7.3 | / 10 |
Users | 4.2 | |
Reviewer | 4.0 | |
Overall | 4.2 |
After growing up in a poor gypsy camp, Edmond Vidal, aka Momon, has retained a sense of family, unfailing loyalty and pride in his origins. Most of all, he has remained friends with Serge Suttel, with whom he first discovered prison life - for stealing cherries. The two of them inevitably got involved in organized crime. The team they formed, the Ganf Des Lyonnais, made them the most notorious armed robbers of the early 1970s. Their irresistible rise ended in 1974 with a spectacular arrest. Today, as he nears 60, Momon would like to forget that part of his life. He has found peace by retiring from the "business".
Starring: Gérard Lanvin, Tchéky Karyo, Daniel Duval, Dimitri Storoge, François LevantalForeign | 100% |
Drama | 69% |
Crime | 65% |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 2.35:1
Original aspect ratio: 2.39:1
French: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1
French: DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0
French SDH, English
50GB Blu-ray Disc
Single disc (1 BD)
Region free
Movie | 4.5 | |
Video | 5.0 | |
Audio | 5.0 | |
Extras | 2.0 | |
Overall | 4.0 |
Nominated for Cesar Award for Most Promising Actor, Olivier Marchal's "Les Lyonnais" a.k.a "A Gang Story" (2011) arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of French distributors Gaumont. The supplemental features on the disc include the film's original French theatrical trailer and a gallery of deleted and extended scenes. In French, with optional English and French SDH subtitles for the main feature. Region-Free.
The gang
Presented in an aspect ratio of 2.35:1, encoded with MPEG-4 AVC and granted a 1080p transfer, Olivier Marchal's Les Lyonnais arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of French distributors Gaumont.
Olivier Marchal's latest film looks beautiful on Blu-ray. Detail is truly immaculate, even when the camera follows closely the gangsters during the intense shootouts, while clarity is very pleasing. Contrast and colors fluctuate as the action jumps from the '60s, '70s and '80s and then to the present, but it is clear that these are stylistic changes meant to enhance the atmosphere (light blues, browns, and grays are prevalent during the flashbacks). Furthermore, there are absolutely no traces of problematic post-production corrections. The film is naturally crisp and vibrant, never looking artificially sharpened or contrast boosted. Compression is also very good. Finally, blown through a digital projector the film remains stable and tight around edges. All in all, this is yet another very strong Blu-ray release from Gaumont that should please fans of director Oliver Marchal's work. (Note: This is a Region-Free Blu-ray release. Therefore, you will be able to play it on your PS3 or SA regardless of your geographical location. For the record, there is no problematic PAL or 1080/50i content preceding the disc's main menu).
There are two standard audio tracks on this Blu-ray disc: French DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 and French DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0. (A French descriptive audio track is included as well). For the record, Gaumont have provided optional English and French SDH subtitles for the main feature. When turned on, they split the image frame and the black bar below it.
Here's a lossless 5.1 audio track that is likely to test the muscles of your audio system - it is very aggressive when it needs to be and boasting a wide range of nuanced dynamics that add plenty of color to the terrific atmosphere. The retro tunes during the flashbacks are also given enough room to breathe. Balance is also excellent, even though the action moves quite fast through the '60, '70s, '80s and the present. The dialog is crisp, clean, stable, and very easy to follow. The English translation is excellent.
Note: The supplemental features on this disc are perfectly playable on all North American Blu-ray players, including the PS3.
I really enjoyed Les Lyonnais. I think that it comes very close to matching the gritty atmosphere of MR 73. If you like serious contemporary French crime films, and the work of director Olivier Marchal in particular, you shouldn't miss it. Gaumont's presentation of the film is enormously satisfying. Their Blu-ray release is also Region-Free. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.
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