Speaking of Murder

Speaking of Murder is the first film in a three disc collection of French noir movies I recently purchased from Kino Lorber. It tells the story of a paroled ex-con whose brother leads an active band of bank robbers. He is trying to make good with his girl but is targeted by the cops for his brother’s robberies. The movie drags in the middle when it slips into family drama and we never really get a feeling for the characters. The gangster brother runs a legit business but still robs banks? He’s filthy villain but is concerned that his little brother is in love with a beautician? Doesn’t really make sense, but the movie starts to get entertaining again in the last act as the “big score” robbery goes awry.