Perfect cast and a good story

Nice effects though.

There is, somehow, an interesting story here, as well as some good acting. There are also some good scenes

By the time the dramatic fireworks start popping off, each one feels earned.

We live in a world full of mediocre crime thrillers, so when a well made film such as Olivier Marchal's "36 Precinct" comes along, it's deserves some attention and respect. In the underbelly of the Parisian criminal world, the Police are frustrated by a gang committing a series of violent robberies. Leo Vrinks (Daniel Auteuil) and Denis Klein (Gerand Depardieu) are two cops seeking promotion, and the imminent departure of the Chief (Andre Dussellier) sets the scene for them to compete for the vacant throne. It's the unrelenting opposition between the two lead characters that is really make this so compelling. The 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. The inner turmoil raging inside of Klein, a man torn between rigid morality and grasping ambition. Auteuil is a model in understatement, his low-key depiction of a cop determined to see justice at all costs. As the hunt for the crew drags both men deep into the Paris underworld, Vrinks and Klein spiral towards what seems an inevitable mutual destruction. Nicely constructed plot twists will keep you guessing until the end. I often refer to this film as France's version of "Heat", though story lines aren't the same or nearly as great, it carries itself in a similar fashion, and possesses that tone and ambiance. A stellar cast, a great story, and some momentous shoot-outs; what more could you want from the French?

Since The French know how to make top-notch crime and action flicks and since I saw several good reviews of this movie I had quite some expectations when I started to watch it on DVD. And indeed: '36, Quai des Orfèvres' started out suspenseful and interesting. But the story started spiralling out of control while the movie wasn't even halfway and eventually it literally lost the plot, making it a laughable failure. Director Olivier Marchal went out of his way to try and make Gerard Depardieu's dirty cop Denis Klein The Most Evil Character You've Ever Seen In A Movie, and in his attempt he sacrificed every inch of credibility of the whole story.SPOILER WARNING!: '36, Quai des Orfèvres' focuses on the struggle between good cop Leo Vrinks (Daniel Auteuil) and bad cop Denis Klein (Gerard Depardieu). When Klein messes up a big operation this leads to Vrinks' best friend getting killed. Vrinks wants to testify against Klein but Klein has got some dirt on Vrinks. Instead, Klein gets Vrinks sent off to jail for seven years and gets promoted to be commissioner even though no one likes him and all the cops threatened to resign if he'd get promoted. But... to show how Klein is not just a regular bad guy but a really really evil guy, sirector and screenplay writer Marchal thought it would be a great idea if Klein also kills off Vrinks's wife while he's in prison. His corrupt henchmen are witnessing this happen but no one says a thing.Look, I know police corruption happens everyday in every country in the world, but to try and tackle this subject by having a cop send another cop to jail and while he's there also killing his wife for no reason is a shocking example of blatantly stupid screen writing. Not even in Cambodia or a similar armpit-of-the-world would one get away with this so easily, let alone in France. This movie is insulting to the intelligence of it's audience.Great cinematography by Denis Ruden though! But aside from that, a turkey that needs to be avoided.

It is true that French cinema has failed to make Die Hard type films which have shown one man's crusade against heartless criminals but action film genre has been seen in Taxi series.One positive thing that can be said about 36 Quai des Orfèvres is that it is a brilliant action film.All credit must go to its director Olivier Marchal who has proved that French cinema is as energetic as American cinema as far as action cinema genre is concerned.Action scenes have been directed with perfect agility as they show how main actors like Gérard Depardieu, Daniel Auteuil and Daniel Duval display their best acting talents to tackle reckless criminals.In 36 Quai des Orfèvres we are shown that criminals are elegant,slick and vigilant.They are showed as nasty elements who are constantly on move.The presence of a female member in their midst goes to prove that they want to achieve beauty and the beast effect.As a film cannot rest on only one genre Olivier Marchal has steered this film into the realm of drama too.This is where things go wrong for him as there is absolutely no coherent element between fight scenes and dramatic elements which helps in uniting the narrative structure of this film.Dramatic elements of this film are so badly filmed that they offer only a myopic vision of corruption in police units and how family lives of police forces are ruined due to intense pressure.

I have seen comments of people comparing this iconic French cop thriller to Hollywood cop films and slating the latter. This is quite unfair, we all know you don't compare apples and pears. I thoroughly enjoyed the performances by some of France's best actors in this very noir script. The storyline is well put together and although you might think there is a good cop bad cop feel about it, you are left wondering if it is that clear cut. Although a cop thriller there is not overdose on action, just enough to support the feel of reality you get. The mix is perfect as far as I'm concerned. There is action, politics, family relationships, character development, interpersonal shifts etc... If you haven't seen it please do. Just let the film be what it is and you will not be disappointed. Oh, and if you can watch it in French with subtitles. Otherwise you will loose out.