Le Samouraï
Le Samouraï

Le Samouraï

1967Movie105 minFrench

After carrying out a flawlessly planned hit, Jef Costello, a contract killer with samurai instincts, finds himself caught between a persistent police investigator and a ruthless employer, and not even his armor of fedora and trench coat can protect him.

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Insights

IMDb8.1/10
Rotten Tomatoes97%
Metacritic93
Google Users93%
Director: Jean-Pierre MelvilleGenres: Crime, Drama, Thriller

Plot Summary

Jef Costello, a solitary hitman, lives by a strict personal code. After completing a contract, he finds himself caught between a police investigation and the underworld's machinations. To survive and maintain his integrity, Jef must navigate a dangerous game of trust and betrayal, relying solely on his skills and minimalist principles.

Critical Reception

Le Samouraï is widely regarded as a masterpiece of crime cinema and a seminal work of the French New Wave. Critics lauded its stylish direction, minimalist aesthetic, and Alain Delon's iconic performance. The film is celebrated for its atmospheric tension and existential exploration of its stoic protagonist.

What Reviewers Say

  • Visually stunning with a minimalist, noir aesthetic.
  • Alain Delon delivers a career-defining performance as the enigmatic hitman.
  • Masterful pacing and atmospheric tension create a compellingly cool thriller.

Google audience: Audiences praise the film's incredible style, the unforgettable performance by Alain Delon, and its sophisticated, slow-burn narrative. Many find it to be a timeless and influential crime film.

Fun Fact

The distinctive trench coat and hat worn by Alain Delon's character, Jef Costello, became iconic and heavily influenced fashion and cinematic portrayals of hitmen.

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My Review

TMDB Reviews

3 reviews
markavrelii

markavrelii

Amazing movie! Withstood the test of times. Was watching it with a great interest unlike many movies of this era. Delon is magnifique! Unexpected plot and ending, but the title should have prepared me for it.
CRCulver

CRCulver

Jean-Pierre Melville's 1967 film <i>Le Samouraï</i> is the story of a hired assassin who slips up on a hit and his race against time to set things right. Jef Costello (Alain Delon) is given a contract to kill a nightclub owner, but on the w...
John Chard

John Chard

Magnifique. Le Samouraï, one of the most highly praised French films of the 1960s, and justifiably so. Having only just caught it for the first time, I'm not sure what more I can say about a film that has been discussed, dissected, prai...