9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Ironic clash of cultures - a good suspense story, March 11, 2003
By A Customer
This review is from: The Outside Man [VHS] (VHS Tape)
This is a movie about how the French saw California in the early seventies. Jean-Louis Trintignant, one of the most famous French actors then and now, is a contract killer, flown into Los Angeles from Paris for a one day job. After having dutyfully executed his victim, he finds out that his luggage and passport are gone and that an American hitman is after him (our hero is lucky that this other hitman, played by Roy Scheider, usually misses his target). The Frenchman now is lost in the urban wilderness of L.A. But then he gets help from a busty California blonde (Ann-Marie) and successfully turns tables on his pursuers. The cat and mouse game gives occasion to very beautiful location shooting in different parts of the L. A. area, including a dilapidated beachfront. It all has a distinct French flavor which makes this movie unique. Nice car chase sequences which in my opinion equal those in Bullitt.
There are beautiful little vignettes on American behavior towards crime and the media and a showdown in a funeral parlour, where the Frenchman's victim is displayed as a spooky taxidermist's job in s swanky sitting posture (Double Magnum cigar in rigidly outstretched hand). Jean-Louis Trintignant is at his best as the sulky, not-so-cool Frenchman feeling uncomfortable on foreign territory, Roy Scheider with his low-key performance is ideal as his American opponent.
This movie is good and intelligent entertainment. I also liked the appropriately funky soundtrack (apparently composed by a Frenchman).
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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
70's "Hunter is hunted" action flick, January 4, 2009
This review is from: The Outside Man [VHS] (VHS Tape)
The cooperative European/American production THE OUTSIDE MAN is a polished yet offbeat action/crime film. For Ann-Margret and Angie Dickenson fans, it will be a trip down Mammary Lane.
It's the story of a suave hitman (Trintignant) who's imported from France to assassinate a top echelon mobster. Lucien Bellon goes to the man's L.A. estate and shoots his victim at point blank range. Later, Bellon sees a TV news story about the murder and begins to wonder why the killer is described as a tall, young American clad in corduroys. When another hitman (Scheider) tries to shoot Bellon, he concludes that he and his stalker were hired by whoever wanted the mobster dead, and that both of them would be murdered, as well. Rather than return to Paris and certain death, Bellon decides to stay in L.A. to unravel the mystery. But first he must find a way to enlist the aid of the man hired to kill him.
During his American visit, Bellon has difficulty comprehending such colloquialisms as "make a 'U'," "bread" and "scratch." He also hijacks a car driven by Georgia Engel (sweet young Georgette on "The Mary Tyler Moore Show") and holds her and her son hostage in their own home for a few hours. The handsome Trintignant is an absolute star while Scheider is interesting as Bellon's pursuer-- he moves the story along well. Ann-Margret's "assets" practically fall out of her floozyish outfits, and Angie Dickenson has little to do here. (Watch for Talia Shire's "make-up girl" cameo.)
As of 1/09, THE OUTSIDE MAN was not available on DVD.
Jean-Louis Trintignant primarily appeared in European movies. He did however have a small part in UNDER FIRE (1983), which starred Nick Nolte, Ed Harris and Gene Hackman. (
VHS edition) (
DVD edition)
Parenthetical number preceding title is a 1 to 10 viewer poll rating found at a film resource website.
(6.2) The Outside Man (Italy/France/USA-1972) - Jean-Louis Trintignant/Ann-Margret/Roy Scheider/Angie Dickinson/Georgia Engel/Michel Constantin/Ted de Corsia/Talia Shire
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0 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Worth watching, May 26, 2008
This review is from: The Outside Man [VHS] (VHS Tape)
This is a great spy vs spy film. I just don't get why they won't put it out on DVD. My VHS copy is almost worn out.
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