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Shoot the Piano Player

Shoot the Piano Player

Drama · Thriller · Crime · 1960

Charlie is a former classical pianist who has changed his name and now plays jazz in a grimy Paris bar. When Charlie's brothers, Richard and Chico, surface and ask for Charlie's help while on the run from gangsters they have scammed, he aids their escape. Soon Charlie and Lena, a waitress at the same bar, face trouble when the gangsters arrive, looking for his brothers.

Movie details

Shoot the Piano Player

“François Truffaut, Brilliant Director Who Gave You the Award Winning "The 400 Blows", Now Brings to the Screen a Fascinating New Work That Plays in Many Keys...All of Them Delightful!”

1960 Drama · Thriller · Crime 1h 25m

Critical arithmetic

One number, for now.

TMDB

7.2 / 10

Community rating

Charlie is a former classical pianist who has changed his name and now plays jazz in a grimy Paris bar. When Charlie's brothers, Richard and Chico, surface and ask for Charlie's help while on the run from gangsters they have scammed, he aids their escape. Soon Charlie and Lena, a waitress at the same bar, face trouble when the gangsters arrive, looking for his brothers.

CriticWise case file

What this film says about your taste.

Not a recommendation score. A measure of how closely the film’s taste signals resemble yours.

The archetype split

Who fights over Shoot the Piano Player?

The split comes from the same five-axis model used by the test, not audience ratings or review sentiment.

Taste neighbourhood

Nearby on the taste map.

TMDB supplies the candidates. CriticWise reorders them by craft, strangeness, prestige, emotion, and pace.

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Names above the title

The people responsible.

Directed by

François Truffaut

Charles Aznavour

Charles Aznavour

Charlie Kohler/Edouard Saroyan

Marie Dubois

Marie Dubois

Léna

Nicole Berger

Nicole Berger

Thérèse Saroyan

Michèle Mercier

Michèle Mercier

Clarisse

Serge Davri

Serge Davri

Plyne

Claude Mansard

Claude Mansard

Momo

Richard Kanayan

Richard Kanayan

Fido Saroyan

Court is in session

Put Shoot the Piano Player on trial.

Two incompatible taste archetypes. One film. Read the arguments, then issue a completely binding cultural ruling.

The defence The Big-Idea Head

“Ambition earns the room.”

The film reaches for consequence and scale, accepting the risk of seriousness instead of shrinking from it.

The prosecution The Popcorn Loyalist

“Importance has entered the chat.”

The production keeps announcing its significance, as though awards-season posture were proof of insight.