★ 6 / 10
This french crime thriller reeks of the 1970s
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This french crime thriller reeks of the 1970s. That does have a certain charm, especially if you caught this film during many reruns in the 80s, but also feels…
This french crime thriller reeks of the 1970s. That does have a certain charm, especially if you caught this film during many reruns in the 80s, but also feels pretty dated. Once the slow-starting plot gets moving things get rather enthralling, though. Belmondo plays a laconic bounty hunter who sets out to catch the "Hawk", a sadistic thief and murderer. The film packs quite a lot of plot into its short running time: a prison escape, a motel shootout and the friendship to a young crook who survived the villain's latest coup. The film's biggest asset is the protagonist's main soundtrack theme, which is very memorable and awesome, promising crucial events each time it is used. Even though not without a grim sense of humor, this is a dark, pessimistic cop thriller.
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★ 6 / 10
Thrilling Belmondo movie packed with noisy action , violence , plot twists and high body-count
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Nail-biting Jean-Paul Belmondo film , full of frantic action , intrigue , twists , turns , a lot of murders and a suspenseful as well as surpring ending . This…
Nail-biting Jean-Paul Belmondo film , full of frantic action , intrigue , twists , turns , a lot of murders and a suspenseful as well as surpring ending . This is a French ¨Polar¨ packing thrills , emotion , non-stop action , good performances , spectacular pursuits , and a moving finale . It concerns a French secret agent nicknamed L'Alpagueur , he's really a free-lance spy from the French secret agency . He is sent to execute a dangerous mission : to kill a series murderer . He's put on the investigation about L'epervier , a serial-killer who employs young boys to help him robbing banks before killing them . To attempt to communicate a jailed witness he's put in imprisonment . After a daring getaway he encounters some tracks about the heinous killer . And so begins a relentless manhunt . As L'epervieris (Bruno Cremer) being relentlessly chased by L'Alpagueur (Belmondo). Some animals get away with Murder, rape, torture. Doesn't it make your blood boil? Well - THE HUNTER did something about it.This is an intriguing film that contains frenetic action , suspense , thrills , double-crosses , chases , violent denouement and anything else . Not the least bit believable , but quite entertaining , especially towards the end. It's one of those roles in which Belmondo does things , which is what made him so attractive as a New Wave anti-hero . He's still playing the anti-hero, of course, but there are no heroes , just middle-aged , corrupt people , thugs , and an extremely villain assassin . Belmondo lets you see the years and weariness creep up on him , particularly in the scenes with Bruno Cremer . Mostly , though , he is what the title of the movie suggests , a thorough professional , who takes well-calculated risks that confound the people who attempt to stop . He's just doing a job as a bounty hunter , and as always he survives , as Belmondo is a complete show , as he runs and leaps ; he escapes , and executes his own stunts . Belmondo sports an inimitable smile while jumps , shots and kills ; as usual , he combines action with sympathy . The movie highlights result to be the thrilling getaway and the final confrontation between Belmondo and Bruno Cremer . Enjoyable acting by the two main star names , Jean Paul Belmondo and Bruno Cremer . Belmondo steals the spectacle , as usual at the time , playing splendidly the secret agent who's double-crossed and is bent on taking his sweet vengeance on those who betrayed him and bring war along the way . Belmondo makes as his own stunts , in fact he always performed all the stunts himself but ceased to do so after the accident during the filming of ¨Hold Up¨(1985) . Interesting and twisted screenplay by Philippe Labro himself , along with Jacques Lanzmann , though it has some flaws and shortcomings . Colorful and evocative cinematography by Jean Penzer , considered to be one of the best French cameramen , who photographed various Belmondo films . Wonderful soundtrack by Michel Colombier , including a catching and emotive leitmotif .The picture was successful at box office , ranking one of the highest grossing movie of its year in France . The motion picture was well written and directed by Philippe Labro , though it contains some gaps , shortfalls and some non-sense scenes . Labro is a writer and director, specially known for Tout peut arriver (1969) , The Heir (1973) and
L'alpagueur or The Hunter Will Get You (1976). Journalist, songwriter and author , his parents are deemed Justs having sheltered members of the family of Maurice Bernart . He was an expert on action genre , and realized various vehicles for famous French actors , such as Yves Montand (Chance and violence ), Gerard Depardieu (Rive Droite, Rive Gauche) , Claude Brasseur (La Crime) and, of course , Belmondo (The Heir , L'alpagueur or The Hunter Will Get You) . The director Philippe Labro was a disciple and a great friend of Jean-Pierre Melville, who died three years before this shooting. Rating : 6/10 , acceptable film for Jean-Paul Belmondo fans and action aficionados .
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