Movie Mindset 10 - Stop Snitching: Jean Pierre Melville's Arch-Criminals
Added 2023-06-28 11:00:06 +0000 UTCWill & Hesse look at two from French director Jean Pierre Melville: 1970’s Le cercle rouge and 1969’s Army of Shadows. Both “crime” films of sorts, Le cercle rouge is a classic of the heist film genre, while Army of Shadows reframes the WWII-era French resistance as a kind of criminal organization. Both films obsess over process, trust, honor, “snitching,” and cool-as-fuck French guys wearing trench coats and blasting cigs.
Comments
oh but yes
Gay Adam
2023-12-08 13:21:24 +0000 UTCNo.
k v
2023-11-25 22:39:18 +0000 UTCThe French left laughed at Army of Shadows because it knew the Resistance was the FTP and groups like that, whereas the other elements of the resistance (the ones shown in this movie) either did next to nothing or were handing Jean Moulin over to the Gestapo. In this movie the people helping the resistance are a barber with a Pétain poster on his wall, an aristocrat, two bourgeois brothers - it's absurd. Those were the elements that supported Pétain, generally. The one communist shown is practically a child. That is not to say that Melville was bad at lighting or placing a camera or staging a scene, but the premise is ridiculous.
D
2023-07-28 04:50:20 +0000 UTCMovie Mindset request: a comparison review of H.G. Couzot's Wages of Fear and William Friedkin's Sorcerer.
Michael Polacheck
2023-07-19 22:28:54 +0000 UTCIf you're into Dassin check out "Uptight"- a remake of "The Informer" set in Black Panther days. It's very good.
Horse Badorties
2023-07-18 03:56:09 +0000 UTCActually a lot of fantastic Russian filmmakers. Ed: for real fun, look up soviet era animators. You will not regret.
NoPrefect
2023-07-14 05:19:04 +0000 UTCJansen's wallpaper gave me the DTs
Marcel Szabo
2023-07-10 20:44:07 +0000 UTCCan't believe you dropped that godfather spoiler without any warning
Tristan Stonhill
2023-07-09 13:21:46 +0000 UTCI think, like everyone else in the film (that is, except for the Nazis), he’s being carried along by a number of irresistible forces - one consideration that only recently occurred to me: since he denounces himself and gives a false name, (a) no one can be punished by his colleagues for betraying him and (b) no links can be made between him and his brother.
Rohmer Simpson
2023-07-04 19:53:04 +0000 UTCVogel in le cercle rouge looks like handsome Kramer
Kirstwb
2023-07-04 17:15:37 +0000 UTCI just finished the episode. Question answered.
Poppy Chulo
2023-07-04 01:19:54 +0000 UTC💕😽💕😽
Shauna Seroquel
2023-07-04 00:57:33 +0000 UTCI finished it for the first time last night. I enjoyed it a lot. However I am puzzled why did Jean Francois turn himself in? Was it because it was the only way he felt that he could help Claude by getting into his cell?
Poppy Chulo
2023-07-03 23:04:02 +0000 UTCReally enjoyed this series. Like all good criticism it revealed so many things I'd missed while it cemented the movies even deeper into my brain. It's made me a better movie-watcher. The curation might be the most important part of that, but as someone else has already said: I trust the process. I love the idea of Movie Mindset as a sort of postmodern practical mysticism - a cult of our own that we can all be the leader of while still keeping us in (mostly) friendly contact with other cultists. Speaking of which, I'm looking forward to October (cue Silver Shamrock commercial). Thanks again!
Matthew Krueger
2023-07-02 18:26:14 +0000 UTCRewatching ARMY OF SHADOWS - I think it works out sequentially that Cassel's character gave up the baron and his men. (Gerbier explains in v/o that they were arrested and executed without trial. This is just before the hospital/Gestapo HQ break-in.)
Rohmer Simpson
2023-07-01 22:37:08 +0000 UTCYour brother is from Denmark?
Rohmer Simpson
2023-07-01 18:16:36 +0000 UTCHow do you guys feel about Russian films? Will said his top 3 countries for filmmaking are US, Japan, and France which I agree with, but feel like Russia could be up there higher.
John Berry
2023-07-01 13:54:39 +0000 UTCwith all the crime movies so far a hong kong crime/triad ep seems like a great fit, election 1 and 2 came to mind first for me but there are so many amazing choices
Sam
2023-07-01 00:51:17 +0000 UTCThinking about potential horror choices, and someone last week or the week before mentioning the dearth of woman directors so far in this series, and thought it would be remiss of me to suggest Antonia Bird's Ravenous, with one of the greatest scores ever recorded, and so bloody it used all the fake blood in Canada.
