Rating of
3/4
"The Asphalt Jungle" by Yojimbo
Yojimbo - wrote on 03/10/12
A newly formed crew pull off a million dollar jewel heist but when they are doubled crossed by their financial backer, all their careful planning falls apart. Similar to Double Indemnity in that what seems like a perfect plan unravels because of circumstances out of their control combined with weakness of character, The Asphalt Jungle is also the blueprint for the modern heist movie. Noir had evolved from the affected and literary roots of Huston's debut, and it resembles the contemporary crime film far more in its grittier style and more naturalistic characters and dialogue. Sterling Hayden is the pick of the cast of comparatively little known character actors, and the straightforward honour and dignity of a man who is assumed to be nothing more than a violent street thug contrasts both with the obsequious and double dealing face of respectability played by Louis Calhern and the corruption of the dirty cop who breaks the case. On the down side, the female characters are a little weak and the ending feels more anti-climactic than bleak and so I personally prefer the convoluted plotting and punchy firecracker dialogue of earlier Noirs, but for those used to more realism in their tough guy street dramas, this is a great starting point.
