Euro-crime: policier, polar, poliziesco all'italiana, poliziottesco/poliziotteschi

[Richard--W]

... I actually find the conspiracy behind the vigilante policemen to be far more sinister in EXECUTION SQUAD too...

More sinister? I have to see it.

Where I live vigilante cops aren't a conspiracy at all, they're a simple fact of life.

[Richard--W]

The first FERNANDO DI LEO CRIME COLLECTION is a personal favorite. I agree about CALIBER 9 and THE ITALIAN CONNECTION. I saw the films on DVD some years before Raro picked them up. On the whole, with all factors considered, I think the Italians were better at police / crime noirs than they were at westerns.

I'm not surprised EXECUTION SQUAD predates MAGNUM FORCE just like THE STRANGERS GUNDOWN / DJANGO THE BASTARD (1969) predates HIGH PLAINS DRIFTER (1973). At least Clint came up with better titles. On the other hand I consider MAGNUM FORCE one of Clint's smarter films.

[Andrew Monroe]

Yes, like Paul says, EXECUTION SQUAD's premise is similar to MAGNUM FORCE - though it pre-dates that film so it should be the other way around. I actually find the conspiracy behind the vigilante policemen to be far more sinister in EXECUTION SQUAD too.

As far as other good eurocrime films go, Richard, it's a damn shame that a lot of the really good ones have yet to be released in english friendly dvds. You can find a lot of fan versions at the bootleg sites. Now for what's out there, THE CYNIC, THE RAT, AND THE FIST is a good film (though it's another pricey import sadly) and a very nice dvd. I can't recall, do you have the first Di Leo BD set? That's essential, all very entertaining and at least two of them - THE ITALIAN CONNECTION and MILANO CALIBRO 9, are flat out classics.

[Paul L]

Oh, I have the Blue Undergrounds and a few NoShames. Imports and films like EXECUTION SQUAD I need to catch up with.

Incidentally, the premise of EXECUTION SQUAD sounds a lot like MAGNUM FORCE (1973), doesn't it.

It's quite a bit like MAGNUM FORCE, to be honest, Richard. A couple of the scenes of violence have a real ring of truth to them, in light of some of the stuff taking place in Italy at the time the film was made. It's a fantastic little film; the German DVD is lovely.

[Richard--W]

More cornerstones, Andrew? It takes four to hold up a building.

[Richard--W]

Oh, I have the Blue Undergrounds and a few NoShames. Imports and films like EXECUTION SQUAD I need to catch up with.

Incidentally, the premise of EXECUTION SQUAD sounds a lot like MAGNUM FORCE (1973), doesn't it.

[Scyther]

Who is Steno?

Know of any other cornerstones, pile them up right here.

Steno is an Italian director, known primarily for his comedies and lighthearted action pics (think Spencer and Hill vehicles). He also took Lucio Fulci under his wing when the Maestro first was getting started, and-according to Lucio himself-taught him quite a bit early on.

I would grab virtually any Blue Underground or Noshame released Eurocrime entry; they're all worth your time, in my humble opinion!

[Paul L]

Haven't seen it, and I probably won't, but I must say Daniel Auteuil knows how to inhabit these downbeat civil servants and working class crooks in French crime noirs. Or maybe the genre inhabits him. In any case, he's the perfect actor for this kind of character and any film he undertakes is enriched by his presence. A seriously good actor

Of his recent films, I thought Auteuil was excellent in Olivier Marchal's MR 73. Now, in contrast with THE LOOKOUT, MR 73 is an excellent film in which Auteuil channels something of Dana Andrews in WHERE THE SIDEWALK ENDS, or possibly Robert Ryan in ON DANGEROUS GROUND. Auteuil can also be very good in comic roles (Patrice Leconte's MON MEILLEUR AMI springs to mind).

Honestly, I think Kassovitz is an equally good actor, given the right material. He's good in this film, but he really shines in ASSASSIN(S). I like him in Audiard's SEE HOW THEY FALL too.

[Richard--W]

Got halfway through Michele Placido's recent LE GUETTEUR/THE LOOKOUT today but gave up: it's a decent cat-and-mouse thriller, told in a non-linear stylee, with Daniel Auteuil's Inspector Mattei (nod to Jean-Pierre Melville there, no doubt) tracking down sniper Mathieu Kassovitz. A very good cast doesn't save the film from feeling very by-the-numbers. I was tired and rapidly losing interest, so had to break off halfway through the film.

I'll revisit it later in the week and work my way through the whole thing. Maybe when I'm feeling a little more awake, it'll sit better with me. But for now, I'll say it's something of a disappointment. I had high hopes for this one.

Haven't seen it, and I probably won't, but I must say Daniel Auteuil knows how to inhabit these downbeat civil servants and working class crooks in French crime noirs. Or maybe the genre inhabits him. In any case, he's the perfect actor for this kind of character and any film he undertakes is enriched by his presence. A seriously good actor. Blame it on Emmanuelle Béart ....

[Richard--W]

Thanks for the suggestion, Andrew and Clive. I'll fit that cornerstone into place in a day or so.
See the influence you have on me.

Who is Steno?

Know of any other cornerstones, pile them up right here.

[Clive Smith]

Seconded - good call, Andrew. Salerno is superb in this and I can vouchsafe that this is best disc available.

[Andrew Monroe]

My Eurocrime collection is embarrassingly thin and needs to be fattened up.

Richard, here's a disc that should be the cornerstone of any eurocrime collection. I highly recommend it, gripping and well acted by all, particularly Enrico Maria Salerno who brings a gravitas to his cop role you don't often see. It's a film I can revisit every year or so and it always seems fresh. The Cipriani score is top notch too. That dvd is the best one available, very nice.

[Paul L]

Got halfway through Michele Placido's recent LE GUETTEUR/THE LOOKOUT today but gave up: it's a decent cat-and-mouse thriller, told in a non-linear stylee, with Daniel Auteuil's Inspector Mattei (nod to Jean-Pierre Melville there, no doubt) tracking down sniper Mathieu Kassovitz. A very good cast doesn't save the film from feeling very by-the-numbers. I was tired and rapidly losing interest, so had to break off halfway through the film.

I'll revisit it later in the week and work my way through the whole thing. Maybe when I'm feeling a little more awake, it'll sit better with me. But for now, I'll say it's something of a disappointment. I had high hopes for this one.

[Apronikoff]

Does anyone know what happened to the Fernando Di Leo Crime Collection Volume 2 blu-ray that Raro was going to release? Was it canceled or delayed or ...?

Delayed. Raro just posted a video from Kidnap Syndicate on Facebook the other day in reference to this set...

They just changed their distributors which caused a bunch of stuff to get delayed. If I remember correctly it's looking like June for this set now.

[Richard--W]

Does anyone know what happened to the Fernando Di Leo Crime Collection Volume 2 blu-ray that Raro was going to release? Was it canceled or delayed or ...?