Overrated and overhyped

An Exercise In Nonsense

All of these films share one commonality, that being a kind of emotional center that humanizes a cast of monsters.

This is a gorgeous movie made by a gorgeous spirit.

A Michel Constantin as we know him, tough and very natural. So Adolfo Celi, naturally, but less harsh and more sympathetic. The same, Georges Géret, as we know from all his movies, naturally too. Beautiful music signed by Stelvio Cipriani. It's not a masterpiece but, overall, this movie looks very realistic.

Dear Stelvio Cipriani, your brilliant background score is the best part of this rather languid and unremarkable crime thriller. Stelvio, the romantic saxophone laced main theme was both melancholic and memorable. I have been playing it in my car for the last one year. The director Serge Leroy used it very well - especially in the romantic scenes. Le Mataf begins in an interesting manner with a voice over introducing the three thieves. Michel Constantin, with his imposing presence and rather gruff voice might be the French Lee Marvin. Him and his two cohorts are the victims of a blackmail plot after they are photographed attempting to rob a train. The blackmailers force the trio to steal a roll of film (it is never revealed what the film contains) off a ship. Double crosses and triple crosses ensue. The flimsy plot is not even the film's major problem. The heist scene in the ship was supposed to be procedural like in a Melville or Verneuil film. But it was quite unimaginative and was the very opposite of thrilling. The action scenes were sleep inducing. No dialog stood out though the romantic scenes were quite interesting mainly due to your score, Stelvio. What I liked about the film were the locales - especially the bars and the cafes. The pairing of the gigantic Michel Constantin with the petite Cathy Rosier suggests the director is indeed a man of taste. However, every scene makes you wish the director had hired a better scenarist. But he certainly hired the right composer. Your background score lent a melancholic and superior air to this otherwise dull film, Stelvio. Best Regards, Pimpin. (6/10)

This is an icy Euro crime outing with a great cast. It's a shame Le Mataf is only available on French DVD with no English subs as 70's French crime movies are very under represented (unlike their Italian cousins). This may not have the balls out action and macho posturing of a Merli or Milian outing but Michel Constantin's crater face speaks volumes and there's an excellent safe cracking scene featuring plenty of sweat and wild camera compositions. Melville typified the sullen loner alongside hushed, whispered dialogue. The performances here mirror the maestros tone alongside the twisting narrative and laid back pacing. Stelvio Cipriani's lush score is another plus. Check it out.

Serge Leroy 's sophomore effort for the silver screen (the first one "Ciel Bleu" seems rather interesting but is nowhere to be found)has a strong male cast :Michel Constantin,was par excellence,the tough guy of the French B movies (but in his filmography one masterpiece :Jacques Becker's "Le Trou" (1959),the best French prison movie ever made ,and no ,it's not a Nouvelle Vague work!);Georges Géret ,Pierre Santini and Adolfo -"Thunderball"-Celi provide good support;unfortunately ,Cathy Rosier is as expressive as a Barbie doll and Annie Cordy's role is underwritten.The story is complicated instead of complex :it involves secret microfilms ,frame-ups,corrupt lawyer and lots of dollars ,plus a song by Annie Cordy .But all in all ,it's just another thriller .Leroy's next movie "La Traque" will be simpler and much more absorbing .The title: it's explained in the movie ;a "Mataf" is slang for "sailor" who joins the navy for five years ;the connection with the movie is thin,unless the hero's ship (in the last sequence) counts