dir. William Friedkin (trailer)
The French Connection is one of the most thrilling, action packed movies in cinema history. Filmed entirely on location in New York City, director William Friedkin brings a documentary style of filmmaking influenced by the French New Wave of the 1960s to American cinema. Loosely based on two real NYPD detectives, Jimmy "Popeye" Doyle (Gene Hackman) and Buddy Russo (Roy Scheider) try to catch a large drug shipment being brought into New York by French gangsters.
The majority of the film involves detectives staking out suspects, clandestine meetings, and high speed car chases. Friedkin's documentary-style camera work creates an immediacy to the film that most other detective movies don't have. Each scene feels spontaneous and unscripted with Hackman being totally unpredictable as he harasses citizens and seeks out vital information from informants.
1970s New York City is one of the best parts of the film; modern day audiences get to be transported back in time to a version of the city that no longer exists. The fury of the fast paced, grimey city coupled with the detectives' singular need to stay one step ahead of the drug dealers creates the barreling momentum of a moving train.
Fans of true crime, detective stories, and 1970s New Hollywood will enjoy this action packed Best Picture Winner.
Rating: ★★★★★
Recommended for fans of: classics, Dirty Harry (1971), Chinatown (1974), action/adventure, The Getaway (1972)
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