The premise of the movie is rather intriguing: A young police-man, working as instructor and gun-smith gets entangled in the machinations of a secret police force.Unfortunately the movie does not live up the the high standards it set itself.The story starts out with Vincent (protagonist) being at some sort of tournament. This tournament is basically a time-trail: kill the most people in the shortest time possible (excuse moi, targets). Since Vincent is the beast, he is being singled out by some sort of shady recruiter for some clandestine organization, but refuses the offer to join some sort of shady "above the law" task force. "You were born to rule in hell, not to serve in heaven" - that's how he's described by that recruiter.This is where the story gets a bit convoluted and gnarly. Milo is being hired to get Vincent recruited but the entire stunt backfires. The covert-ops guys are SO above and beyond the law, that they do not get official funding, but have to get their own money. To do so they rob a money transport and afterward kill a few local thugs to grab their equipment and loot. Seriously?From there on the movie spirals into a half-baked back and fro of somewhat related sub-plots: Police corruption, local rivalries between cops (on both a personal, as well well as professional level), unfinished sub-plots and some real life drama.Luckily the movie sheds this entire plumage of frill towards the end gets its act together. The acting is decent, and I really liked the character portrayals. Also, the casting was, IMO, rather good. Especially the supporting characters were life-like and really 'tart', big plus. As per usual in Euroflicks the action is stout, the violence is brutal, and little is larger than life- which really salvaged the entire pot- hole ridden ride. A decent flick for the Euroflick enthusiast.

Vincent Milès is a young but highly skilled shooting instructor for the French police. No family or friends (his father was killed by criminals and he was raised by his best friend; a very tough and obsessive cop). Miles is an outstanding shooter but he never wanted to be in the streets; but unexpected circumstances forces him to the real world of criminals and corruption. Forget everything you imagine. The movie is quite unpredictable and nothing is like it seem. Things gets extremely ugly and violent. This is not the typical political correct movie about police. Cops here are corrupt in different levels and far from friends. Events are barely explained and occur so fast you cannot blink or stop paying attention. Many will die in really unexpected ways. In brief; the lesser to know about the movie is the better but it will keep you hook up for brief 85 minutes but stay in your mind for long time.

What a true masterpiece. Terrific, outstanding piece of work. Jean-Pierre Melville in addition to Olivier Marchal at power ten thousand. Brutal, bloody, dark, and not for the squeamish. Of course Fred Cavayé would have made a different film, with more action and stunt sequences but also more f...romance and happy ending for sissies. Yes a very dark tale with an outstanding lead character played by an unknown Young actor who gives here his best performance of his whole career, whatever he will do in the future. Gerad Lanvin, Joey Starr and Simon Abkarian are just supporting characters here. But this movie suffers of a too short running time. It's no good for it. I can't explain why. The scheme about super rounds of ammunition getting through bullet proof vests was already told in LETHAL WEAPON 3, with also a Young cop as an gunsmith who lived only for his pieces and who looked like the Young gunsmith here. I guess the screen writer was influenced by the Richard Donner's film.You may also think of LA GUERRE DES POLICES back in 1980, but at a large lesser scale. For the Robin Davis's film I mean.And for the sissies who could find this film too violent, I will tell them that a crime movie has perfectly the right to be violent, brutal, and bloody. And, above all, dark with no ethics at all. As in the real life. But that doesn't mean that a crime flick absolutely must be violent. Don't misunderstand me.The same scheme concerning westerns. A western is not supposed to always show Indians, state troopers or outlaws. But it can...Get it?In resume, I love this film. In the most powerful and deepest passionate way. And more because it was torn to pieces, wiped out in the cutting room. I feel pain Inside of me. Shame on those pricks who did it.Shame on them.

From Belgium, here comes the fifth movie directed by Fabrice Du Welz.And what an excellent thriller, a unique and tragic initiation for a young cop who is the most skillful in guns but refuses to get involved in criminal investigation. But he is required by some very special cops, and what a hell... in the french war police. His story is diving in deeper and darker waters...Ymanol Perset is perfect in playing this magnificent character. We must not forget Gérard Lanvin, Joey Starr, Alexandre Brasseur (remember his father Claude in Robin Davis movie on a similar subject 35 years ago) and all the others. Special appearance by Gerard Watkins (son of Peter Watkins).Du Welz direction is precise and full of strong surprises, offering us a 85 minutes masterpiece, no length at all.Hanx to Philippe for recommending it since a long time.