Shoot the Piano Player

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Thomas V This is a bit of a jumble that doesn't quite hang together, and there's too much tragedy to make it as light and "playful" as reviewers like to call Truffaut. This contradiction also exists in The 400 Blows, but that film works better. Still, this film is enjoyable and seems fresh for its age, not unlike 400. Rated 3.5/5 Stars •  Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 01/16/23 Full Review dave s Shoot the Piano Player, an early effort from Francois Truffaut, is a New Wave nod to American film noir. Set primarily in the streets of Paris, a former concert painist (Charles Aznavour) has been reduced to playing dance tunes in a local bar. His life takes a significant turn when he reunites with one of his brothers, a two-bit criminal on the run from his crim partners. The doughy-eyed, charismatic Aznavour is excellent in the lead role, showing a vulnerability that contrasts the other male characters. Truffaut would go on to make better films, but few that were as entertaining as Shoot the Piano Player. Rated 3.5/5 Stars •  Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 03/30/23 Full Review William L One of Truffaut's less thematically clear films, and not necessarily easy to get into. With its background mention of a heist and a later kidnapping employed to negotiate for the score, this film feels like something of a parody of Rififi, in which the writer decided to focus on an ancillary character and explore details of his personality. Aznavour's Charlie is timid by nature and emotionally reclusive due to past trauma, an unusual set of features for a noir protagonist, and where Truffaut differentiates his story. To me, the grreatest care is provided in detailing Charlie's relationships with women, and the exploration of what constitutes masculinity, e.g., bravado, confidence, charm, as well as the role of music as a coping mechanism or shield from confronting the reality of those relationships. I can't call it one of Truffaut's greater films, but it is certainly interesting; I'll have to give it a rewatch at some point to get a better understanding of it. (3.5/5) Rated 3.5/5 Stars •  Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 12/29/20 Full Review s r 1001 movies to see before you die. Certainly a different story that kept my interest. It seemed a little disjointed, but the French culture and overall story line kept it going. Rated 3.5/5 Stars •  Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 03/31/23 Full Review Audience Member Atmosphere is not bad and the events fill somehow the story, but there is a moment in which you think: if the character itself does not take him seriously, why am I gonna try it? Rated 2/5 Stars •  Rated 2 out of 5 stars 01/25/23 Full Review Audience Member Shoot the Piano Player (1960) concerns a famous concert pianist in Paris who decides to ditch fame and becomes involved with gangster crime instead. A masterpiece of the film noir genre, Francois Truffaut's filmmaking reflects heavy influence from US low-budget crime dramas of that time. The way in which Shoot the Piano Player explores how past events inevitably impact the present and future is wholly unique and powerful to watch. The story unfolds at an even pace; its simple structure allows for each scene to be packed with substance and meaning, with no time wasted. Truffaut's ability to balance tones gives the film a level of authenticity that few others match. It's a study of character, and of life itself. It's well shot, cast and written: those key elements amount to a very efficient film that entertains, holds tension and doesn't really date. Shoot the Piano Player (1960) is a film that you'll be sad to see end as quickly as it does, but proves discussable for hours after you've seen it. Rated 4.5/5 Stars •  Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 02/17/23 Full Review Read all reviews

Shoot the Piano Player

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