LAST BULLET/ LOST BULLET 3/ BALLE PERDUE 3

France, 2025, 110 minutes, Colour.

Allban Lenoir, Nicolas Duvauchelle, Stefi Celma, Gerard Lanvin, Quentin D'Hainaut, Anne Sarah.

Directed by Guillaume Pierret.

A very French action show, Last Bullet, police, criminals, drug dealing, plenty of action and stunts, appeared in 2020 and was very successful. So, a year or two later, a very successful sequel. Now, a third in the franchise, the French title remaining the same but an alert for English-speaking audiences, not just another Lost Bullet, but the Last Bullet.

The central characters of the previous films reappear, audiences having got to know them well, liking some like Lino, former prisoner, rehabilitated, working on cars, good relationships. But there is also Areski, police, caught up in all kinds of violence, even murder. And, the women in their lives. And, especially, one of the chief of police in the drug squad, totally corrupt, dealing the drugs, some brutal henchman, political deals, and out for some vengeance.

With the new scenario, Areski is hiding in Germany, new name and job, relationship even though has a wife and child at home, becoming the target of the chief but cleverly, with the help of his bike, evading the deathtrap. He returns to France, trying to reconstruct his life, determined to work against the corrupt chief, but paired up with Lino who has to forego some of his vengeful hatred.

In many ways the plot is simple, the two combining, the help from their female collaborators, some more corruption at the top, the setting up of the police chief, and, in the  last part of the film, plenty of car and mobile action, stunt work, one of the reasons for enjoying this series of films.

For those coming across this film the first time, enjoyable action. For those following the previous two films, some satisfaction in the conclusion, the good rewarded, the bad defeated.

1. The popularity of the first two films? A satisfactory conclusion to the series?
2. French action film, action sequences, stunt work, CGI, effects? Cars, chases, buses, the tower and confrontation? Audience response to the action?
3. The opening in Germany, introducing Areski, his role in the previous films, criminal, killings, his wife and family, escaped to Germany, working, the control of Resz, corrupt administration, drug smuggling, his work and cover, the relationship, Resz wanting him killed, on the bike, the chase, his outwitting the pursuers, survival, return to France?
4. The situation at the Spanish French border, the exchange, the prisons, Resz and his control?
5. Lino, his past, present, rehabilitation, working, the relationship with Stiller? With the authorities?
6. Rose, corrupt, control, his thugs, trying to kill Areski? The deal with Spain? With the authorities? His working with Yuri? The film’s critique of police and political corruption?
7. Areski and his return, working to bring down Resz, the meeting with Lino, memories of the past of the murder, their working together? The role of Stella, the past, present?
8. The officer in charge, her attitude, the pursuit of Resz, her doubledealing and exposure?
9. The buildup to the confrontation, the cars, the chases, Lino and Stella, Areski and his changing attitudes, wanting to escape? The bus? The final violent confrontation, the cars, the van, the tower?
10. Yuri, the attitude of Resz, his change of heart, his final vengeance?
11. The style of French action films for the French audience? The impact on international audiences?