Le premier cercle

Despite the Armenian church service and the historical introduction, the ethnic theme is a bit weak (and do the Armenians in real life actually have their own mafiosi?), and this hasn't the richness of Melville, or 'The Godfather,' or Téchiné's 'Les Voleurs.' But this film is satisfying precisely for the qualities that cause some to dismiss it: it's understated, elegant, and sensually pleasing, with beautiful images and a musical accompaniment far above genre and cool, classy criminals who project a sense of being fearless and professional. This is the kind of stylish European crime film with sleek cars, sunlit villas, and drives along the Riviera that you can enjoy for the atmosphere as much as anything else. Everyone dresses in black. Sami Bouajila's cop too (Bouajila the actor also himself a consummate professional, very solid here); his black outfits are just a bit dustier and shabbier. Gaspard Ulliel grows up here from most of his earlier roles (after already having become macho and heroic as the peasant hero of the 2007 'Jacquou le croquant') slicking his hair back, bulging out of his designer clothes, peering over his designer shades. Both he and Réno show very little emotion, projecting instead the dedication of stoical members of a tight clan. I don't know if you can believe Antona's plan of breaking away. How is he supposed to do that by taking over a hotel in the Camargue set up by somebody his father works with, right under his nose, and without the money for the down payment? This is less convincing and less well developed than something like Thomas Seyr (Romain Duris) wanting to become a concert pianist in Audiard's 'The Beat My Heart Skipped'. But this to me is like the beautiful, elegant 1957 'No Sun in Venice' ('Sait-on jamais'), directed by Roger Vadim, which a user wisely said is "worth it for the music and the visuals." Only 'Le premier cercle' ('The Ultimate Heist,' sadly generic title) doesn't have a classic sound track by the Modern Jazz Quartet. 'Le premier cercle' also relates to the Marseilles-based "Frank Riva" TV trilogy starring the aging, mellower Alain Delon. But 'Le premier cercle' is more stylish and restrained. It lets you wallow in cool.

Tense and violent French thriller with intense drama , wonderful acting and spectacular action scenes , dealing with the head of an Armenian "crime family" and his son , set in the south of France . Thrilling and stirring thriller about a powerful family of cruel mobsters , they are the Malakian clan , that controls the underworld of Southern France . At its head, the tough , ruthless godfather Milo Malakian (Jean Reno) rules his world with an iron fist . The gang is formed by various two-fisted members , all of whom have great respect for this person . His son and heir, results to be Anton (Gaspard Ulliel) , but he wants to retire himself , living peacefully . Anton's life radically changes when appears a beautiful girl and he would like to forget that part of his life along with his nurse sweetheart Elodie (Vahina Giocante) . Miko Malakian is a known robber who has retained a sense of family , honesty , camaraderie , unfailing loyalty and pride in his origins . Proud Miko is 60 and some years old and a veteran leader of a dangerous band of robbers . The two of them , father and son , have created a reckless gang who carry out bold robberies . Most of all, Miko has remained friendship with Rudy (Isaac Sharry) .The team they formed, inevitably got involved in organized crime, they are called the Malakian Clan , made them the most famous armed thieves in France .Meanwhile , the clan chief Miko taking part in funeral , weddings , parties and family celebrations . But then there appears the stubborn L'inspecteur Saunier (Sami Bouajila) who relentlessly pursues them . To getaway , not only does Anton have to counter his own destiny , but also the cop who has sworn to bring his dad down . Later on , there emerges violence , chases , betrayal and relentless vendetta , it does gang's inner circle is engraved in blood .

