Synopsis: French director Jean-Luc Godard's classic 1985 crime drama is another exhilarating display of storytelling and style from the New Wave master. The film works overtime, tying two distinct stories together to tell an even bigger tale. In the first, an unhappily married couple, Françoise and... French director Jean-Luc Godard's classic 1985 crime drama is another exhilarating display of storytelling and style from the New Wave master. The film works overtime, tying two distinct stories together to tell an even bigger tale. In the first, an unhappily married couple, Françoise and Emile Chenal (Nathalie Baye and Claude Brasseur, respectively), tries to collect a debt from a boxing manager who has ties to the mob. In the second, a hotel detective and his nephew, Inspector Neveu (Jean-Pierre Léaud), spend their time searching for clues that will solve a mysterious old murder. Along the way, the film follows the boxer, who's getting ready for the big fight, in addition to a variety of bizarre and comical characters that are also staying at the hotel. Godard uses this framework to present his own views on modern life, ranging from pornography to language to film itself. This is most highly evident in the film's closing credit sequence, which mentions the names of classic film directors John Cassavetes, Edward G. Ulmer, Clint Eastwood, and, of course, Godard himself. DÉTECTIVE's greatest asset is its assured blend of comedy, drama, and philosophical dialogue, keeping the audience guessing and engaged throughout. And, cinephiles, watch carefully to catch a glimpse of an adolescent Julie Delpy. [More]