36 (2004)

The full title of this French film is 36 Quai des Orfevres which is the address of the Criminal Investigations Division in Paris, the equivalent of Scotland Yard, and it is one truly terrific policier.  Starring Daniel Auteuil and Gerard Depardieu as detectives and former friends who are both seeking the top job on the retirement of their immediate superior,  it has been implied that whichever of them captures the crims who have perpetrated a series of bloody security vehicle holdups over the last year will be the victor.  Auteuil is the rogue cop who with his faithful team will flirt with unethical methods to achieve his ends, whilst Depardieu who appears to work through the system is, if anything, even more unethical in his scheming.  When Auteuil has the villains within his grasp, Depardieu compromises the operation, which results in the death of a popular member of Auteuil's team.  To avoid allowing the latter to testify against him in the hearing to follow, Despardieu uncovers evidence which lands Auteuil in pokey for seven years and is even responsible for the death of Auteuil's wife, Valeria Golino, with whom he shares some past undisclosed history.  Depardieu achieves his goal in the short term, but eventually the past catches up in a totally unexpected but satisfying way.  Good stuff!