- Release year: 1981
- Director: Alain Corneau.
- Producer: Alain Sarde.
- Screenplay by: Alain Corneau and Michel Grisolia.
- Cinematography by: Pierre-William Glenn.
- Music by: Philippe Sarde.
Synopsis: a reformed gangster is forced out of retirement by a young thug who seems intent on turning his life upside down.
Shotgun Commentary: a gangster squabble, but make it French.
Review
Choice of Arms is a French crime film that follows two gangsters from different generations, a reformed mafia boss and a young thug. The impulsive personality of the second creates some issues in the first’s life that he is forced to address by getting back into his old habits.
Same old, same old
The narrative is pretty straight-forward. A man living his best life after retiring from his illegal activities is brought a problem straight to his home. The problem being a thug with no manners or brains, but a lot of rage and issues, which he projects onto anyone he’s jealous of. The young criminal, Mickey (Gérard Depardieu), gets mad when the old gangster Noel (Yves Montand) tries to set up some boundaries with him. Leading to the pointless feud that the film follows. Because how dare Noel not let him do anything he wants?
The portrayal of youth is stereotypical and downright embarrassing to watch. Then again, young criminals tend to be quite cringe, at least by cinematic standards, so it doesn’t come as much of a shock. The stereotype of wasted youth that is still promoted nowadays in films like The Substance (2024) is what makes the essence of Mickey.
Does he have any issues? Not as far as the audience knows. There is no depth to his persona further than “young = reckless and greedy”. Depardieu is great in his embodiment of a total asshole, then again, knowing what we know now, it seems like that portrayal wasn’t too much of a stretch. A connection that can be made, even if you know nothing of the actor, just by watching the extra content featured in Radiance’s Blu-ray release. Amongst other fascinating videos, you get a glimpse at the set and the actors’ relationship, including a tantrum by Depardieu during which Montand does his hardest not to laugh.
The mediocrity of it all
Actoral drama aside, the feature works in almost all aspects. The characters are well-made, especially by 80s standards, when women appeared only to look pretty or crazy and barely had any lines… But that’s a whole other business that won’t be expanded upon here. Essentially, because after watching Police Python 357 (1976), this portrayal of female characters seems almost reasonable by comparison.
Like the other two Corneau movies featured in Radiance’s Hardboiled box set, Police Python 357 and Série Noire (1979), this feature has some pacing issues. The action is interesting, and its twists keep things mysterious. However, there are tons of empty spaces in between relevant events. Watching it feels like getting on a rusty ride that starts and stops continuously instead of having a smooth motion. As such, the film feels way longer than it actually is, stealing some of the intensity that it should have.
All in all, Choice of Arms is a pretty standard crime film that any fan of the genre can enjoy. Its averageness and pacing issues keep it from being a must-watch, but it is good enough for an entertaining afternoon.
Radiance’s box set “Hardboiled: Three Pulp Thrillers by Alain Corneau”, featuring Police Python 357, Série noire, and Choice of Arms, is now available. Link below!
LIMITED EDITION BLU-RAY SPECIAL FEATURES
- High-Definition digital transfers, presented on three discs
- Uncompressed mono PCM audio for each film
- Audio commentary by Mike White on Police Python 357 (2024)
- Maxim Jakubowski on Police Python 357’s source novel and adaptation (2024)
- Archival interview with Alain Corneau and François Périer about Police Python 357 from Belgian Television (1976)
- Série noire set interviews with Alain Corneau, Patrick Dewaere and Miriam Boyer from Belgian Television (1981)
- Série noire: The Darkness of the Soul – An archival documentary featuring cast and crew on the making of the film (2013, 53 mins)
- Archival interview with Alain Corneau and Marie Trintignant about Série noire (2002, 30 mins)
- A visual essay about Jim Thompson adaptations for the screen by Paul Martinovic (2024)
- Introduction by documentary filmmaker Jérôme Wybon (2024)
- Shooting Choice of Arms – interviews with the cast and crew including behind-the-scenes footage (1981)
- Interviews with Deneuve, Montand and Depardieu from the set (1981)
- Interview with Manuela Lazic on Yves Montand in the 1970s (2024)
- Trailers
- Optional English subtitles for each film
- Reversible sleeve featuring designs based on original posters
- Limited edition 80-page booklet featuring new writing by Andrew Male, Nick Pinkerton, Charlie Brigden, and newly translated archival writing
- Limited edition of 2500 copies, presented in a rigid box with full-height Scanavo cases and removable OBI strip leaving packaging free of certificates and marking
Find the Radiance release right here!
Advice to take from this movie:
- I’m not a policeman, but I think the procedure is to ask questions FIRST, and shoot later?
- Don’t get mixed up with criminals if you value your life. Pretty obvious, but apparently not obvious enough for many.
- Youth is not the problem, lack of education and of proper mental health are.
What’s your take? Have you watched Choice of Arms? Don’t hesitate to let me know your thoughts in the comments section below, or leave a message in my contact page! For more reviews and cinema-related articles, check out the rest of my blog! 😀
I liked this film more than this reviewer. It seems “odd,” but the character who actually sticks most in the memory for me is the little girl, who isn’t even mentioned here. She provides a human connection between the principle antagonists, as the final scene implies.