Will
2023-06-30 21:31:26 +0000 UTCSounds like somebody wasn't counting on THE RUSSO BROTHERS' GHOSTED
Rohmer Simpson
2023-06-30 21:14:53 +0000 UTCMelville does build suspense into the barbershop scene (specifically in cutting to the Marshal Pétain poster), but - and this might just be my sentimental side talking - when I saw it was Serge Reggiani who emerged from the cellar, I knew Lino Ventura would be alright.
Rohmer Simpson
2023-06-30 21:00:12 +0000 UTCmy brother he is from denmark
Jonathan G
2023-06-30 15:34:14 +0000 UTCIn light of Will's recent comments on the death of cinema, here's Jean-Pierre Melville in an interview from 1971: "I don’t know what will be left of me fifty years from now. I suspect that all films will have aged terribly and that the cinema probably won’t even exist any more. I estimate the final disappearance of cinemas as taking place around the year 2020, so in fifty years’ time there will be nothing but television." https://www.criterion.com/current/posts/1079-melville-on-le-cercle-rouge
Will Hubbert
2023-06-30 05:21:34 +0000 UTCCan I request a Madds Mikkleson non American movie series? Have y’all seen “the Hunt” and/or “Another Round”. My boy Madds is making Star Wars and Indy movies while funding his pet projects. Amazing work is being done in the Netherlands.
Corey Reynolds
2023-06-30 04:53:37 +0000 UTCBoth of these movies absolutely fuck, and you should all watch them.
Tim O'Connor
2023-06-30 03:37:23 +0000 UTCI can't decide if Matt or Kath would be a better commenter for the Gein-based Chainsaw Massacre films. She did grow up nearer Plainfield than Matt
KO
2023-06-29 22:50:23 +0000 UTCsad to not hear germany mentioned among the best film countries ... 1919-1933 & late60s-mid80s are incredible runs tbh + all the exiles
Alexander Fuchs
2023-06-29 19:47:29 +0000 UTCI wasn't too hot on Red Circle or Le Samourai but Army of Shadows is perfect.
Gordon Schmidt
2023-06-29 19:20:56 +0000 UTC17 minutes in on The Red Circle, there's a shot of an elevator indicator going from the bottom floor to the top. That's when I said, "Fuck this, I'd rather let Hesse and Will tell me what happens."
Equality State Of Mind
2023-06-29 19:09:42 +0000 UTCFrench movies have gotten a lot better since they started letting women direct them.
Equality State Of Mind
2023-06-29 18:56:07 +0000 UTC* mentioned fml
Rohmer Simpson
2023-06-29 18:51:45 +0000 UTCNear the end, Hesse cites a British director but forgets the name - it’s Alan Clarke, who was easily one of the greatest British filmmakers of the postwar era: almost all of his work, like the first decade or so of Mike Leigh’s career, was for television, but don’t let that fool you. Masterpieces include ROAD, ELEPHANT (yes, Gus Van Sant was referencing that), CHRISTINE, CONTACT, ROAD, BELOVED ENEMY, THE FIRM, and many more. A Melville masterpiece not mentioning is LE SILENCE DE LA MER, coincidentally another WW2 resistance film, but on a much quieter register.
Rohmer Simpson
2023-06-29 17:32:20 +0000 UTCI pine fir yew and balsam, too. I love movie mindset but I’m sycamore trees!
Major Powers
2023-06-29 17:14:21 +0000 UTCMatt did a show about The Master on death is just around the corner. If you haven’t heard it yet it’s a good way to scratch the chapo/PTA itch
Joey Fazzoli
2023-06-29 16:23:34 +0000 UTChesse, wow. thank you for sharing about pulp fiction. instead of tracing the roots i bought and studied the pulp fiction script. wish i had found that article. this series reignited a passion for movies i have not had since watching 8 1/2 in college. long live movie mindset! thank you both!
wailing ken jennings
2023-06-29 11:22:34 +0000 UTCif only there was a 3rd member of the show, who could put together a bonus of his own ... alas
etienne
2023-06-29 10:24:52 +0000 UTCI was going to write something along the lines of "missing my midweek slop", but I can't bring myself to do it, it was a really good series. As someone who is very much a novice to cinema I've really enjoyed the accessibility of the critique and the selection of movies has been enjoyable. I've broadened my horizons, branching deeper into most of the selections. Looking forward to Spooktober!
