On DVD (1974). Rated PG, 113 minutes.
Written, directed and produced by Francis Ford Coppolla in the 1970's usually means genius, but with The Conversation, it just means good. Gene Hackman plays Harry Caul, in a great performance of a well-written role. Caul is a renowned private investigator at war with himself over the ramifications of his work. A past job resulted in three deaths because of the information he obtained, and now he is wrestling with what will happen in his current job. He is intensely private and will not allow himself to live a normal life out of paranoia. The film co-stars John Cazale (Fredo in The Godfather), Teri Garr, Harrison Ford and an uncredited Robert Duvall.
The film is an interesting character study, but the first act is so slow it was difficult to stay with it. After the Godfather, Coppolla may have been given too much free rein on this.
Saturday, August 18, 2007
The Conversation - B
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1 comment:
I liked it much better (A). Great editing, writing, and characters. I love that Harry misinterpreted the tape from the very beginning. Harry tearing the Mary up at the end is terrific as is the blood in the toilet. It gets better with every viewing.
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