First thing, people should know about this movie is that it is based for a large part on real events. The war between the two police departments and their police officers really happen (at least during the 1970's) and really drive to the death of police officers during a raid.This film is not really a movie for me, it is a catharsis for Olivier Marchal about his past (he was police officer).So yes the film is dark, hopeless or almost but it was like that. If you dislike this movie, please avoid MR73.If you liked it, you will enjoy all Olivier Marchal's movie as well as some french classics like :"Police Python 357" or "The red circle"

This is a terrific film that I thoroughly enjoyed. Gerard D always terrific and is yet again here. I'm also a massive Daniel A fan now. Great if slightly familiar story but well told. It's an atmospheric and consistently exciting film. It's really well directed and full of great actors. Very highly recommended by me anyway. I don't know anyone else who has seen it so interesting to read other reactions of English speaking (re)viewers.The story isn't the easiest to follow especially when following all the subtitles but well worth the effort. It feels a bit like a Scorsese film circa 1980s. The locations are also fantastic. Actually I think I might watch again now.

It is true that French cinema has failed to make Die Hard type films which have shown one man's crusade against heartless criminals but action film genre has been seen in Taxi series.One positive thing that can be said about 36 Quai des Orfèvres is that it is a brilliant action film.All credit must go to its director Olivier Marchal who has proved that French cinema is as energetic as American cinema as far as action cinema genre is concerned.Action scenes have been directed with perfect agility as they show how main actors like Gérard Depardieu, Daniel Auteuil and Daniel Duval display their best acting talents to tackle reckless criminals.In 36 Quai des Orfèvres we are shown that criminals are elegant,slick and vigilant.They are showed as nasty elements who are constantly on move.The presence of a female member in their midst goes to prove that they want to achieve beauty and the beast effect.As a film cannot rest on only one genre Olivier Marchal has steered this film into the realm of drama too.This is where things go wrong for him as there is absolutely no coherent element between fight scenes and dramatic elements which helps in uniting the narrative structure of this film.Dramatic elements of this film are so badly filmed that they offer only a myopic vision of corruption in police units and how family lives of police forces are ruined due to intense pressure.

This is an intriguing film about police work that misses out on quite a few opportunities for greatness. Unfortunately, it's not as similar to Heat as it purports to be. It lacks the action, the tension, the human interaction. We begin by meeting the retiring cop Eddy and his buddy Vrinks who are working to catch a band of armored car robbers. Their nemesis is Klein, a sleazy and ambitious cop. When Vrinks gets a tip from an informant he's put unknowingly in a tough situation, a situation that will haunt him later on. Once Vrink's group sets up to catch the robbers, the envious and drunk Klein screws up and gets Eddy killed. This earns him the repudiation of almost the entire police force. But he's got a card up his sleeve. By coincidence he gets to find out about the situation Vrinks got himself in thanks to the informant. That turns the tables in favor of Klein. Vrinks ends up in jail and Klein not only exonerated but promoted. To make things worse, Klein involves in the death of Vrinks' wife who was contacted by the informant to offer help. While this may sound quite exciting, there is a surprising lack of action in this thriller. There are a few short scenes to establish Vrinks as the good guy willing to do anything to catch the bad guys and as someone who stands by his friends. Klein is the opposite. The bad guys don't get much screen time. This is more about the lives of the cops. But strangely, it feels very distant and cold. Perhaps this is appropriate since the topic is police work and not teenage drama queens and kings. Still, the human factor is missing in this French movie. What is intriguing, but not exploited adequately is the political aspect. We meet the police brass and associated bureaucrats that support Vrinks, at least in spirit, but end up acting in favor of Klein. To some extent, this story line is quite realistic. Good guys do finish last, and the slimy sleaze balls do win. Klein, however seems too much of a nasty traitor to be favored even by gutless politicians. There is a point in this movie where it all seems too dark. The good guy has lost everything and there seems no way out whatsoever. It's as if the filmmakers overdid it. For instance, the whole storyline about Vrinks wife is really unnecessary. Vrinks had plenty of reason for revenge even without her death. I, too, have problems with the score. At times it is very similar to Heat's and used to create tension and excitement. The problem is that while Heat delivers action and excitement, 36 doesn't and the music just seems like a manipulative device. Similarly, the editing used cuts most scenes into very short bits disconnecting us entirely from the characters and from any chance at conversation. Overall, this movie succeeds in what it sets out to do: to get us to like the good guy, hate the bad guy and cheer for revenge. There is some effective realism: the despicable judicial system, the revolting behind-the-scenes politics that tie the hands of law enforcement and promote incompetence, the underground network of bad guys, etc. But you are left wanting more: more heists by the robbers, more police operations, more about Klein, more sinister string-pulling by politicians, more buddy work by the good cops. In a way this movie is a combination of Heat and Miami Vice. It takes the coldness and distance from Miami Vice and puts it in the context of Heat. I think the reverse would have made for a cooler movie: the excitement of intimacy of Heat in the drug underworld of Miami. Still, this is a very enjoyable thriller just be aware that it will not turn out too be as great as one hopes.