--- title: "Le Samouraï: the reviews" canonical: "https://film.one/film/le-samourai/reviews" title_page: "https://film.one/film/le-samourai" critics_score: 80 critics_reviews: 9 licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL." --- # Le Samouraï (1967): what the critics said Critics' score 80 from 9 reviews: 6 positive, 3 mixed, 0 negative. Most critics respond warmly to Le Samouraï, with praise clustering around Delon’s controlled performance, Melville’s meticulous staging and the austere visual style. The strongest notices find the carefully arranged suspense gripping and the urban isolation haunting. Delon’s reserve is central to that response: critics describe an icy, precise presence, though some also find quiet sympathy in his portrayal of a professional killer. The spread runs from strong enthusiasm to mixed approval, with no outright negative verdicts recorded. Variety offers the clearest reservation, finding the combination of French setting and gangster conventions only intermittently successful, while still praising Delon and the suspense of the police pursuit. The other mixed entries lack accessible review text, so their specific objections remain unclear. That limits how firmly any shared complaint can be identified; the documented praise is much more consistent. ## Radio Times — David Parkinson Rating 5/5. The critic praises the film as an ultra-stylish study of a professional killer. Delon’s performance and Melville’s meticulous staging receive particular acclaim. [Read the review](https://www.radiotimes.com/movie-guide/b-9b8qzo/le-samoura/) ## Empire — Kim Newman Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 1 January 2000. Newman praises the film as a riveting, stylish thriller with a haunting vision of urban alienation. He singles out Delon’s icy performance and the film’s carefully staged suspense. [Read the review](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/le-samourai-review/) ## Los Angeles Times — Kenneth Turan Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 27 February 1997. Turan presents the film as an elegant, unforgettable modern gangster classic. He especially praises its austere visual style and Delon’s precise, bloodless performance. [Read the review](https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1997-02-27-ca-32727-story.html) ## Slant Magazine — Chuck Bowen Rating 4.5/5. 11 July 2024. Bowen calls the film a masterpiece and finds the new 4K transfer revelatory, making up for the dated extras. He particularly praises the richer, more varied black-and-gray tones, which intensify the film’s painterly look. [Read the review](https://www.slantmagazine.com/dvd/le-samourai-4k-uhd-blu-ray-review-jean-pierre-melville/) ## The AV Club — Keith Phipps Fi1m's normalised score 85/100 (inferred from the text). 29 March 2002. Phipps calls the film a terrific, tense thriller and fascinating character study. He praises Delon’s quietly sympathetic portrayal and the film’s distinctive style and influence. [Read the review](https://www.avclub.com/le-samourai-1798195210) ## RogerEbert.com Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). The page is identified as a Great Movie review of the 1967 film, but its text is blocked. The critic’s verdict and specific praise or complaint cannot be verified from the available content. [Read the review](https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/great-movie-le-samourai-1967) ## The New York Times Fi1m's normalised score 66/100 (inferred from the text). 30 January 2004. The page is blocked, so the critic’s verdict and specific praise or complaint cannot be determined. The URL identifies a review of Le Samouraï. [Read the review](https://www.nytimes.com/2004/01/30/movies/film-review-a-frenchman-on-the-lam-out-to-settle-old-scores.html) ## Time Out — ATu Fi1m's normalised score 65/100 (inferred from the text). The page identifies this as a review, but the review text is unavailable, so its verdict cannot be determined. The available description evokes the film’s shadowy style and taciturn characters without stating a specific point of praise or complaint. [Read the review](https://www.timeout.com/movies/le-samourai) ## Variety — Variety Staff Fi1m's normalised score 50/100 (inferred from the text). 31 December 1966. The critic finds the film intermittently successful, with its French setting and gangster conventions forming a curious hybrid. Delon’s glacial presence and the suspense of the police pursuit stand out positively. [Read the review](https://variety.com/1966/film/reviews/le-samourai-1200421329/) --- © Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Our review: https://film.one/film/le-samourai.md