Film Review
It is a rare that a sequel to a popular film is anywhere near as good as the original
and
Borsalino and Co. proves the point with (literally) a vengeance. The
1970 film
Borsalino was quite a respectable gangster film, bearing a favourable
comparison with Francis Ford Coppola's
Godfather films which appeared later in
the same decade. Its misguided sequel, however, is little more than a derivative
tale in which two rival gangs spend the best part of two hours systematically slaughtering
each other before our eyes. Totally lacking in dramatic tension and characterisation,
with Alain Delon at his most irritatingly complacent, this film would have little to commend
it if its production values were not so damned impressive. Even with such third
rate nonsense as this, French cinema proves itself second to none in recreating an authentic
period setting, with cinematography and music to die for. Yes, the film does have
some artistic strengths, but mercifully there wasn't a
Borsalino III.
© James Travers 2002
The above content is owned by filmsdefrance.com and must not be copied.
Next Jacques Deray film:
Flic Story (1975)
Film Synopsis
France, 1934. Over the past few years, Roch Siffredi and François
Capella were two of the most notorious gangsters in Marseille. Now
Capella is dead, the victim of an assassin. After his friend's funeral,
Siffredi begins looking for his killer and soon discovers it was Giovanni
Volpone, a ruthless Italian businessman. By executing the latter's
brother Siffredi fires the opening salvo in what soon becomes an all-out
war between himself and the equally merciless Volpone. By allying himself
with politicians on the extreme right, the latter is confident of gaining
complete control of Marseille. The force of Volpone's retaliation takes
Siffredi by surprise and he must flee the town if he is to stay alive.
Three years later, he returns to Marseille with his own private army. Siffredi's
revenge will be swift and bloody - and nothing will stop him from placing
Volpone where he belongs, in his grave...
© James Travers
The above content is owned by filmsdefrance.com and must not be copied.