The French
Connection is a movie I didn’t quite connect with. It’s a classic that
made waves during its release, becoming both a critical and box office success,
but in my opinion, it wasn’t all that. Here’s a rundown of its recognition:
It was the first R-rated movie to win the Academy Award for Best Picture since
the introduction of the MPAA film rating system. It also won Academy Awards for
Best Actor (Gene Hackman), Best Director (William Friedkin), Best Film Editing,
and Best Adapted Screenplay (Ernest Tidyman). It was nominated for Best
Supporting Actor (Roy Scheider), Best Cinematography, and Best Sound Mixing.
Tidyman also received a Golden Globe Award, a Writers Guild of America Award,
and an Edgar Award for his screenplay. It has since been labeled one of the
greatest American films by the American Film Institute. (Courtesy Wikipedia.)
My curiosity to
see this much-talked-about movie was finally satisfied two nights ago, but it
left me with more questions than answers about why it’s so celebrated. That
said, I have to hand it to the chase scene—it was interesting and very
entertaining. I was genuinely looking forward to seeing how it would end.
As for Gene Hackman’s much-praised acting, it wasn’t, in my opinion, his best
work. He won an Oscar for that performance, but maybe that year there wasn’t
anything better—or anyone more deserving—to give it to.
The movie is
about drug trafficking and is based on a true story about two police officers
in the Narcotics Division trying to bring down a drug chain moving a large
shipment of cocaine hidden in cars.
The film didn’t
bother making use of anyone else to elevate the acting overall. Hackman and Roy
Scheider were pretty much the only ones you’ll see on screen, getting in your
face at every turn.
There was a
sequel to this movie in 1975, which was also a critical success. It focused
more on Gene Hackman’s character as he travels to France to finish what was
started in America.
If you’re going
through the list of 70s classics, this is a movie you’ll definitely run
into—whether you like it or not. The French Connection is seen as a
70s classic, and many will say it’s a must-see.
I believe it is a fun movie; I enjoyed the way it was produced, and the acting. But I can see how this movie can be perceived as just OK, if you are watching it now.
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