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Cast: Gerard Depardieu, Daniel Auteuil
In the underbelly of the Parisian criminal world, the Police are frustrated by a gang committing a series of violent robberies. Leo Vrinks and Denis Klein are two cops seeking promotion and the imminent departure of the Chief sets the scene for them to compete for the vacant throne. Their competition between them becomes increasingly ruthless and blurs the usual lines of morality until there seems no difference between the police and the criminals they chase. Vrinks, meeting with a source, becomes involved with a murder. Klein seizes the opportunity to up the ante and arranges for the arrest of Vrinks but when he goes further and viciously involves Vrinks' wife, Camille, revenge is inevitable.
"The 36th Precinct" is like the French version of the Hollywood film "Heat" in which Daniel Auteuil and Gerard Depardieu are like the Al Pacino and Robert DeNiro of France. Now don't go thinking rip-off just yet because this film brings it's own ideas and characters to the table. The film focuses on Leo Vrinks and Denis Klein who are two cops that use to be best friends but their relationship has become strained over the years and even though the main reason isn't revealed early on you sense their was a woman and still is that came between them. Depardieu plays a gutless immoral cop and Auteuil is the family man who is not perfect himself but he isn't the kind of person his fellow officer is, they are in different division of the force but when a gang begins committing a series of crimes leaving dead policemen behind the Chief of Police tells the the two men that the first to bring the bad guys down will take his place. As if their relationship wasn't fragile enough now the two must go against one another in order to get the top position and it is about to get more personal than ever before. I could sit here and give more details about what happens but that wouldn't be fair to those waiting to see it so I will stop here and let everyone enjoy the film without giving spoilers away. "The 36th Precinct" is a gritty French film that shows the dark side of it's country instead of all the beautiful things to look at, it's a film filled with betrayal and violent shoot-outs with realistic characters portrayed by a stellar cast. If you like the genre then this will make a great addition to home video collection.
Available of DVD and Blu-ray and both come packed with Special Features that include:
Making-Of Featurette
Interview with the Director
Weapons Selection Featurette
Wardrobe Selection Featurette
Theatrical trailer & teaser trailer
"The 36th Precinct" delivers on all fronts making it one of the best of it's kind to come along in some time, it is great to see it finally made it to our shores, this is a film not to be missed. On a side note, The director, Olivier Marchal is a former cop and the story of 36 Quai Des Orfèvres is from real facts from the life of Dominique Loiseau (who co-wrote the script), former member of the BRI in the mid eighties so as you might imagine this was a very personal story. You can order the DVD HERE and the Blu-ray HERE.
Released by Tartan Video
**** Out Of *****