Vu et revu sur Chérie 25 (juin 2022).
A nonchalant crime film in the image of his hero that rapidly reveals through the delivery of the uneventful crime intrigue its true nature: a nice portrait of the titular cop (played by a 2000s Depardieu in his good days), with his strain relationship with an inferior-feeling alcoholic half-brother .
The investigation (a simple bait) is certainly flat but gives occasions for the usual chabrolian gibes at the rural higher society and funny lines that regularly liven up the film.
As the brother, Cornillac decides to prove his ability and his overacting luckily suits the movie while Bunuel's Mrs Bellamy lights up every scene she's in. Little is left for the forever nice Gamblin but he's somewhat alluring as the "naive criminal".
Film-wise, it's competently framed, to the point, but lacks the old cleverness of the famous Hitchcock disciple.
One could have dreamed of a better work for this latecoming Depardieu / Chabrol collaboration but its existence is already a blessing.
Score: 6/10 (7?)
Enjoyment: 4/5
A decent outing for the exhausted Chabrol, but a weak one compared to his former self.