Le Samouraï (1967)

Director: Jean-Pierre Melville
Stars: Alain Delon, François Périer, Nathalie Delon
Runtime: 101 minutes

Synopsis: After professional hitman Jef Costello is seen by witnesses his efforts to provide himself an alibi drive him further into a corner.

Verdict: An obvious influence to Nicolas Winding Refn's "Drive", this French neo-noir crime film doesn't waste any time in establishing the stakes at hand. It may not have the tightest of scripts, but these leaks are easily overturned by the gloomy atmosphere it builds around the mysterious but riveting protagonist, brilliantly portrayed by Alain Delon. Story-wise, it never pretends to be more complex than it needs to be, making the watch a relatively pleasant one.

FINAL GRADE: 8/10