Jean-Pierre Melville’s 1967 movie *Le Samouraï* centers on a contract killer who makes a mistake during an assignment and must hurry to fix things. Jef Costello, portrayed by Alain Delon, is hired to eliminate a nightclub owner, but his escape is complicated when he's spotted by the club’s pianist (Cathy Rosier) and subsequently caught up in a police raid. He then becomes the target of both an intelligent investigator (François Périer) and those who employed him. Throughout the film, Costello manages to avoid these dangers while adhering to a code of conduct similar to that of a samurai warrior. What I consider to be *Le Samouraï’s* greatest strength is Alain Delon's acting. Costello starts off with an expressionless demeanor and assurance, but as the story unfolds, he gradually loses his composure, and Delon portrays this gradual decline effectively. Melville’s direction stands out for its ability to maintain tension—even after repeated viewings when you already know what will happen—and it’s interesting how the film encourages viewers to feel empathy for a man who is essentially a ruthless killer. We aren't even given any background information that might explain or excuse his line of work; instead, Costello comes across as an impersonal killing machine, yet the movie still makes you worry about him. The soundtrack by François de Roubaix is also noteworthy, being one of the first uses of electronic music. Certain elements involving police procedure seem awkward or improbable (the detective apparently knows every building in Paris, which seems hard to believe), so I can’t consider this a perfect film. Nevertheless, it's a worthwhile movie and an important part of a film lover’s education: *Le Samouraï* has had a significant impact since its release, and those who have watched later films like Jim Jarmusch's *Ghost Dog* or Michael Mann's *Collateral* will notice aspects that appear to be tributes to Melville’s work. *Le Samouraï*, in turn, draws inspiration from American film noir as well as the French New Wave movement of the time.

Source on TMDB