Le Cercle Rouge: So. Damn. Cool.

Just finished watching "Le Cercle Rouge" (1970) and wow. Seriously, the style radiating off this movie is practically radioactive. I know Melville is revered, but this was my first time diving into his work and I'm hooked. The plot is simple enough - a heist movie with some fantastic characters - Corey fresh out of the slammer, Vogel escaping the cops, and Janssen as Ricoeur... but it's the *execution* that blew me away. Visually, it's minimalist perfection. The color palettes, the stark compositions... even the way they light Delon's face is art. And the sound design! The silence during the heist scene is just unreal. Talk about tension! I was literally on the edge of my seat, feeling like I was right there with them. It's funny, though, because the *lack* of music in key parts actually amplified the drama. A lot of modern movies could learn from that restraint, honestly. I especially appreciated the lack of exposition too. They showed, didn't tell. The character motivations are nuanced and believable even without pages of backstory. And that ending? Damn, it's bleak but perfect. I won't spoil it, but it really stuck with me. The pacing might be a little slow for some people, and it takes a bit to get going, but stick with it. I'm already planning a Melville marathon. Anyone got recommendations for which film to watch next? Thinking maybe "Army of Shadows"?