The French Connection
"Sheer Entertainment... Fast, Fascinating, Gripping And Gritty." -New York Magazine
New York City detectives "Popeye" Doyle (Gene Hackman) and Buddy Russo (Roy Scheider) hope to break a narcotics smuggling ring and ultimately uncover The French Connection. But when one of the criminals tries to kill Doyle, he begins a deadly pursuit that takes him far outside the city limits. Based on a true story, this action-filled thriller, with its renowned chase scene, won five Academy Award® in 1971, including Best Picture, Best Director (William Friedkin) and Best Actor for Hackman.
Member Reviews
The Crime classic of the 1970s - Ziegler
Positive: This movie defined the crime cinema of the 1970s. Docu feel cinematography...excellent acting especially by Gene Hackman, great plot, nice twist ending. Nice action scenes. Nice look at New York in the 1970s. Excellent DVD
Negative: Well this movie with its language may disturb some people.
Conclusion: One of the best crime movies ever made.We're gonna need a bigger boat - SadDadDancing
An excellent cops and robbers tale that pulls no punches and acts in shades of grey rather than clear cut black and white. Hackman provides what might certainly be considered one of his best performances ever. Roy Scheider, whom I'm normally only marginally impressed with, is absolutely fantastic. Featuring one of the most memorable car chases I've ever seen The French Connection is an excellent film that is essential viewing.Groundbreaking! - MovieProf
"The French Connection" still holds up all these years later. Made on a meager budget, starring virtual unknowns (although Fernando Rey had already enjoyed a lengthy international film career by this time), and utilizing the hand-held camera technique that has become almost cliche nowadays, this is a great film.
I remember watching it years ago and thinking, "What was all the fuss about?" I thought it plodded along at a snail's pace. The other night I watched it again, and I see the many positives I had missed before. The one thing I love about the film is how real it feels--by that, I mean that in 1971, Hollywood and moviegoing audiences were still coming to grips with the collapse of the Hays Code that had been in place for decades, the same code that forced filmmakers to heavily edit their work. Examples of this are obvious in any film before, say, 1967: no open-mouth kissing, no swearing, no gratuitous violence, etc. "The French Connection" lays it all on the line: there's nudity, swearing, and lots of blood.
Although Roy Scheider did have some other strong performances in the 1970s (two "Jaws" films, for example), clearly it is Gene Hackman who went on to superstardom after this film's release. He's still rolling along today.
Member Reviews
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The Crime classic of the 1970s - Ziegler
Positive: This movie defined the crime cinema of the 1970s. Docu feel cinematography...excellent acting especially by Gene Hackman, great plot, nice twist ending. Nice action scenes. Nice look at New York in the 1970s. Excellent DVD
Negative: Well ...We're gonna need a bigger boat - SadDadDancing
An excellent cops and robbers tale that pulls no punches and acts in shades of grey rather than clear cut black and white. Hackman provides what might certainly be considered one of his best performances ever. Roy Scheider, whom I'm normally only marginally ...Groundbreaking! - MovieProf
"The French Connection" still holds up all these years later. Made on a meager budget, starring virtual unknowns (although Fernando Rey had already enjoyed a lengthy international film career by this time), and utilizing the hand-held camera technique that ...