Product: French Connection [VHS] (1971)
Rating: 3.0
"You put a shiv in my partner. You know what that means?"
Despite its commercial stature, William Friedkin's "The French Connection" feels like an entry from the European "New Wave" school. Such films adopted a documentary-like technique to cast a spotlight on the darker aspects of European society in much the same way that this film critiques New York society. This cinematic version of the Big Apple is a dark and sinister place populated by criminals who keep the police on their toes at all times. So active is the criminal element that the task of upholding the law has become tedious rather than rewarding to the boys with the badges."The French Connection" is based on the true story of the largest drug bust in American history. The film's primary characters are Jimmy "Popeye" Doyle (Gene Hackman) and his partner Buddy "Cloudy" Russo (Roy Scheider). Both men are intense and high-wired individuals who work the narcotics beat and find themselves in a most opportunistic situation. While hanging out in a night club one evening, Doyle and Russo stumble upon a mysterious man named Sal Boca (Tony Lo Bianco). Through a combination of surveillance and wire taps, Boca is tied to a Frenchman (Fernando Rey) who appears to be engineering a major drug transaction. The two cops stay hot on the Frenchman's trail hoping to make the bust of their careers, but the Frenchman proves cagey and elusive. However, Doyle and Russo catch a lucky break when a seemingly minor detail regarding an impounded car cracks the case wide open.Hackman, in his first major role, carves out a memorable performance as the unconventional cop and Scheider also distinguishes himself as he offers tantalizing hints of the stardom he would later achieve in "Jaws". The film's celebrated car chase is also a breathtaking display of technical wizardry. The only negative this film has is that its look and feel has become dated. This is an early 1970's film and it certainly won't be mistaken for anything else. There is a drabness to its color scheme that drains it of some of its energy and reminds viewers of similar-themed television shows of the era. The film's street lingo also comes across as relics of the past and keeps the film from attaining a timeless feel. Yet, the fact that "The French Connection" is still entertaining is a testament to both Hackman and Scheider. Both actors elevate the film to a level it wouldn't have otherwise reached without them. You'll be cheering for them from the opening credits to the end credits.