La fluidité magnifiquement pessimiste de Robert Siodmak

Criss Cross

by Robert Siodmak, with Burt Lancaster, Yvonne de Carlo and Dan Duryea (1949)

Another classical film noir with crooks, femme fatale, gangsters and flashbacks and, obviously, without hope. But the actors and direction are terribly impressive, bringing an impressive and pessimistic depth to the movie. Burt Lancaster makes his large body look so fragile and weak, dominated by his crazy and obsessive love for his cruel and manipulative girlfriends. But the directing ideas are even more impressive than the acting with a couple of striking effects. Blured screen when the characters are fainting, explosions and thick smoke during the roberry, and above all, a fantastic dance scene. The Brazilian flute makes the camera fly around the dance floor, looking again and again at the dancing girl and the spectator is as mesmerized as Burt Lancaster...