An inspired rendering of Jim Thompson's pulp novel "Pop. 1280," Bertrand Tavernier's Oscar-nominated "Coup de Torchon (Clean Slate)" deftly transplants the story of an inept police chief-turned-heartless killer and his scrappy mistress from the American South to French West Africa. Featuring pitch-perfect performances by Philippe Noiret and Isabelle Huppert, this striking neo-noir straddles the line between violence and lyricism with dark humor and visual elegance.