Rating summary

Movie		3.5
Video		4.0
Audio		5.0
Extras		3.5
Overall		3.5

Shot Pattern Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Dr. Svet Atanasov November 9, 2024

Jean-Claude Missiaen's "Shot Pattern" a.k.a. "Tir Groupe" (1982) arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Fun City Editions. The supplemental features on the release include new audio commentary by critic Travis Woods; archival program with Jean-Claude Missiaen; archival program with Gerard Lanvin; original trailer with director's commentary; and more. In French, with optional English subtitles for the main feature. Region-A "locked".

"The last commuter train of the day leaves for the suburbs at 11:40pm. Statistics show that 90% of all travelers will enjoy a safe trip. That leaves 10% who risk danger... you may be among them."

Shot Pattern comes from the other side of the Atlantic, and even though it has something of a cult reputation in France, it is not well known there and here. This is one of several reasons it is a lot like The Incident, which was made on this side of the Atlantic, also has a cult reputation, and again is not well known there and here. The remaining reasons that make these films very similar are more interesting. For example, both place the spotlight on criminals who act like vicious animals and approve that at the right time they get treated as such, which is unusual, to say the least, because the public attitudes toward vigilante justice in France and America could not be any more different. Both films avoid politics, too. However, the clarity of their message is such that both are impossible not to examine without bringing in politics. And yet, both are described only as genre films, not political films, which makes a seemingly unavoidable comparison with the granddaddy of the political vigilante films, Death Wish, very difficult.

The drama is initiated at the same place, at approximately the same time, too. At a train station, Antoine (Gerad Lanvin) kisses his girlfriend Carine (Veronique Jannot) and she boards the last train to take her to her parents. Soon after, several thugs begin harassing the passengers, and when they reach Carine, one of them goes berserk. The others join him, and while the passengers observe a most violent orgy in dismay, Carine is killed. When later Detective Cagnon (Michelle Constantin) brings in Antoine to identify Carine’s mutilated body, his world instantly comes crashing down and he suffers a serious nervous breakdown.

Antoine’s long recovery is fractured into multiple pieces, each revealing something about his romantic relationship with Carine. At least initially, the glue that keeps these pieces together is a burning desire to hear from Detective Cagnon that Carine’s killers are identified and detained. But because Detective Cagnon and his colleagues struggle to make progress, Antoine purchases an old gun and begins roaming the streets at night, hoping that somehow he would cross paths with Carine’s killers.

In the ‘80s, the classic French crime film, heavily influenced by the big American crime films of the ‘70s, and to a lesser extent the hyperviolent Italian poliziotteschi of the ‘70s and ‘80s, peaked and died. Its demise was ensured by a largely forced transformation into a socially relevant film, which by the early ‘90s had eliminated the auteur crime film. After La Femme Nikita, the successor of the classic French crime film that immortalized Jean Gabin, Alain Delon, Lino Ventura, and Jean-Paul Belmondo adopted a new identity, which was more or less identical to that of the conventional Hollywood crime film.

Shot Pattern comes from that short stretch in the early ‘80s when French directors felt inspired to create unique crime films, many of which turned out to be completely different genre films, like wicked satires (Clean Slate), edgy exploitation affairs (Death Squad), and experimental mind-benders (Mad Love). It was the directorial debut of Jean-Claude Missiaen, who was not an auteur. Missiaen shot several crime films, all paying tribute to the big American crime films of the ‘70s. (The emergence of these films was part of a trend, similar to the one that started in America a little later and renewed interest in the classic film noirs, leading to the great neo-noir Renaissance of the ‘90s. American director Bob Swaim even went to France and contributed to it with the excellent crime thriller La Balance).

In France, Shot Pattern and the other crime films like it do not have a good reputation. Some resurfaced during the DVD era, but the majority of them are either forgotten or unjustly compared to the classic crime films of the ‘50s and ‘60s and promptly brushed aside. This is unfortunate because most of them are curious time capsules exploring metro areas whose atmosphere and identity are drastically different now.

