Assalto ao Casino

It is true that Any Number Can Win oozes dulcet tones of its genre, but what else would you expect with such masters in the shape of Gabin and Delon under the control of a director of Verneuille’s capacity. But instead of a first class symphony we get rather a plodding, unremarkable movie where no amount of numbers make any difference. (18/05/2008)

This excellent, now classic crime thriller is one of the treasures of its genre. All the ingredients are carefully balanced: a well-crafted script, smart direction, a star-studded cast with superb performances, where alongside the charismatic and reliable Gabin, a young Alain Delon shines, who later declined to mediocrity and lived off his fame. Constant tension, sophistication, sometimes a humorous exaggeration that culminates in the tragicomic climax of a botched robbery. Polished dialogues and characters that do not rustle like paper and are believable. Quality music. When I tally all the positive adjectives I've used, it's impossible to give less than 90% and 5 stars. It's simply a film from a time when audience-pleasing cinema did not rely on digital effects. (18/05/2008)