Touchez Pas au Grisbi (1954)
Moody crime drama is an offbeat entry in the one-last-job sweepstakes, and as such it's one of the more interesting offerings. Its strength doesn't lie in the heist or the crime details -- by the time the film starts, the robbery is already a thing of the past -- but in its eye for character. It eventually reveals itself to be as much about aging and friendship as it is about dirty deeds (done dirt cheap). Helped along by strong acting and tight, controlled direction, this is a low-key winner.
Grade: A-
[POSTSCRIPT: After writing this, I read Ebert's 'Great Movies' review of this, wherein he quotes Truffaut as saying, "The real subjects of Grisbi are aging and friendship." Just so y'all know, I didn't steal that line.]
Moody crime drama is an offbeat entry in the one-last-job sweepstakes, and as such it's one of the more interesting offerings. Its strength doesn't lie in the heist or the crime details -- by the time the film starts, the robbery is already a thing of the past -- but in its eye for character. It eventually reveals itself to be as much about aging and friendship as it is about dirty deeds (done dirt cheap). Helped along by strong acting and tight, controlled direction, this is a low-key winner.
Grade: A-
[POSTSCRIPT: After writing this, I read Ebert's 'Great Movies' review of this, wherein he quotes Truffaut as saying, "The real subjects of Grisbi are aging and friendship." Just so y'all know, I didn't steal that line.]
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