G(M)EMS ---- Le Cercle Rouge (The Red Circle)

Who invented 'cool' in movies? I have to disagree if your answer is

Quentin Tarantino. May be he re-invented it. But, the 'cool' was

already there many years back in B&W hollywood movies and years

later in french gangster movies. The movie I am talking about, the

gem of french gangsta movies, is the movie 'Le cercle rouge',made

in 1970, by one of the great directors of french cinema Jean-Pierre Melville.

Any movie lovers collection must contain atleast 20% of french

movies,and that is a huge number if you ask me. French made

some great movies.But, what attracts me is the variety of movies

they made in the same genre.Even in the gangsta genre, they tackled

it in many variety of ways.Melville tackled it in the 'Cool Gangsta' way.

All his heroes follow a moral code of friendship and loyalty. They

don't talk much. Their actions speaks better than words. They have

no evident fear on their faces.They are ready to give life for

friendship.Enemies always trying to elminate them.Police after

them. Running is their life. Run,Run,Run.Because, if they stop,

then they would always think about the final last heist.

The final act, to settle down and move away from crime.But, it

never ends like that..does it?

The Buddha took a piece of red chalk and drew a circle, saying: "When men, though unaware of it, must meet again someday, they may follow diverging paths to the given day when, ineluctably, they will be reunited within the red circle." -- Rama Krishna

The movie starts with the above quote. Melville completly made up

the quote itseems. I have no idea about the philosophy behind that

quote.But, the characters in the movie seems to follow it in a way.

If you can find some meaning in it, please do tell me..because as

they say, to each his own Buddha,even if it is completely made

up. Some people say that it is a kind of existential gangsta movie.

I have difficulty in accepting that, as I have no idea what

existentialism is, eventhough I have read some of the so-called

existential authors. Hit me up if you can elaborate in a simple english.

What I like about the movie, is the entertainment it gave me. I loved the simplicity of the movie, its like a bare bones kind of stuff,completly opposite to the god father kind of movies.Long takes,empty spaces, minimal dialogues and to the point . I would be absolutely fascinated when a movie shows the character doing all the mundane stuff he does in a day. It some how makes me feel as if the character is a real human being and could able to connect with him. Frankly, if james bond dies in a movie, I wouldnt really care!..because Its impossible to connect with him.The meaning of entertainment differs from person to person and also from time to time .There are people who likes only ADHD inspired action movies.For them, this movie would be very boring.For others, this could be a great movie.God! It exhausts me to write such obvious statements :).

Check this out - Some of the great gangsta movies made in recent

years were very much inspired from this movie. I am sure some

knucklehead somehere is itching to remake this movie.Be aware!