Crosley Querin
2023-06-29 09:09:49 +0000 UTCI believe one of Felix's inexplicable obsessions is Haneke, having him on to talk, say, Benny's Video and The White Ribbon would rule.
Ian H
2023-06-29 04:56:15 +0000 UTCHesse you're such a movie lover and I love that!
Don Tickles
2023-06-29 04:30:37 +0000 UTCGreat series!
Greg
2023-06-29 04:11:28 +0000 UTCthank you hesse and will. i loved movie mindset. in my life i dare to pray for little, but i pray for more mm
Ricardo Pleasure
2023-06-29 04:04:08 +0000 UTCthis shits so good. would love to see some Chinese and/or Brazilian films make it in some day, but I trust the process. Every choice has been banger after banger.
Daniel E
2023-06-29 03:01:31 +0000 UTCthis discsussion helped me understand two pieces of deep french lore that flew over my head as a french canadian kid: 1) Gaston Lagaffe's zany experiments with alternative fuels on his piece of shit car being more of a WWII thing than '73 Oil Shock 2) calling dog turds "gendarmes" (cuz they're cops, duh)
etienne
2023-06-29 01:37:17 +0000 UTCSaved the best for last
J Fitz
2023-06-29 01:32:18 +0000 UTCIt’s ok Will I didn’t realize Bruce Willis was dead in the sixth sense until I watched it a second time
cashedtrapezoid
2023-06-29 00:45:51 +0000 UTCNext season James Caan or Michael Mann? Loved the series appreciate all the analysis.
ColdCreekIndustries
2023-06-29 00:15:19 +0000 UTCHave loved this series! You’ve inspired me to get to the Film Forum next month to watch some Wilder. For next season, you should consider inviting Will Sloan and Justin Decloux from Important Cinema Club on as co-hosts! Would be such a fun mashup.
Denise Fillion
2023-06-28 22:25:30 +0000 UTCI loved this series! Watched so many great movies:) cant wait for season 2
Kirstwb
2023-06-28 22:14:28 +0000 UTCGonna miss the mindset
SlowTrickle
2023-06-28 21:35:39 +0000 UTCHow about an episode for Paul Thomas Anderson? Boogie Nights and There Will Be Blood.
Poppy Chulo
2023-06-28 21:28:34 +0000 UTCExcited to listen this one! Le Samourai is like a top 20 movie ever imo, maybe top ten honestly
Ryan
2023-06-28 21:19:40 +0000 UTCThank you, Movie Mindset. 🙏
T
2023-06-28 21:08:19 +0000 UTCno
buttface
2023-06-28 20:49:14 +0000 UTCWatch l'Armée des Ombres on the big screen in two weeks. Saving the second half for that day.
THEKILLERWHALE
2023-06-28 20:17:33 +0000 UTCI ❤️ Mathilde
emalco
2023-06-28 20:11:37 +0000 UTCJules Dassin was from Middletown, Connecticut- his parents were Ukrainian Jews. His last name rhymes with “Fasten”. He confirms this during his introduction at a LACMA screening of THE NAKED CITY in 2004. (On YouTube, natch.) EDIT: sorry if that sounded dickish! When Bruce Goldstein (legendary NYC repertory programmer) introduced Dassin, he alluded to the fact that the Francophone pronunciation was/is universally assumed.
Rohmer Simpson
2023-06-28 19:50:39 +0000 UTCOh HELL yes.
FamiCommie
2023-06-28 19:48:03 +0000 UTCSo glad to hear that the show is coming back 🥰
Tim O'
2023-06-28 19:19:27 +0000 UTCThis has been really enjoyable. I got to revisit several movies I love and the 80s Eastwoods which I had not previously seen were a revelation…who knew Clint had a horny period? A fact that is sure to continue giving my girlfriend nightmares for months
Here, Try This
2023-06-28 19:18:48 +0000 UTCThe wind that shakes the barley was definitely influenced by Army of Shadows.
Marcus Wrightus
2023-06-28 19:16:22 +0000 UTCLe samurai is possibly the coolest looking movie of all time. This series is great. Hope you guys do more.
Jesse Svetlich
2023-06-28 18:34:13 +0000 UTCBravo Will and Hesse! You are the internet iteration on Siskel and Ebert: passionate, eloquent, discerning. Although you both pretty much agree with each other most of the time. Perhaps find some films you disagree about; might be an interesting episode. A couple other suggestions: great “bad” movies like one of my faves “The Last Dragon”, another auteur I think would in your wheelhouse Hanake. “The Sixth Continent” in Hesse’s parlance-sick. I grew up in a big movie family. My brother Brian Levant has an IMDB page a yard long, and my mother and I kinda starred in “Finding Vivian Meyer” which was Oscar nominated Love the show…
Bloggystyle
2023-06-28 18:33:16 +0000 UTCCette Femme Merveilleuse Madame Mathilde
Adam
2023-06-28 18:22:18 +0000 UTCMy name is Corey 😕. “Here are some words that rhyme with Corey. Story. Allegory……umm”. Great series.
