Camera Obscura TWO AGAINST THE LAW (José Giovanni - France/Italy 1973).Alain Delon is former safe-cracker Gino Strabliggi, who is released from prison after mediation by prison reformer Germain Cazeneuve (Gabin). Banned from Paris by statute, Gino tries to make a new start in Montpellier, in the south of France, where he finds honest work as a printer and a new love in the form of Lucie (Mimsy Farmer). The vengeful policeman inspector Javert (Michel Bouquet), who arrested Gino in Paris, pursues him to Montpellier and harasses him, his employer and his new girlfriend. Gino, who desperately tries to straighten his life, is increasingly pushed to breaking point. A pretty much unknown Gérard Depardieu also has a small part (only one scene actually) as a young ambitious gangster who tries to intimidate Gino early on in the film.The whole plot is much too obvious and bears little surprises. The film begins well enough but early on, it's clear Gino is gonna snap at some point. The middle part is slowly paced and - quite simply - boring. In the end, with the court scene and a dramatic ending, the film comes back to life in a way, but that came a little too late for me. Gabin and Delon carry this a long way, with Gabin more world-weary than ever, but he seems just as tired as everybody in the film. But he delivers and - as always - remains fascinating to watch. Delon is ultra slick, handsome and cool, especially for a ex-convict, but he's not given much material to shine. In one small scene, when he is summoned to keep the music down by the neighbours in his Montpellier apartment, he only needs his body language to intimidate. As far as French actors are concerned, he remains the ultimate example of sophisticated coolness.Corsican born director Jose Giovanni was on death row himself shortly after World War II, and was pardoned by the French president. Obviously this story is a cause celèbre the director, but his attack on the French justice system and the death penalty is heavy-handed and obvious in the extreme. After a while, with Gabin's voice-over hammering home the director's convictions, I couldn't care less about Gino's fate. The much praised score by Philipe Sarde comes across as old fashioned and overly clammy now, not much of a recommendation as far as I'm concerned. This could have been much better, but it's of minor interest for Delon or Gabin fans at best.Camera Obscura --- 5/10

raghavan-69 I love Alain Delon and Jean Gabin and french cinema. So I was high on expectations when i began this film. It's good. It's a simple story, that moves organically and is well photographed and acted....it is not a typical film....and hence needs a bit of time to get into the mood of the film. But it's a stirring story and gradually you understand and get emotionally involved in the characters. And you feel Oh my God....this is dangerous, tragic. I hate comments that reveal the complete story....no...but i loved the character of the vindictive cop. A guy i hated... The end of the film reminded me of Kieslowski's A short film about killing. For those seeking entertainment, watch the Alain Delon thrillers featured in the DVD extras. This is a serious film but it's eminently watchable and has a powerful underplayed drama. The actors are a treat to watch. I love Jean Gabin, though i must confess, i've only seen him play the old man.He'd have been as stupendous when young. His face is a landscape of stories.The ideal double bill would be this film, followed by Henri Vernuil's Any number can win...with the same principle cast. Since i'm from India, I must add here that we have our own Alain Delon here....Saif Ali Khan. A handsome intense actor who is right now very happening. Not a date movie for sure but a good film nevertheless.

dbdumonteil Although "le Rapace" , "Dernier domicile Connu" and even " la Loi du Survivant" are certainly superior to "deux Hommes dans la Ville" ,the latter is Giovanni's definitive statement against death penalty.He and André Cayatte were the two French directors who really fought during their careers and their films certainly contributed to its abolishment in 1981.Giovanni would come back to his favourite subject with "comme un Boomerang" and" une Robe Noire pour un Tueur",but those were much weaker efforts.And his final work "Mon père" is not devoid of leniency."Deux Hommes dans la Ville "is A WINNER.First thing to bear in mind is that ,at its time of release,French critics were chilly ,they sneered when they saw Michel Bouquet 's cop character.They had probably forgotten "Les misérables" ,Javert and Jean Valjean.Giovanni's cop is not implausible and Bouquet's sly face is ideal.By and large,the cast is dazzling:we find an actor from the heyday of the French cinema ,Gabin,(Delon's fate recalls some parts of young Gabin "le jour se lève" and "Quai des Brumes"),then from the second generation (Delon) and even the third one is represented with Gerard Depardieu and Bernard Giraudeau -whose part is certainly the weakest of the script:the post-68 student ,we have seen this character too many times- Supporting cast also includes Victor Lanoux and Malka Ribowska ,as a convincing lawyer who is Giovanni's spokesman(woman!)when she expresses her horror of this "razor" (guillotine)which reduces France to the level of the under developed countries.Gino (Delon) paid for what he'd done.He deserved a chance to pick up the pieces.His awakening,on THE fatal morning,is absolutely terrifying.

didiermustntdie Formidable film built on an original scenario, Two men in the city is a load against the death penalty and a dark report on the incapacity of the Republic to grant one second chance to that which made an error. But it is also, quite simply, the tragic history of a man. Four years after their Clan of the siciliens, José Giovanni again joins together the couple, Gabin/Delon in a film . It calls also upon one of known leading man , with dishevelling Michel Bouquet in relentless police , Bernard Giraudeau who plays the son of the teacher Cazeneuve, the presenter Christine Fabréga, his wife, Cecile Vassort ,his daughter.Victor Lanoux , Gerard Depardieu and Gabrille Briand three mafias, One could say, in a certain manner, which we all are of Gino Strabliggi..... that's a simple existence transfers with the drama. What is striking, it is to see the life gradually escaping the character literally from film. A combination of circumstances: a mourning which pushes to start again elsewhere, the chance which puts to you in the presence of harmful characters, voluntarily or involuntarily, the feeling of injustice in justice. The interpretation of Alain Delon one of his best in his career. One will never say enough the importance of the glances in this film. Delon deploys a varied and sensitive "pallet" . Jean Gabin, to his practice, brings a considerable appreciation to the interest of film. Narrator and the pilot main thing of the drama, it systematically replaces the pseudo truths in their true contradiction with the owner of the printing works which employs Gino Strabliggi, humanity in a terribly mechanical and cold landscape. It is necessary to have seen the two almost dumb scenes in which the two actors exchange glances, that of the visiting room and that of the execution. Into the latter, Gino Strabliggi slips to Germain Cazeneuve "- I am afraid" like that of a son to his father.last word ,the original music of Philippe Sarde, perfectly adapted to film; light and sad old story... like the destiny.