Le Doulos

I’d been looking forward to a film noir with brutal French eye-play and what I ended up getting was a pretty chatty, black-and-white worn-out crime movie, where one of my favorite French actors – Bebel, portrays this petty crook, which really ruined the movie for me. And that’s despite the fact that he’s excellent. It’s simply not him. Either way, Jean-Pierre Melville is obviously a skilled director, but The Finger Man isn’t a movie that would interest me much with its complicated story. (08.09.2015)

I don't really believe that during a crucial meeting with his friend Maurice, he forgot about a special order and a funeral wreath worth 2 million. There might be a few other mistakes and logical inconsistencies, but overall the film is a very well-written and directed crime story that stands out well above the genre average, and it is a joy to watch even decades later. It features an excellent cast, and Jean-Paul Belmondo is much better and more convincing here than in those mass-produced crime comedies from the 70s and 80s, where he played a likable rogue. However, what is traditionally most important with Melville is the atmosphere. I really like the game with noir elements, lengthy shots, poker faces, trench coats, and a black-and-white camera. I am satisfied and give it four honest stars. Overall impression: 80%. (09.09.2015)

In some places this was without exaggeration simply genius, but in other places it was unbelievably dumb. Because it’s just too overcomplicated, so more than once it finds itself having to talk its way out of situations along rather convoluted paths. However, in acting and technical terms, no complaints. And it’s still a marvelous crime movie, despite its defects, no doubt about that. (16.01.2009)