A small time gangster named Ugo(Castone Moschin), is released from a 3 year prison term, only to be framed for stealing 300 grand the same day he's released. The police, mob, and a former associate named Rocco(played by Mario Adorf) are all after what Ugo may or may not know dealing with the missing money and his tie to the mob. Ugo Is forced to re join the mob, and must soon after find a way to get the missing money and keep his life.
Caliber 9 is the first movie in a loosely connected trilogy of films, called the Milieu Trilogy, all directed by Fernando Di Leo. All deal with the Mafia's point of view from the euro crime genre. Much like The dollars trilogy(A fistful of dollars, For A Few Dollars More,and The Good The Bad And The Ugly),the movies aren't really connected by plot, but by the same actors and director.
This was my second Di Leo movie,after The Italian Connection(1972,the second film in the trilogy), and i can already tell he was a master of euro crime movies. His style is very down to earth,with chases,fist fights,and shootouts being brutal without pushing it too far. The movie also has a extra level of sleaze with some of the action scenes, such as the pre credits scene where 3 people are kidnapped and tied up,only moments later being blown up in a small cave. Add to the sleaze it's also well shot with many great shots, from the night club,to the villa shootout, and to Rocco looking thur the handle of the bag with the 300 grand in it.
Cast wise everyone is great in there part. Castone Moschin is a mean number, with is bold head and smokers voice. For most of the movie he's quiet and always in deep thought, trying all he can just to leave the crime world to go straight. Mario Adorf is the perfect Rocco, a sleazy sadistic bastard who at the same time is trustworthy to his boss. Adorf fits the love to hate character mood very well, and at the drop of a hat he could become a bad ass. As Ugo's stripper girlfriend, Barbara Bouchet is sexy and hollow,yet at the same time always seeming to be hiding something.
Along with Di Leo's brutal style, the movie also its well written by Di Leo. Thur out theres lots of dark dry humor and hard boiled dialogue that adds a kick to the movie.Di Leo also adds many twists to the plot to throw off viewers and keep them guessing. Caliber 9 has one of the best 3rd halves ever written for a crime movie, from a great shootout to a bloody apartment fight.
Caliber 9 was one hell of a way to start a trilogy of crime movies. From all the twists to the cast to the great action, I had unbelievable awesome time with this movie. A must see for Euro crime fans.
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