GRADE: 9
Four men plan a technically perfect crime, but the human element intervenes.
Original Title: Du rififi chez les hommes
Director: Jules Dassin
Country: France
THOUGHTS:
A great gangster movie in 3 distinct, equally entertaining acts: 1) The set-up, which contains an unforgettable song and dance sequence, 2) the heist, which is nearly silent and fascinatingly detailed, and 3) the post-crime fallout–the most action-packed chapter.
The ending–with no one getting away and the entire enterprise proving pointless–immediately brought to mind half a dozen later films that clearly borrow from it, including Kubrick’s The Killing, Fargo, A Simple Plan, and so many more.