Shot Pattern Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Preseneted in an aspect ratio of 1.67:1, encoded with MPEG-4 AVC and granted a 1080p transfer, Shot Pattern arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Fun City Editions.

The release introduces a wonderful recent 2K restoration that makes it a treat to revisit Shot Pattern. As far as the restoration work is concerned, I like everything that I saw on my system. However, its technical presentation could and should have been more convincing. I will clarify why later.

The entire film looks very healthy and stable. Delineation, clarity, and depth are always very pleasing. Only in a few darker areas I felt that some shadow/darker nuances could have been a bit more convincing, but even there the overall quality of the visuals was good. There are no traces of problematic digital corrections. Color balance and reproduction are very convincing. I do not know what party graded the 2K restoration, but all primaries and supporting nuances are set with a precision that is very impressive. (For reference, there is a sea of difference between the work that was done on this 2K restoration and how older French color films are graded for the likes of Gaumont and Pathe). I did not see any distracting surface imperfections to report.

The technical presentation could have been more convincing because in various areas, and especially darker areas, the encoding reveals weaknesses. Grain does not hold up particularly well, so from time to time it can look mushy and affect delineation. A possible remedy is to upscale to 4K. (If you do, the looser areas will tighten up). But simple optimizations would have easily eliminated this issue. My score is 3.75/5.00. (Note: This is a Region-A "locked" Blu-ray release. Therefore, you must have a native Region-A or Region-Free player in order to access its content).

Shot Pattern Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

There is only one standard audio track on this Blu-ray release: French DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0. Optional English subtitles are provided for the main feature.

I did not encounter any anomalies to report. The dialog is clear and stable, easy to follow, too. There is some action footage, the most impressive one coming at the end of the film, and all of it sounds terrific. But the film's original sound design will not impress folks who appreciate the dynamic potency of contemporary blockbusters. The music creates a few memorable contrasts. The English translation is excellent.

Shot Pattern Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Commentary - this exclusive new audio commentary was recorded by critic Travis Woods.

• Jean-Calude Missiaen - in this archival program, writer/director Jean-Calude Missiaen quickly explains why he chose to direct his first film at age forty, how Anthony Mann and Eddie Constatine's work affected it, and what he tried to accomplish with it. Also, there are short comments about the film's success at the Cesars, the French Oscars. In French, with English subtitles. (4 min).

• Gerard Lanvin - in this archival program, reads a heartfelt message from a postcard meant to reach Jean-Calude Missiaen, who had finished working on Shot Pattern. In French, with English subtitles. (1 min).

• Original Ending - presented here is the original ending of Shot Pattern. In it, Gerard Lanvin's character is released early from prison. It can be viewed with a commentary by the director. In French, with English subtitles. (4 min).

• Trailer - presented here is a trailer for the recent 2K restoration of Shot Pattern. In French, with English subtitles. (3 min).

• Image Gallery - a collection of vintage promotional and publicity materials for Shot Pattern. With music. (3 min).

• Booklet - a 12-page illustrated booklet featuring author and critic Barry Forshaw's essay "Streets of the Damned: The French Crime Film" and technical credits.

• Booklet - a 12-page illustrated booklet featuring author and critic Barry Forshaw's essay "Streets of the Damned: The French Crime Film" and technical credits.

Shot Pattern Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

In the '80s, the classic French crime film, heavily influenced by the big American crime films of the '70s, and to a lesser extent the hyperviolent Italian poliziotteschi of the '70s and '80s, peaked and died. During this period, French directors, many of whom behaved as auteurs, made a lot of interesting crime films that became part of a trend, similar to the one that started in America a little later and renewed interest in the classic film noirs, leading to the great neo-noir Renaissance of the '90s. Shot Pattern was part of this trend. It is not one of its masterpieces, but it is a fine film well worth seeing. Recently restored in 2K, Shot Pattern is included in Seeing Red: 3 French Vigilante Thrillers, a three-disc set produced by Fun City Editions. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.