Tuesday, August 31, 2004
TODAY'S MOVIE
BOB LE FLAMBEUR (1956). NYTimes1176BestFilms. An affable criminal and compulsive gambler hits bottom and devises a scheme to rob a casino. It is only superficially a heist movie, although that is reason enough to like it. It is more the way it is a heist movie that counts.
Ebert says that this is generally regarded as the very first of the New Wave films. Jean-Pierre Melville; only recently appreciated as an inspiration of Godard and all the rest. Read all about it in Ebert's interesting review.
It is very 'atmospheric' and documentary like. It is always interesting to watch. The actors are not 'actorly'. Well. It is the New Wave. I liked it. It is tightly wrapped and stands on its own whether it is a monument to the Wave or not. I will give it a 3 out of Netflix5.
