Choice of Arms Reviews

A compelling and superbly directed policier, CHOICE OF ARMS pits the new, young breed of criminal--the crazed and disrespectful Mickey (Depardieu)--against an elder, retired underworld hood, the honorable Noel (Montand). Mickey escapes from prison and takes temporary refuge at a ranch owned by Noel and his wife, Nicole (Deneuve). When Mickey refuses to play by Noel's rules, he takes off for Paris. Upon returning, he wrongly assumes that Noel has informed on him and vows to kill both Noel and Nicole. A criminal of the old school--not unlike those who appear in the films of Jean-Pierre Melville--Noel leads a tranquil life but is not beyond violent, angry outbursts. He has fought long and hard to achieve his quiet lifestyle with his loving wife, and now he must fight again. Although CHOICE OF ARMS does follow certain Hollywood genre expectations, Corneau's direction stamps the film with a crisp, personal style of filmmaking as attentive to the theoretical issues at stake in the conflict as it is to story development or emotional impact. In this respect Corneau merits comparison with his more acclaimed contemporary Bertrand Tavernier. Depardieu turns in a forceful performance as the unpredictable Mickey, and Montand is an explosion waiting to happen as the externally peaceful Noel. Unfortunately, the always beautiful Deneuve is cast here in another role in which she gets little chance to display her considerable acting skills.