You may prefer the Jean-Pierre Melville's film, made thirty one years earlier. I do too. Here the visual grammar is absolutely different from the Melville's feature. Nothing in common, if you consider the way of filming. Nothing at all.
But this film is however more faithful to the José Giovanni's novel than the Melville's masterpiece was, in 1966. In this film - the old one - for instance, the Relationship between Gu and Manouche's characters were very complex. Because the audiences never actually knew if the two were only long time friends - as could have been two men - lovers or brother and sister...If you Watch closely the Melville's film, you'll notice that. And it was perfectly in the Melvilles touch to bring such ambiguity.
On the contrary, in this 2007 version, the Relationship between Gu and Manouche - Bellucci and Auteuil - are very explicit, clear, plain. It is exactly what Giovanni wrote in his book.
The action sequences in the Corneau's movie are very inspired by the Asian - Hong Kong - cinema. Thanks Johnny To. Who was himself inspired by Melville...But on another way of filming. We can also find something from Sam Peckinpah here. Slow move gunfights, extreme violence in the WILD BUNCH way, and the funeral odyssey of the lost hero, unable to face the modern world for which he couldn't deal with anymore.
A rather good remake, even if you can prefer the genuine material.
But this film is however more faithful to the José Giovanni's novel than the Melville's masterpiece was, in 1966. In this film - the old one - for instance, the Relationship between Gu and Manouche's characters were very complex. Because the audiences never actually knew if the two were only long time friends - as could have been two men - lovers or brother and sister...If you Watch closely the Melville's film, you'll notice that. And it was perfectly in the Melvilles touch to bring such ambiguity.
On the contrary, in this 2007 version, the Relationship between Gu and Manouche - Bellucci and Auteuil - are very explicit, clear, plain. It is exactly what Giovanni wrote in his book.
The action sequences in the Corneau's movie are very inspired by the Asian - Hong Kong - cinema. Thanks Johnny To. Who was himself inspired by Melville...But on another way of filming. We can also find something from Sam Peckinpah here. Slow move gunfights, extreme violence in the WILD BUNCH way, and the funeral odyssey of the lost hero, unable to face the modern world for which he couldn't deal with anymore.
A rather good remake, even if you can prefer the genuine material.