Choice Of Arms

A compelling and superbly directed policier, CHOICE OF ARMS pits the new, young breed of criminal--the crazed and disrespectful Mickey (Depardieu)--against an elder, retired underworld hood, the honorable Noel (Montand). Mickey escapes from prison and takes temporary refuge at a ranch owned by Noel and his wife, Nicole (Deneuve). When Mickey refuses to play by Noel's rules, he takes off for Paris. Upon returning, he wrongly assumes that Noel has informed on him and vows to kill both Noel and Nicole. A criminal of the old school--not unlike those who appear in the films of Jean-Pierre Melville--Noel leads a tranquil life but is not beyond violent, angry outbu...