Ennio Morricone left this world recently and these days the movie channels broadcast - probably not by coincidence - many films in which the music is composed by him. It is a good opportunity to appreciate the quality of his compositions but also the role that soundtrack plays in creating the atmosphere and emphasizing certain aspects of the narrative in movies. 'Le professionel' from 1981, directed by Georges Lautner with dialogues written by Michel Audiard is a good example of this. Morricone's music not only comprises one of the musical hits of film history, but also actively participates in pacing the story and balancing the comic and dramatic elements. The other main reason why this film arouses the interest of viewers to this day is of course the presence in the lead role of Jean-Paul Belmondo.
The story. Joss Beaumont (Belmondo), a secret agent with a license to kill, is sent by the the French intelligence services to assassinate the president of an imaginary African dictatorship. His back luck is that by the time he arrives in Africa, a change in government policies takes place and the former bullet-targeted rival becomes a friend who not only needs to be protected, but even his future assassin is offered to him as a gift. Escaped from prison after two years of African hell, Joss returns to Paris with plans for revenge, which include the assassination of the African president during an official visit to France. All the French police and secret services are following him. Only women are his allies - his wife plus two other beauties who would make Agent 007 with his Bond girls jealous. Paris becomes the scene of a duel of intelligence in which our hero always seems to guess in advance the movements of those who who are on his footsteps and spectacular pursuits. Belmondo was also famous for performing many of the risky scenes on his own, putting the stuntmen out of work.
The film manages to be interesting and enjoyable to watch until today, and it is largely the merit of Belmondo, who manages to be charismatic and full of humor even while he plans a cruel but well-deserved revenge. The rest of the cast fulfills its mission with professionalism, with a special mention for Robert Hossein as Commissioner Rosen, Joss's main rival. Hossein was an excellent actor who always seemed to me not to be cast in the roles that he deserved. The soundtrack also has a dominant role, some of the scenes, especially in the first part of the film, look like ballet numbers performed on Morricone's songs. But the fact that the film is largely based on Belmondo's personality and Morricone's music can be considered a weak point. Some viewers may consider their performances excessive, others may argue that if we remove them there is not much left of this film. Maybe everyone is right. Anyway, as entertainment, I liked 'Le professionel', seen now, 39 years after its launch,.
The story. Joss Beaumont (Belmondo), a secret agent with a license to kill, is sent by the the French intelligence services to assassinate the president of an imaginary African dictatorship. His back luck is that by the time he arrives in Africa, a change in government policies takes place and the former bullet-targeted rival becomes a friend who not only needs to be protected, but even his future assassin is offered to him as a gift. Escaped from prison after two years of African hell, Joss returns to Paris with plans for revenge, which include the assassination of the African president during an official visit to France. All the French police and secret services are following him. Only women are his allies - his wife plus two other beauties who would make Agent 007 with his Bond girls jealous. Paris becomes the scene of a duel of intelligence in which our hero always seems to guess in advance the movements of those who who are on his footsteps and spectacular pursuits. Belmondo was also famous for performing many of the risky scenes on his own, putting the stuntmen out of work.
The film manages to be interesting and enjoyable to watch until today, and it is largely the merit of Belmondo, who manages to be charismatic and full of humor even while he plans a cruel but well-deserved revenge. The rest of the cast fulfills its mission with professionalism, with a special mention for Robert Hossein as Commissioner Rosen, Joss's main rival. Hossein was an excellent actor who always seemed to me not to be cast in the roles that he deserved. The soundtrack also has a dominant role, some of the scenes, especially in the first part of the film, look like ballet numbers performed on Morricone's songs. But the fact that the film is largely based on Belmondo's personality and Morricone's music can be considered a weak point. Some viewers may consider their performances excessive, others may argue that if we remove them there is not much left of this film. Maybe everyone is right. Anyway, as entertainment, I liked 'Le professionel', seen now, 39 years after its launch,.