Rififi (re-release)
User Score
8.1 out of 10

Universal acclaim- based on 16 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 14 out of 16
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 16
  3. Negative: 2 out of 16

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  1. ryancarroll88
    Sep 29, 2010
    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."… Collapse
  2. ryanh
    Jul 2, 2005
    2
    Very boring.
  3. SandraZ.
    Apr 1, 2005
    10
    This movie was very well done in every way plot, suspenseful and held my interest for the entire film.
  4. DaveS.
    Feb 14, 2005
    10
    Awesome.
  5. YoonC.
    Sep 23, 2003
    9
    A brilliantly streamlined heist thriller that progresses along genre lines and then grows darker and more complex as it examines the crossfire of motivations that bring the entire venture down to a crashing climax.
  6. EmilyC.
    May 1, 2003
    10
    A great film for anyone who's interested in Caper movies to watch. This film truly was the inspiration for popular films today, such as Ocean's Eleven, Heist, and even Mission Impossible. Watch on a rainy day to get the full effect of a grim, crime filled Paris.
  7. MichaelF.
    Mar 11, 2002
    10
    Fantastic and original for a heist caper.
  8. LutherM.
    Nov 28, 2001
    10
    The heist scene is phenomenal.

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
97 out of 100

Universal acclaim - based on 13 Critics

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 13 out of 13
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 13
  3. Negative: 0 out of 13
  1. 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.
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  2. Boston Globe
    Reviewed by: Jay Carr
    100
    It's terse, atmospheric, fatalistic, with vertiginous camera angles and edits offsetting its gray documentary flatness.
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  3. Philadelphia Inquirer
    Reviewed by: Desmond Ryan
    100
    The new print does justice to Philippe Agostini's splendidly atmospheric cinematography.
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