I have a theory that if a dozen adolescent boys from a dozen different countries were plopped down in a pleasant but controlled environment, inside of a day or two they’d be playing cops and robbers. Such is our almost primal fascination with good and bad, and the use of force in the pursuit of those who trade in violence. Anecdotal supporting evidence arrives in the form of 36th Precinct, a top-notch criminal thriller import from France which finds a pair of cops skirting the edges of the law in the name of their jobs as well as macho competition.

Set in Paris, the film unfolds in the aftermath of a brutal gang’s bloody and successful armored car robbery, their seventh in the last year. On the verge of retirement, precinct captain Robert Mancini (Andre Dussollier) tells his charges that whoever apprehends the thieves will get his job and become the chief of police, so Leo Vrinks (Daniel Auteuil) and Denis Klein (Gerard Depardieu) — longtime friends and colleagues, as well as quiet rivals — start jockeying for position. Slowly, the competition between them becomes increasingly ruthless, blurring the lines of morality and wreaking havoc on their families and loved ones.

Depardieu is probably the more known commodity on American shores, amongst arthouse audiences, but Auteuil is a superlative actor, and the harsh truth about Depardieu is that he has a tendency to coast when either not challenged or he is seemingly not interested in the material. Thankfully that is not the case here, as Depardieu seems invigorated by the on-screen (and perhaps off-screen?) competition, delivering a performance coursing with flawed, misdirected ambition. The film is loosely based on a string of real French robberies from the early 1980s, but director Oliver Marchal doesn’t bend over backwards trying to conform to some detailed procedural schematic, and the material benefits from a gritty, streamlined telling that keeps the focus first and foremost on the characters and not the ancillary mayhem that surrounds them and that they later cause. The lesson? Cops-and-robbers translates pretty universally, don’t you know.

Presented on DVD in a 2.35:1 aspect ratio, 36th Precinct arrives via a solid transfer that is free of any edge enhancement or color distortion. Audio comes by way of a French language Dolby digital 5.1 surround sound mix — easily the preferred option — with optional English subtitles, plus Dolby 2.0 stereo mixes in French and English. A hearty slate of bonus features nicely complements the title. First up is a half-hour production featurette, which nicely blends behind-the-scenes footage with cast and crew interviews. There’s also a separate sit-down interview with Marchal in which he discusses (in French, with English subtitles) the inspiration for the film, and how his brief past history as a police officer influenced his telling of the story. Finally, a pair of shorter featurettes spotlight the movie’s costume designs and tests, as well as its attempt at authenticity in its selection of weapons. Theatrical trailers are also included, both for 36th Precinct and other Palisades Tartan releases. To purchase the DVD via Amazon, click here. B (Movie) B+ (Disc)