialogue in this movie with images left to tell the story. Some of the vignettes are exquisite. Problem is the plot never really grabbed me nor made me care about the fate of these people. I would not recommend starting here with Melville. But he did leave us several fabulous classics in his 55 years and for that I am grateful.
The film might not be a must-see but this clip absolutely is! How the old becomes new again and again …
