Hustle

Aldrich capitalized on the euphoric success of "The Longest Yard" for a second project with Burt Reynolds, a dark contribution to the pessimistic noir revival of the 1970s. The crime plot takes a back seat to the central romance with the French luxury call girl Nicole Britton (Catherine Deneuve), yet the relationship is overshadowed by doubts. In Los Angeles, Police Lieutenant Phil Gaines (Reynolds) investigates the death of a young woman, but his superiors want to close the case as a suicide. Aldrich paints a portrait of a world riddled with corruption that is sinking into melancholic darkness: the cynicism of the powerful clashes with the despair of the “nobodies,” while the characters are worn down by the compromises of everyday life. Aldrich’s characteristic rage is almost swallowed up by sadness. (C.H.)