The French Connection (1971)
French New Wave meets action Hollywood.
Presentation:
If you watch interviews with famous directors, The French Connection pops up as one of the most referenced films and I finally understand why. It’s hard to ignore its impact on the Hollywood blockbusters, namely the signature 8 cop cars speeding down the highway. For a film from 1971, it’s shockingly thrilling with action sequences that stand toe to toe with action flicks today. I actually think the car sequences in some sense are better and feel more real. The mix of handheld and high speed chases really creates a grounded intensity that keeps the action timeless. It’s sort of shot in the style of a French New Wave film but with American sensibilities. There’s a lot of fast edits to the point where I think it equates to a video postcard of NYC. The sheer amount of varied scenery of the city and seaside France is delightfully immersive. There’s a lot of walking and running around, how often will you see a Santa sprint at full speed? Some of the plot points aren’t presented clearly and the story falls into a lull in the first half. Perhaps it feels slow because there’s so much surveillance, which doesn’t really add tension other than to be cheeky and portray NYC.
Conclusion:
I think everyone should watch this film to see the origins of modern cop chases. It’s easy for the plot to fly over your head when it’s essentially being yelled at others but it does escalate and reach a very rewarding climax. What an ending!
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