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ON THE SHELF: William Friedkin, The French Connection (1971)
03/17/2009 Search for a film with a thrilling car chase scene today, and more often than not, you’ll have to settle for a movie that’s big on style and short on substance. But there was a time when films put just as much thought into developing their stories as they did in timing collisions. The French Connection did just that in 1971, earning 5 Academy Awards (including Best Picture), widespread acclaim and tons of respect from those in and outside of the industry. It deserved every bit of what it got. If you’re thinking about adding the film to your collection for the first time, or if you’ve already purchased the movie on DVD and you’re looking to upgrade, you may want to reconsider which option you take up. Word on the street is the Blu-Ray disappoints, due to director William Friedkin’s apparent tampering with the picture. Personally, it’s my contention that anything made before the ‘80s probably isn’t worth spending an extra ten bucks on anyway, unless it’s got some truly outstanding cinematography. But don’t let this prevent you from acquiring the movie altogether. It really is something. It’s true that the car chase is pretty cool, but it’s the brisk pacing and engaging characters that shine throughout the duration of the movie. Despite being loud, crass, egotistical and blatantly racist, Gene Hackman’s “Popeye” Doyle is too interesting not to enjoy. The late great Roy Scheider anchors his co-star well as the more levelheaded Buddy Russo. He manages to hold your fixation without ever really bringing a lot of attention to himself. None of the scenes ever feel as if they go on for too long, nor do they seem unnecessary. Those found on the cutting room floor, while worth viewing, more than likely would have disrupted the flow established in the final product. The speed of the film feels just right in its modest 104 minute time frame. And just when you’re ready to devote another hour to the investigation, it’s over. What looks to be a long-awaited standoff turns instead to a crazed man feverishly running into the distance, producing one of the most jarring endings I’ve ever seen. It may not provide the closure we were expecting, but it doesn’t feel any less satisfying. Comments [post a comment]Comments are closed |
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Wednesday, February 08, 2012
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