In the Shadows

This is a bare bones heist film, but fascinating in its basic play of moving parts. The viewing process is akin to learning small engine repair and grasping the simplicity (and charm) in the performance of a lawnmower engine - which isn't to damn the movie with faint praise: the narrative workmanship is simultaneously uncomplicated and adept, appealing in its spareness. I normally expect penny-plain execution to stem from inexperience vice proficiency, so this was a quiet gem.

melville filtered through michael mann and christian petzold; a detached, ruthlessly efficient little noir with plenty of surface pleasures (especially the opening shot) but no real consequence.