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Rififi (re-release)
Rififi (re-release) Image
Metascore
97 out of 100

Universal acclaim - based on 13 Critics What's this?

User Score
8.8 out of 10

Universal acclaim- based on 14 Ratings

Your Score
10 out of 10
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  • Starring: Carl Möhner, Jean Servais, Robert Manuel
  • Summary: A reissue of a classic French caper thriller in which Tony, fresh out of prison, teams with three cohorts to pull off a major jewel heist which goes awry. The film's title is slang for "rough stuff," and it's robbery sequence is famous for its exciting, completely silent robbery scene.

Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 13 out of 13
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 13
  3. Negative: 0 out of 13
  1. Philadelphia Inquirer
    Reviewed by: Desmond Ryan
    100
    The new print does justice to Philippe Agostini's splendidly atmospheric cinematography.
  2. Christian Science Monitor
    Reviewed by: David Sterritt
    100
    Among the picture's many surprises is a superb robbery scene filmed in a near-total silence that contrasts exhilaratingly with the noisy flamboyance of more recent films in this venerable genre.
  3. Chicago Tribune
    Reviewed by: Michael Wilmington
    100
    No matter how many heists you've seen, how many gangs you've watched fall apart or how many aging crooks you've seen walk up a mean street to a violent destiny, Rififi never loses its ruthless grace and force.

See all 13 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

Write a Review
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 7 out of 8
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 8
  3. Negative: 1 out of 8
  1. ryancarroll88
    8
    "Rififi" is often considered the landmark film that modernized heist movies, and it shines brilliantly as a suave, sexy crime noir (that happens to be French). There are flashes of expressionism throughout - the tantalizing 'Rififi' nightclub song sequence and the shadowy night shots, but the classic quick-slung dialogue and refined criminal setting really give the movie its stride. Of course, it would be impossible to review this movie without mentioning the heist - a complex suspense sequence that takes up a full 28 minutes of running time and has no audio other than the slightest tap of a hammer or patter of a footstep. You can hear your own heartbeat race as each new step of their setup is revealed, bringing a new fear that it won't work or they may be discovered. Even though they carry the stride of first-class cons (they break into the jewelry store wearing complete suits), the characters express both confidence and doubt in their maneuvers, making every second of the continuity exhilarating. When it is finally over, you breathe a sigh of relief for these guys. Even though the heist is the pinnacle of the film, it only takes place halfway through. The second half is a moralist plug that chronicles the downfall of the cons after their perfect crime. Though it has some great scenes and completes the circle of development of each of the characters, it feels like the movie blew off most of its steam by the end. Even though the tension has all but left, there is a strange sense of loss seeing all the characters you cheered for in the first half take their inevitable fall. It's a classic tale, but told with complexity and craft that was completely new for its time, and served as a basis for every other heist-crime movie, from "Reservoir Dogs" to "Ocean's Eleven."… Expand
    • 1 of 1 users said yes

See all 8 User Reviews

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