The Mob Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		3.5
Video		4.0
Audio		4.5
Extras		3.0
Overall		3.5

The Mob Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf May 21, 2022

The Blu-ray packaging for 1975’s “The Mob” (“La Gammick”) lists the film as “Almost completely unseen outside of Quebec.” Not a lot of movies can make that claim, giving the endeavor a unique identity as a crime picture that never found a wide audience, remaining a Canadian viewing experience for a select crowd. Now unleashed on disc, “The Mob” has the challenge of meeting expectations, offering a story of a criminal where his violent actions aren’t explored in a cinematic manner for the most part. He’s the talkative type, keeping the feature to a series of conversations, confessions, and modest confrontations, which is about as Canadian as it gets. Expectations for something more explosive should be lowered, as co-writer/director Jacques Godbout enjoys playing more of a psychological game with his characters.

Francois (Marc Legault) is a low-level hood who wants a taste of the sweet life, but can’t make enough money to do so. He accepts an opportunity to travel from Montreal to New York City to take out a rival gangster, allowing him to make a bundle in the process. However, such a risk doesn’t have much reward, soon putting Francois in the line of fire as multiple men with guns come after him, inspiring a most unusual delay tactic, where he calls into a radio talk show and offers the mob’s secrets for the surprised host.

“The Mob” isn’t a traditional crime film that gets off on the promise of violence. Godbout doesn’t have the patience to fully detail Francois’s underworld activity, preferring to explore his motivations, where the hoodlum hopes to live big with his girlfriend, hunting for a monetary opportunity to change his life. He finds one with the NYC job, but it comes with warnings Francois doesn’t take seriously, soon putting him in a dangerous position of exposure from multiple sides. “The Mob” isn’t a nail-biting viewing experience, but it does offer compelling characters dealing with bad decisions, especially with Francois, who elects to reveal organized crime secrets on the radio, which buys him some time and tickles his ego as outsiders start hunting for him, hoping to reach the loquacious goon before he reveals all.

The Mob Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The AVC encoded image (1.85:1 aspect ratio) presentation for "The Mob" is sourced from a 2K scan of the 35mm interpositive. Canadian International Pictures hopes to bring this obscure crime feature to the masses, and the Blu-ray provides a decent understanding of production achievements. Colors enjoy the bigness of period hues. Costuming is varied, as are interiors, and skintones are natural. Detail has a degree of softness, but most facial particulars remain, and clothing is fibrous. Interior decoration is also open for examination. Delineation is satisfactory. Grain is quite heavy at times, but film-like. Source is in good condition.

The Mob Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 2.0 DTS-HD MA mix offers a fresh sense of scoring cues, which deliver crisp instrumentation and balanced position. Dialogue exchanges are equally appreciable, with appealing clarity and emphasis. Sound effects are blunt but effective.

The Mob Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• "Les Troubbes de Johnny" (20:45, HD) is a 1974 short from director Jacques Godbout.

• "Hunger" (11:24, HD) is a 1974 animated short, which can also be viewed before the main feature.

• A Trailer for "The Mob" is included, along with looks at other Quebec crime films, including 1965's "Rope Around the Neck," 1969's "The Big Rock," 1970's "Red," 1972's "The Smart Ones," 1972's "Dirty Money," 1973's "Rejeanne Padovani," 1973's "The Death of a Lumberjack," 1973's "O.K….Laliberte," 1974's "Bingo," 1975's "Gina," 1977's (Ti-Mine, Bernie and the Gang," and 1979's "Jig-Saw."

The Mob Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Performances are lively in "The Mob," keeping the picture as interesting as possible as the talent work through mild acts of intimidation and personal connections, including Francois's time with a beekeeper (which adds some much-needed surprise to the endeavor). "The Mob" isn't teeming with paranoia and pursuits. It's modest, perhaps a little too much so for this subgenre, but it has a memorable sense of desperation to power it through the run time.