Product: French Connection [VHS] (1971)
Rating: 5.0
Gritty Fun
Yes, everybody describes this movie as "gritty" and I do too. "The French Connection" was filmed in a style which makes you feel like you're following these two guys around as they try to figure out what the drug dealers of New York City and Marseille are up to. The storytelling is very well-done, as we are given signs of both hope and despair as the police find clues leading to when the big drug switch is going to take place. This movie paved the way for some great film acting careers for Gene Hackman, who's still going strong in movies like "The Royal Tenenbaums," and Roy Schieder, who we'll always remember as Chief Brody in "Jaws," a classic in its own right. If you want to know why everybody says that the 1970s were a great film decade, see "The French Connection" (and also "Chinatown" if you have time!)