Corey Reynolds
2023-06-28 18:05:11 +0000 UTCrecently someone gave me a great definition that encompasses like 99% of film noir: it's the genre that explores the mystery of why the postwar period felt like shit.
Rohmer Simpson
2023-06-28 17:53:31 +0000 UTCYou don't get much more hard-boiled than Higgins.
Rohmer Simpson
2023-06-28 17:50:17 +0000 UTCI've seen these two movies a couple of times each but within minutes of Will & Hesse pumping them up, fuck it, I gotta throw them on again.
Rohmer Simpson
2023-06-28 17:49:15 +0000 UTCThanks yall for the series, I spent the whole episode cutting down a dead birch branch, without movie mindset I surely would have perished.
Dillo the Willow
2023-06-28 17:49:09 +0000 UTCBlank Check is doing a Park series right now - worth a listen
Rohmer Simpson
2023-06-28 17:14:35 +0000 UTCThanks for this Ep!! Haven't seen a J.P. Melville movie for years, but he is awesome. Currently reading Geo. V. Higgins' c. 1970 "The Friends of Eddie Coyle," it has the same kind of crime insiderism + "men at work"/ code of criminals stuff as you are describing here.
Mark Schneider
2023-06-28 17:05:00 +0000 UTCAlso I fucking loved the series. Thank you guys so much for making it. I can't wait for more episodes.
Joshua Foster
2023-06-28 16:25:53 +0000 UTCI'm shocked that Korea got no movie mindset love. Everyone loves Oldboy, but the first film in the Vengence Trilogy, Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance, would fit perfectly in the Movie Mindset cannon.
Joshua Foster
2023-06-28 16:24:56 +0000 UTCThere’s a good documentary on Criterion Channel called Code Name: Melville that covers his life and career and it’s pretty clear that the only two things he enjoyed in life was being a soldier in WWII and being a movie director.
Broadway Joe
2023-06-28 16:14:13 +0000 UTCEvery time I read the description for one of these episodes I think “that sounds stupid” and by the 30 minute mark I end up stopping to go watch these incredibly sick movies
Joey Fazzoli
2023-06-28 15:51:51 +0000 UTCLuh-fee 🤔
shoulderbark
2023-06-28 15:49:39 +0000 UTCthe people need more movie mindset
Kamran Husain
2023-06-28 14:48:48 +0000 UTCNeed this series to be permanent 😩
grant brown
2023-06-28 13:17:04 +0000 UTCgod I love le Samourai
Thom
2023-06-28 12:53:56 +0000 UTCOutstanding series. Introduced me to a lot of great films. Well done everyone.
HarshMalarkey
2023-06-28 12:51:29 +0000 UTCGood moment, though he doesn’t back track.
Chris T
2023-06-28 12:49:03 +0000 UTCI’m more of a Judex mf
Rohmer Simpson
2023-06-28 12:35:19 +0000 UTCLe Cercle Rouge is one of the most taciturn movies I’ve ever seen, but it also has one of the best laughs of all-time: when Vogel backtracks mid-heist to take a good luck grab of a statue’s tit it gets me every single time. Such a hilarious little character touch. He’s a wildcard! Melville and Wilder, the noir goats
Mike
2023-06-28 12:22:25 +0000 UTCshoutout FANTÔMAS
Michael S. Judge
2023-06-28 12:19:32 +0000 UTCGoing to the lobby for one last treat 😞
Claire Casey
2023-06-28 12:13:11 +0000 UTCMelville my fav. The content we deserve
Reid Kleinberg
2023-06-28 11:50:23 +0000 UTCMy favorite ARMY OF SHADOWS data: the character André Dewavrin, codename "Colonel Passy," was indeed part of the French Resistance, but was also a cryptofascist with connections to the pre-occupation French Christian fascist sect La Cagoule, which attempted a domestic French coup in the 1930s, and he ended up getting drummed out of his prominent position in Charles de Gaulle's inner circle for all that & for embezzling public funds, possibly on behalf of Gladio "anticommunist" groups ... and, in this movie, André Dewavrin is played by the actual André Dewavrin.
Michael S. Judge
2023-06-28 11:18:04 +0000 UTC
