It may take a bit of time for things to get going, but when it does, this film delivers under the classic rules of the genre. Unpredictable ending, twists and turns, "can't trust anybody" ... The "class system" is always present: the IRS inspector earns a pittance being honest, a copper "can't be successful, if not, he wouldn't be there", a public employee has bad manners whereas a mafioso has good manners.
Philippe Noiret's role is not really important, but it's understandable that he's mentioned before Yolande Moreau, who acts just as well, and is the unassuming centre of the story.
Verkamen is the stereotype of a psychopath: remorseless, glib charm, always calm, even when violent. Always with the right explanation for what he does: "If I don't do it, somebody else would", "My victims would die anyway, it's a bad society", "This is the last refuge of dreams in capitalism". What in my opinion is not well explained is how he "becomes" one, since when he has his problem with his wife and when Chevalier starts showing him how to deal with "greedy dealer" (Francis) he seems to be a normal person. Even Insp. Bex questions him about how could he be "issuing from a normal family, and yet being such a dealer", showing an assumption: "psychopaths are sociopaths" (in the sense of "created by society"). Insp. Denoote's role could be more developed, he seems more of a victim than a sleuth.
As it's usually the case, the biggest star has the best line. Chevalier whispers to Vermaken before dealing with their first murder: "Le vrai pouvoir (...) c'est du juste pronocer un mot, et que quelq'un meurt". Just before, he taught him social etiquette, how to drive (!) and "how not to trust anybody, and yet use them to your advantage" (with specific tips for the different chains of the business). His short speech on how killing your competence is just what capitalism is all about reminds me of Schumpeter's "destructive capitalism", although applied to the underworld :). The liason between the inspectors was just one of the details that aren't too hard for us not to suspect them, but not predictable, and explain things over (Denoote's silence). Don't expect "reality principle", as in most films, and ... beware of female inspector psychologists who look shabby :)!
Philippe Noiret's role is not really important, but it's understandable that he's mentioned before Yolande Moreau, who acts just as well, and is the unassuming centre of the story.
Verkamen is the stereotype of a psychopath: remorseless, glib charm, always calm, even when violent. Always with the right explanation for what he does: "If I don't do it, somebody else would", "My victims would die anyway, it's a bad society", "This is the last refuge of dreams in capitalism". What in my opinion is not well explained is how he "becomes" one, since when he has his problem with his wife and when Chevalier starts showing him how to deal with "greedy dealer" (Francis) he seems to be a normal person. Even Insp. Bex questions him about how could he be "issuing from a normal family, and yet being such a dealer", showing an assumption: "psychopaths are sociopaths" (in the sense of "created by society"). Insp. Denoote's role could be more developed, he seems more of a victim than a sleuth.
As it's usually the case, the biggest star has the best line. Chevalier whispers to Vermaken before dealing with their first murder: "Le vrai pouvoir (...) c'est du juste pronocer un mot, et que quelq'un meurt". Just before, he taught him social etiquette, how to drive (!) and "how not to trust anybody, and yet use them to your advantage" (with specific tips for the different chains of the business). His short speech on how killing your competence is just what capitalism is all about reminds me of Schumpeter's "destructive capitalism", although applied to the underworld :). The liason between the inspectors was just one of the details that aren't too hard for us not to suspect them, but not predictable, and explain things over (Denoote's silence). Don't expect "reality principle", as in most films, and ... beware of female inspector psychologists who look shabby :)!