Define: Con/Test
noun /ˈkɒntɛst/ an article written for Pelican in which an enthusiastic cinephile tests notorious convicts from cinema against each other By Giles Chan
Le Samouraï
Heat
Jean-Pierre Melville (1967)
Michael Mann (1995)
The highly revered neo-noir film, Le Samouraï, is possibly one of the ‘manliest’ pieces of fiction ever put to film. Not manly in the way of surfing or driving loud motorcycles, but in the way of repressing your emotions and living as sparingly as possible. Alain Delon plays Jef Costello, a sharply dressed and ruthless hitman who is seen leaving a club where he has killed the owner and provides a series of alibis to try and acquit himself.
Robert De Niro is a robber, and Al Pacino is a detective trying to catch him in the act. It’s a game of cat and mouse, but also mouse and cheese; because the money being stolen is the cheese and De Niro is the mouse. So, it’s a game of cat and mouse and cheese. But Pacino is also evading the affections of his exwife and daughter in the film so if you really give it some thought it’s actually a game of tertiary predator and cat and mouse and cheese.
Costello maintains a cool composure as the police continue to encircle on him and his demeanour could be said to exemplify the stoic masculine male. Accompanied by a strikingly handsome soundtrack composed by François De Roubaix, the titular samurai faces the rises and pitfalls of living such a life - akin to the way the samurai had to adhere to Bushido, a strict moral code concerning their attitudes, behaviour and lifestyle.
Essentially the film explores toxic masculinity and raises questions about purpose and fulfillment. The two leading men of this film are defined by their jobs; beyond this, their lives lack meaningful substance. Pacino’s character encapsulates this sentiment when he says, “I am what I’m going after”.
It’s also worth noting that Arctic Monkeys used this film as inspiration for their last album and they’re like really cool.
A cult classic, the opening heist scene of this film was used as a playable mission in Grand Theft Auto V. similar: ‘The Departed’ (2006), ‘Infernal Affairs’ (2002).
similar: ‘Drive’ (2011), ‘Raging Bull’ (1980), ‘American Psycho’ (2000), ‘Le Cercle Rouge’ (1970)
10
Pelican is 92 years old - nearly as old as Your Mum haha
