Why So Blu?

Le Samouraï – The Criterion Collection (4K UHD Blu-ray Review)

It was an absolute pleasure to review The Criterion Collection’s Blu-ray release of this film back in 2017, and now here we are again with the 4K UHD release. Jean-Pierre Melville’s Le Samouraï is one of a couple of films from this timeframe that brought a modern sense of cool to practically all the movies about contract killers, hitmen, and assassins that proceeded it (I would also look to Point Blank and Tokyo Drifter). Thanks to a blend of elegance, straightforward storytelling, well-handled tension, and pitch-perfect lead performance, Le Samouraï is a true masterpiece that skillfully blends 40s gangster/noir sensibilities and the evolving nature of 60s new wave cinema. Now on a 4K Blu-ray and presented in HDR, the film can be experienced and enjoyed on an even grander level.

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Film:

(Note: The following review was originally published on November 30, 2017.)

The film’s introduction lets the audience know what they need and the kind of person they’ll follow. Alain Delon stars as Jef Costello, a minimalist individual living in a single-room apartment in Paris. Some text alerts us to the way of the Samurai, the figure the film portrays Jef as in a modern sense. Some more time is spent setting the film p, as Jef travels to a lover’s apartment to establish an alibi. Sometime later, he carries out a hit, murdering a man in a jazz club and nearly getting away clean.

Compared to other films about assassins where the body count piles up, Le Samouraï only concerns one job and its ramifications. Lengthy sequences show the process of determining the next moves on all sides. We see interrogations, reactions from the mob, the status of a piano-playing witness, and Jef’s further actions. Overall, it makes for a relatively simple plot, but this film is so much more than its story.

I mentioned how cool this all is. That may seem reductive, but it is the best word to describe this film. Thanks to Jef’s persona, the look of the film, the use of music, the editing rhythms, and more, Melville has found the perfect balance required for a movie to epitomize such a simple description. Le Samouraï is the sort of film that is not about the glamour of gangster culture but still has a striking look. The lead character is a cold-blooded killer but dresses and moves like a model.

The setting is critical. Le Samouraï moves to different Parisian locations, often overcrowded, yet Jef finds the perfect way of blending in while standing out for the audience. These locations are interesting in all the ways we learn about them. Only one, the jazz club, relies on its chic qualities. The rest of the sites are made interesting by way of process.

Some extended scenes portray characters going through the chores, assignments, or tasks they must complete. Melville shoots most of these scenes with meticulous detail. We see everything Jef does to prepare and fix himself. A couple of characters set up an elaborate ambush full of little pieces to keep track of. The lineup and interrogation scenes have police officers performing various duties to extend the tension and make it all believable.

Le Samouraï is a film that operates in the real world. However, it also can’t help but feel stylized. Much like a samurai film or a western, this movie features showdowns that require specific character placements and idyllic settings that can have the required audience and even set-dressing. The film also makes sure to operate according to the code Jef has set up for himself. As a result, it allows for a lack of conventionality when winding down the story.

Through all of this, you have Delon, who is excellent here. The way the actor holds onto his chameleon-like identity makes you want to go out and buy a fedora and trench coat to be just like him. Given the many films ranging from John Woo’s The Killer to Jim Jarmusch’s Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai (please put this on Criterion too, by the way!) that have all shown their admiration for Melville and Delon’s character, it’s easy to see I’m not the only one impressed by this cool assassin.

Having seen it several times, I greatly admire Le Samouraï. Jef’s methodical nature, Melville’s meticulous detail, and the overall style of the film make it terrific from start to finish. If you’re a fan of gangster films, stories about assassins, or just very cool cinema in general, this is not one to miss.

Video:

Encoding: HEVC / H.265

Resolution: 4K (2160p)

Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1

Layers: BD-100

Details: This new 4K restoration, undertaken by the Criterion Collection and Pathe, was created from the 35mm original camera negative, in addition to a 35mm internegative and 35mm interpositive for some sections.

Clarity/Detail: As you’d expect, an older film such as this has been cleaned off a lot of dirt, debris, scratches, and other elements that disrupt the look. Those were my thoughts on the Blu-ray release, but now there’s even more to praise. This is a healthier appearance for the film, which is usually quite apparent when seeing how much more detail can be gleaned from grey walls, cool blues, and more that suddenly energy with greater clarity. Brighter visuals are also on display, serving the film nicely and further showing off the image stability. This is a solid improvement with an HDR grade that doesn’t overwhelm the feature.

Depth: Depth never feels like an issue. This film’s spacing is not flat. The interrogation scenes, for example, feature a group of individuals, and the depth of field always properly handles their presence.

Black Levels: Black levels suffer a bit. A 4K remaster would likely help Le Samouraï not have this problem, but darker and nighttime scenes show the issue regarding crush and a lack of sharpness in this presentation. While not entirely problematic, it’s apparent enough to hold the film back from a perfect score.

Color Reproduction: The colors are well-balanced. Le Samouraï has a sort of saturated look to it, given the inherent grittiness, but that doesn’t stop the nature of the colors presented to us from looking as good as they do. For this release, even with the cool primary colors, the more expansive areas have great pop for the screen.

Flesh Tones: Similarly, facial textures register pretty strongly here. You get a good look at the cast, and the film’s presentation nicely supports this clarity level.

Noise/Artifacts: Outside of whatever natural elements may still be present, this is a clean release.

Audio: 

Audio Format(s): French LPCM 1.0

Subtitles: English

Details: The original monaural soundtrack was remastered from the 35mm magnetic track.

Dynamics: The lossless track is excellent. Le Samouraï does a lot with silence, incorporating the little noises from small actions rather than big moments involving the score. As a result, the blends of different sounds all come across as stable throughout.

Height: N/A

Low-Frequency Extension: N/A

Surround Sound Presentation: N/A

Dialogue Reproduction: Everyone is heard clearly.

Extras:

Le Samouraï arrives with the same extras found in previous releases of the film. A film historian commentary would have been welcome, let alone perhaps more regarding what it’s influenced, but there is a good selection of interviews present.

Features Include:

• Authors on Melville:
  • Rui Nogueira (SD, 13:00) – A film critic who discusses the interesting aspects of Le Samouraï and Melville’s life. Presented in French with subtitles.
  • Ginette Vincendeau (SD, 18:42) – A film historian who discusses Melville’s directorial style and the impact of his work. Presented in English.
• The Lineup (SD, 25:00) – A series of archival interviews with Melville, Delon, and other actors involved with Le Samouraï. Presented in French with subtitles.
• Melville-Delon: D’honneur et de nuit (Of Honor and of Night) (SD, 24:00) – A 2011 French documentary focusing on the collaborations and friendship between the director and actor.
• Theatrical Trailer (HD, 4:00)
• PLUS – An essay by film scholar David Thomson, an appreciation by filmmaker John Woo, and excerpts from Melville on Melville.

 

Summary:

Le Samouraï is an incredible movie that deserves the attention of anyone who has been enjoying slick action flicks about hitmen. It all starts somewhere, and this film certainly garnered the attention of many filmmakers working today. The Criterion Collection has done an excellent job upgrading the film’s presentation for its 4K UHD Blu-ray release, as the video presentation is a nice improvement. The extras may not have any additions, but they are still solid. This film, as a whole, is a fantastic addition to anyone’s Criterion collection.

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