Le premier cercle

Although I mainly watch American films, I make a point of watching foreign films every so often for variety and to see a genre possibly done in a different way. When I saw this at the video store, I thought: "Cool! Jean Reno is a colorful actor, and the video box art and the title of the movie suggest that this will be jam-packed with action and suspense!" I rented it, took it home... and I was very disappointed. I could make a long list about everything that disappointed me about this movie. For starters, Jean Reno is in less of the movie than you might think. And as for action, there is almost no action in the entire running time! Still, the movie could have worked by showing us interesting drama or colorful and interesting other characters. But that's not what happens. The plot is VERY slow-moving, with a lot of boring chat that doesn't advance things very much. And the movie looks and sounds weird; the cinematography has a soft, washed-out look you often see in French movies, and the audio doesn't crackle with life (such as the fact that scene after scene goes by with no musical score in the background.) In fact, the movie has more of a made-for-TV feel than a theatrical film feeling.

I'll still take a chance on foreign films in the future, whether they are French or not. But I'll be more careful in my selections. I now know that foreign film companies can be like American film companies, promising something but delivering something else - and that "something else" not being very good at all.

I'm a Jean Reno fan but he's only one of the great things about this movie. I will agree that the beginning is a little rough. You have to think about what's going on and let it go keep its own pace for awhile. But for all its lack of grace in the beginning, nothing fatal goes on and it easily makes up for it in Acts II and III.

This film is one of the most economical I've ever seen. There's hardly a wasted scene and the characters are all quite believable. Next to Jean Reno as Milo, the next most important role is played by Gaspard Ulliel as his son, Anton. The young man who plays Reno's son is quite capable and is a good match with Reno.

The story is a simple one: young man wants to leave the crime family he belongs to and go straight. I would say there's little new in the story but that's not quite right, on reflection there's a lot of very important detail that really makes the story come alive. I really admire this film's ability to elicit real crime techniques and ambiance, all while giving the audience an unforgettable travelogue of what I think was southern France. Suffice it to say, I intend to seek out this director's work from now on. His name is Laurent Tuel and I believe the man deserves quite a lot of credit.

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.

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 .

Very handsome young gangster wants to leave the family business and lead a normal life but he needs money so one last heist.

Other reviewers cover the story in detail so I will not and just give my overall impressions.

No, this is not a great movie. However it is OK and entertaining.

The production values are low rent trying to be high rent. What do I mean? Well there are great shots from the air but they don't grab you like they do in a comparable film like Anthony Zimmerman.

The story is predictable and full of holes....you don't attack an airport and plane any more without getting the entire national defence force down on you--France has lots of Mirage fighters and so forth that would have been scrambling.

I guess overall this is pretty good boiler plate gangster flic avec un accent Français. There are many better The Double Hour, The Aura etc....