Legal Commentary

A few crime-related fiction films I've seen (or, re-seen) recently and enjoyed a lot:

Ajami. Nominated for a Best Foreign Film Academy Award this year,Yaron Shani and Scandar Copti's film reminds one very much of The Wire. Except it's set in Israel, and it's a more intense, tightly-woven narrative. Stories of violent crime and the underworld in Jaffa unfold, Jews and Palestinians clash (though this is not a "film about the conflict" per se), and you get a rare glimpse into the world of sulkha, a traditional Bedouian dispute resolution mechanism. This film is absolutely fantastic, and probably ranks as my favorite all year.

The Big Heat. A phenomenal Fritz Lang noir from 1953, the narrative follows a basically honest cop trying to bring down a corrupt mob, with roots in local politics and the police force. Very well done, manipulative in its portrayal of the main protagonist, aesthetically fascinating, and as a bonus, Gloria Grahame in an unforgettable femme fatale role.

Eastern Promises. I saw this Cronenberg flick when it came out, and recently saw it again on DVD. What grabs me about this film, which tells a gripping story of a young woman's involvement with the Russian vory v zakone and their criminal practices, is its incredible visual style, incorporating the esthetic and meaning of Russian prison tattoos into the plot. Magnificent.

Odds Against Tomorrow. Wonderfully directed by Robert Wise, this 1959 film would be a standard noir about a heist gone wrong--except it isn't. The robbery plan involves two professional criminals, one of which, masterfully portrayed by Harry Belafonte, is an African American musician. A conflict ensues, since the other criminal, portrayed by Robert Ryan, is an outspoken racist. The movie deals with the racial tensions, all the way to the explosive end, in a sophisticated way; the script was written by Abraham Polonsky, blacklisted at the time, and very sensitive to social issues.

Enjoy!