It might be difficult not to think of the films of Jean-Pierre Melville when watching LE MATAF. It covers similar ground to those of the great master, but it lacks Melville's talent for telling the story. Here, we have a fast-moving narrative, including a moment or two of confusion as to what exactly is happening. Unlike Melville, Serge Leroy doesn't take time to live with the characters, or to give scenes enough time to have full impact. Undoubtedly, there are some effective moments (as with the fate of a female character, late in the film) but too much feels perfunctory (the 'romance' between Constantin and Rozier). However, there are far worse examples in the huge crime film catalog of the 1970s.