A stylish , complex , dramatic movie driven by two main characters , dealing with a known delinquent : Jean Reno and his son as well as heir : Garpard Ulliel . This exciting film contains action , violence , thrills , treason , suspense and plot twists . Top-notch thriller in which nothing is the way it seems , the atmosphere is already tense and the twists and turns are the best part of this movie . In other ways, it feels like a tribute to ¨Polar¨ genre or French Noir Cinema , full of attractive characters and edge-of-your-seat intrigue . The story is well paced including complex as well as interesting roles. The film was noteworthy for casting some of the finest actors in France . Exceptional acting by Jean Reno , a good French actor who has played several Noir flicks , he plays as Milo Malakian , a notorious criminal of simple and universal values, so clear-headed and full of loyalty , friendship , comradeship with his family and band . Reno has played a lot of hits ; both , main actor and secondary character , such as : The Professional, The Big Blue , Godzilla, Ronin, Days and Nights , The Crimson Rivers I and II , Wasabi , 22 Bullets , Alex Cross , Pink Panther , Cash , Armored , and many others . His son is well played by Gaspard Ulliel as Anton Malakian who has disowned his past, as he wishes quiet life, as he dreams of breaking free and making his own choices , he would like to forget that part of his life ,as he has found peace by retiring from the "business" along with his girlfriend Elodie finely performed by Vahina Giocante , she is a nice match with Gaspard . Good production design , adding colorful exteriours and adequate interior . Excellent soundtrack by Alain Krenski that elevates the emotion and the intensity of the scenes to new heights . Brilliant as well as evocative cinematography filmed on location by Laurent Machuel .

Laurent Tuel did a formidable job with this Le premier cercle (2009) in similar style to Les Lyonnais (2011) . Tuel is a good writer/producer/director of nice movies . He then wrote the first draft of the screenplay himself, and so on ; being based on a original idea by Laurent Turner and Laurent Tuel himself . Tuel is a notorious writer/director who has directed a few films , TV movies and shorts , such as : Children's Play , Jean-Philippe , Le combat ordinaire , Le grande boucle , Le rocher d'Acapulco , Speakerine (TV Series) and Hillbilly Chainsaw Massacre (Short) . rating : 6.5/10 . Decent French thriller .

I love Jean Reno (Leon: The Professional, Godzilla, Ronin, The Crimson Rivers). That may color my impression of the film as a whole. He plays an Armenian mafia head in France. He is cool, tough, and everything I have always loved about his acting.

Gaspar Ulliel (A Very Long Engagement) plays his son, Anton. Anton wants out of the mob and wants to live a normal life with his love Elodie, played by Vahina Giocante (Lila Says).

Sami Bouajila (Days of Glory, The Siege) is Saunier, the police inspector trying to catch the gang as they plan one last heist that will set them up for life.

Director Laurent Tuel did not waste a second in this dark film. It was captivating from beginning to end, even if it turned out as expected. The soundtrack was excellent. It was worth watching just to hear it.

This movie could have been so much better. The cast, the location, even the plot (thin as it was) was good. Especially the cast. I expect great things of Jean Reno. Perhaps the budget caused the director to pinch things.

I did like the homage to The Godfather with the scene following where the grocery bag falls to the pavement. Nice touch.

There could have been so much more, but the movie felt hollow. The actual heist itself seemed to me almost an afterthought. Such a pity, because the drama could really have been built there step by step, scene by scene. I kept waiting for the payoff. Frankly, I was confused at which player took the bullet until the denouement. The last third of the movie was muddy, or perhaps 'smoky'.

I really wish that I could rank this movie higher than I did, but that's show biz, I guess.

A hard-boiled, slickly entertainingly, bullet-paced Policier about an infamous Armenian crime family ruthlessly headed by powerful boss, Milo Malakian (Jean Reno). His rebellious, altogether less bloodthirsty son, Anton (Gaspard Ulliel) secretly wants out, enjoy some bucolic domesticity with his lava hot nurse fiancee, Elodie (Vahina Giocante). Needless to say his son's imminent defection, ever mounting paranoia, and the relentless hounding by vengeful L'inspecteur Saunier (Sami Bouajila) bodes ill for the fractured Malakian clan! While formulaic, the action is dynamically mounted, performances are uniformly credible, Alain Kremski's lyrical piano score is a delight, and the terse, volatile atmosphere is frequently redolent of a vintage Lenzi Polizioteschi! Laurent Tuel's consistently gripping 'Le Premier Cercle' is an above average Euro-crime thriller that, sadly, seems to have been overlooked. The desperate airplane heist is genuinely thrilling, and Jean Reno fans are in for a real treat. If 'Le Premier Cercle' had been shot in the late 60s, I could readily see, Alain Delon as Anton, and burly Lino Ventura as Milo!