Exploring the Cool Mastery of Jean-Pierre Melville | Taste of Directors: French Cinema Icon

In this next entry in our monthly director spotlights we turn our attention to French director Jean-Pierre Melville, the godfather of the French New Wave. Let me know your thoughts including your favorite Jean-Pierre Melville films in the comments section. Enjoy!
Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai Criterion Blu-Ray Review:
• Ghost Dog: The Way of ...
Le Cercle Rouge Criterion 4K Review:
• Le Cercle Rouge Criter...
Le Samurai Criterion 4K Review:
• Is Le Samouraï Criteri...
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[@codyinthecinema]

I was considering picking up the 4k of "Le Samourai" in the next half off sale, and I've also had the other two on my watchlists, so I guess I'll get all 3!

[@hunterrobinson2846]

I love Melville. I think the three you talked about are his best movies, Le Samourai is probably my favorite but it’s been at least 15 years since I’ve seen Army of Shadows or Le Cercle Rouge.
Alain Delon is so awesome. Definitely the king of cool in my book. A couple other Delon movies I really like are Rocco and His Brothers, Purple Noon, Tony Arzenta(also goes under the title Big Guns), The Sicilian Clan(which has a kino blu ray release), and another Melville movie, Un Flic is also worth checking out.

[@island007100]

Thanks James for the great discussion on Melville. Love these three films, and also enjoyed Criterion's Blu-ray release of "Le Silence de la Mer", which is a very different film for Melville but quite fascinating.

[@20thand21stMovies]

Hello, island007100! Glad you enjoy this director spotlight on Melville. I haven’t yet seen Le Silence de la Mer so will need to check that one out.

[@MickeyRynn]

I love Melville, great choice to profile. My favourites are Le Doulos (The Snitch) and Bob Le Flambeur, with honourable mentions for Le Cercle Rouge and Le Samourai.

[@vin0413]

JPM is one of the reasons why I got into the Criterion Collection. Le Samourai, Army of Shadows and Bob Le Flambeur are my top favorites.

[@archiecinema]

Great video James. Le Cercle Rouge is in my back catalog. Le Samurai is brilliant. I want Army of Shadows bad. I’m going to wait and see if Criterion does a 4 K upgrade before I buy

[@caseym22]

I've only recently started watching his movies (Le Samourai, Bob le Flambeur, and Le Doulos) and so far so good! I have to say Le Doulos is my current favorite Melville movie that I highly recommend to anyone that likes crime movies.

[@pete49327]

James, enjoyed your video. I have seen and liked Le Cercle Rouge and Le Samourai, both on Criterion Channel, still considering both discs at some point, thanks.

[@20thand21stMovies]

Pete, glad you enjoyed this entry in our director spotlight! I need to see more JPM films. I hope you enjoyed those editions if you pick them up.
Epic game last night. Once again my Dawgs come up short vs the Tide. They’ll keep fighting and get over that hump eventually (I guess 😀).

[@pete49327]

@@20thand21stMovies You're a good sport James. A very possible chance the teams will have a rematch, SEC title game, playoffs, and history says those rematches are often won by the team that lost the early game.
Forgot to mention, but so glad you mentioned Diabolique, I also love this film and you are spot on with its Hicthcockian style. I've had it in my buy que for about two years, but always seem to buy something else.

[@JohnVaughan-c7n]

Loved Le Circle Rouge. Like you said absolutely gorgeous 4k upgrade.

[@20thand21stMovies]

Yes, that Le Cercle Rouge 4K is really nice, John.

[@raymondwatt9773]

Army of Shadows is my favorite French film.

[@20thand21stMovies]

Nice. It’s a good one, Raymond!

[@raymondwatt9773]

I have all three of those Criterions.

[@20thand21stMovies]

Cool. They’re all good films and nice editions from Criterion.