’36th Precinct’ finally arrives on DVD

Thank Palisades Tartan for finally bringing a French gem to Region-1 audiences.

36th Precinct, also known as 36, was released back in 2004, but never jumped across the pond for English-speaking DVD viewers. Palisades Tartan has rectified that problem with its new release of the slick crime thriller starring Gérard Depardieu and a stellar Daneil Auteuil. After watching the 111-minute film, it’s a mystery why it took so long.

36th Precinct, directed by Olivier Marchal, is a no-holds-barred journey through the dark corners of France’s organized crime scene.

The movie depicts the cutthroat rivalry between two ace detectives: Léo Vrinks (Auteuil) and Denis Klein (Depardieu). The two hate each other and have vastly different ways of conducing their police work. The plot is set in motion when the two are issued a challenge from the higher-ups: Whoever brings in the violent network of robbers that has plagued Paris for some time will become the next chief of police.

Léo and Denis fight tooth and nail to find the robbers, using their established contacts and informants to learn of the dirty underworld of Parisian crime.

The screenplay, written by Marchal, treats Léo as the pseudo-hero and Denis as the pseudo-villain. But 36th Precinct is smarter than simply casting these two men as pure examples of good and evil. Both characters are flawed, and they both go too far in their quest for the top job. Léo finds himself an accomplice in a triple homicide, while Denis lets his alcoholic demons sour a planned ruse to bag the bad guys. Both men prove to be mirror images of each other: Smart, ambitious, forsaken.

36th Precinct is unique in that it deals with the actual criminals at arm’s length. The details and circumstances of the robbers are minimal; the actual underworld of the Paris crime scene is an afterthought. Instead, the movie is much more interested in the police and these two central characters.

Although Depardieu offers a fine performance as Denis, it is Auteuil who owns this movie. His character is brought through the ringer, forced to mold together his personal and professional lives. We come to care the most for Léo, even though he has certain character attributes that are difficult to reconcile.

Tartan’s DVD release includes a great making-of documentary, plus features on the wardrobe and weapons used in the film. The bonus features are a fitting complement to a movie that finally arrives on DVD shelves in the United States. Now that’s justice.

• 36th Precinct

• 2004

• Written and directed by Olivier Marchal

• Starring Daniel Auteuil and Gérard Depardieu

• Running time: 111 minutes

• Bonus features on Palisades Tartan release: Making-of featurette; interview with the director; weapons selection featurette; wardrobe selection featurette; trailers

• Bubble score: 4 out of 4

• Click here to purchase 36th Precinct on DVD.