A grey-haired gentleman seems a model citizen : his colleagues and fellow businessmen admire his vision and enterprise, his neighbours laud his probity and the Catholic Church thanks him for his many good works. By night, however, this fine citizen evolves against a background of nightclubs, gambling dens, watering holes for criminals. Intelligent, cynical and resourceful, he controls his various victims and contacts by a combination of carrots and sticks. But will he be able to keep up appearances forever ?
"Mirror" is a well-made gangster movie with a considerable satirical bite. There's a lot of good acting to be enjoyed, but it's Jean Gabin who steals the show, with an enormously charismatic performance. Talk about star quality ! Let him walk into a room, and all eyes will follow him.
Much attention has been paid to the sets and props, and the music is quite good. It all works up to a striking finale, with a giant shoot-out between the graves and crosses of a graveyard. And the final touch, while perhaps too fanciful, will stick in the memory.
For viewers and reviewers who like to play at "contrast and compare" : the movie treats some of the same themes as the "Godfather" trilogy. (Sadly it is not quite up to the same iconic level, although it's certainly enjoyable.) For instance, here too you get a professional gangster who likes to pose as a prosperous, hard-working pater familias and a faithful member of the Church. Note the differences in style and approach...
"Mirror" is a well-made gangster movie with a considerable satirical bite. There's a lot of good acting to be enjoyed, but it's Jean Gabin who steals the show, with an enormously charismatic performance. Talk about star quality ! Let him walk into a room, and all eyes will follow him.
Much attention has been paid to the sets and props, and the music is quite good. It all works up to a striking finale, with a giant shoot-out between the graves and crosses of a graveyard. And the final touch, while perhaps too fanciful, will stick in the memory.
For viewers and reviewers who like to play at "contrast and compare" : the movie treats some of the same themes as the "Godfather" trilogy. (Sadly it is not quite up to the same iconic level, although it's certainly enjoyable.) For instance, here too you get a professional gangster who likes to pose as a prosperous, hard-working pater familias and a faithful member of the Church. Note the differences in style and approach...