Seen: April 19th, 2007
Format: DVD
Rating: 8
I like to plan. In fact, if I were to spend less time planning and more time doing, I'd probably get a lot more actually accomplished. And no matter how I plan, something always runs contrary to plan and needs to be changed or improvised.
The plan's failure, usually in some trivial or seemingly inconsequential fashion, is the linchpin of the heist film. Something tugging on this small, loose thread is what begins the unraveling, and in this unraveling lies the heart of the story.
Rififi is considered by many to be the reference heist film.
Watching Rififi now it seems conventional in many ways. Many of these conventions started here. Rififi is also noir and contains many of the conventions of that genre as well. The combination of these genres works particularly well. Where the standard heist film pits the gang against the forces of good and justice, here they must also battle with those even less scrupulous than themselves, those who have no code. This persecution does a great deal to engender sympathy for the various members of the gang. Their histories and idiosyncrasies fill them out and allow us to identify with them.
The technical aspects of the film are first rate. It is grey and dim. It lives in the shadows. The visual style fits the film perfectly. Characterizations are rich, though simple. Even minor characters are handled carefully.
The heist scene itself is an achievement and has been the subject of many the homage. There is no dialog for its over 30 minute length. Sound is limited to ambient sounds and some Foley effects. The lack of music underscores the tense and delicate nature of the heist itself. The dance the gang goes through is intricate but very clearly rendered. It's attention to detail sells us completely on the capabilities of the gang, the skill involved in this particular job, and the eventual consequences. This is also where the first thread is exposed, which begins the unraveling.
Despite it's intimate portrayal, Rififi is ultimately objective. It doesn't glorify the gang or their situation. It doesn't excuse their behavior. While the story is an allegorical one, it's presented simply It doesn't condemn any of their actions, as ultimately their actions will accomplish this themselves.
PS: Rififi is evidently being remade in Hollywood. This is fairly ironic as Jules Dassin, the director of the original, was working in France at the time for his survival, due to his having been blacklisted in the US.
The Good: Classic Crime allegory wrapped up in an excellent heist film
The Bad: Just say no
The Ugly: No honor among thieves
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