Product: The French Connection I & II (1975)
Rating: 5.0
"Ever Pick Your Feet In Poughkipsie?"
"The French Connection" set the vanguard for cop dramas. Gritty, intelligent and action packed, it set a standard that only a few films could live up to. Its 1975 sequel wasn't one of them, however, it was good in its own right. Now, we can finally both of these films together in one affordable boxed set put out by the good people at Fox."The French Connection" (1971, R) Hard bitten New York cop "Popeye" Doyle (Gene Hackman in an Oscar winning role) andhis partner Buddy Russo (Roy Schneider, aka the sherrif from "Jaws") are a drug ring operating somewhere in the city. It starts off as a routine investigation, but when one of the drug lords tries to kill Doyle, the two cops take it personal, resulting in all out war to crack the French connection and kill drug cartel Alain Charnier (Fernando Rey) that includes one of the greatest car chases ever put on film.This film is a true masterpiece. Hackman has never been better, and the supporting cast of Schneider and Rey adds extra kick. William Friedkin did his best film with this. The extras are excellent. I really think this is a true classic 5/5"The French Connection" (1975, R) Four years after the first film, Gene Hackman plays "Popeye" Doyle once more in this sequel. In this one, Doyle has been kidnapped by drug lord, Alain Chartier (Fernanod Rey), who he failed to catch in the last one. Doyle is forced to become a junkie himself, and hits rock bottom. When he is finally released, he vows to stop at nothing to destroy Chartier.Not as good as the first, this film is still good in its own right. The commentary is interesting, and there aren't really any other great extras. Overall, a 4/5These two films come highly recommended. The first one is a classic, and the seconde on is above average. These films belong in any dvd collection.