Through an oddity in my Netflix Queue, I had the pleasure of watching Le Cercle Rouge and Rififi in the span of only a week or two. Immediately after shutting off the DVD player and putting Rififi back in its sleeve, I started an internal debate as to which film was superior. Fairly quickly, I decided Le Cercle Rouge was better. Although the film’s closing sequence was utterly brilliant, and the acting by Jean Servais wonderful, Rififi lacked the tautness of its progeny.

That Le Cercle Rouge A) benefited from 15 years of updated style and B) borrowed some important things from Rififi like the silent heist scene makes me pause. Is it really a fair fight? Are they comparable? I’m not sure, but if they are, here’s why Le Cercle Rouge gets the nod in my opinion:

Nothing, not one scene in Le Cercle Rouge is superfluous. Events explain changes in relationships, not whiny or forced speeches. Corey risks his neck to save a stranger, Vogel, who in turn saves Corey from execution by a rival’s muscle. There’s no, “Thank you, we’re such good friends now,” talk. If someone saves your life you’re damn well friends now, and you don’t need to blather about it artificially. Director Melville understood the place of dialogue, and more importantly how to convey as much information as possible without it. Also, Yves Montand’s skilled acting as well as his extremely well written character, Jansen, stands out as the best of both films. It takes fearless art to show redemption granted through crime. A friend of mine once told her psychiatrist that the only reason she hadn’t killed herself was that she couldn’t stand to think of how her parents would feel. Her shrink told her that wasn’t a good enough reason. Fuck placing value on reasons. If finding a purpose gives one the will to live, it’s good enough. And so, robbing a jewelry store does for Jansen, and the redemption he experiences is just as touching and real as if he found joy by working with sick children or curing cancer. Redemption is redemption.

Anyone else want to weigh in?