Run time: 117 mins

(Subtitled)

One of the most lavish French thrillers of the 70’s, and one Jacques Deray’s most memorable films, Borsalino is a tongue-in-cheek homage to the classic American gangster film.

It sees on-off screen rivals Jean-Paul Belmondo and Alain Delon (the two most popular film stars in France at the time) playing wannabe gangsters, working their way up from petty hustlers to crime lords in ‘30s Marseille. The pairing works wonders; Delon’s coolness and introspection make the perfect complement to Belmondo’s warmth and amiability. Delon is a secretive, ambitious and cruel type, while Jean-Paul Belmondo is an easygoing, engaging hoodlum who is content with small jobs. They meet when Delon gets out of jail and finds that his girl has taken up with somebody else. They join forces, and the girl becomes a part of the scheme. As the climb instigated by Delon begins, their easy-going approach starts to change.

Part crime story, part mismatched buddy comedy, you can feel the evolution from Butch Cassidy and The Sundance Kid. You could also see it as a precursor to De Palma’s Scarface, and more importantly The Godfather, which adopted a similar sepia aesthetic for its period gangster tale. (Jack Whiting) You’ll love it. Dont ask – just Come…