Le Samouraï is a fascinating fresh take on a mob-thriller movie. I would still call this movie a thriller even with the lack of action scenes. While there is a fair share of action, it’s the tension and acting that make this movie enjoyable. There is always an air of suspense as we get a behind the scenes look on what it takes to take down a killer.
That’s one of the things I appreciated about this movie, it’s not a traditional movie following some assassin. Things like the inventive filmmaking, narrative, and the acting in this movie make it totally captivating. Jean-Peirre Melville does a great job to bring Alain Delon’s shine. The close ups of Delon and overall visuals of him adds to the spotlight. But Delon’s acting is what makes this movie. While his character is unique in itself, Delon translates the stoic killer amazingly, and really brings it to life. In the description on Criterion, they described this movie as “cool”, and while somewhat vague, “cool” is the best word to describe this movie. I give it a 4/5, it’s beautiful to watch the shots and progression of Delon’s character, just misses the personal aspects to make it a masterpiece.
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