Review of Bullitt (1968) by Morten Ø — 19 Feb 2009

The movie might be most memorable for its long car chase scene, but the movie is so much more than just that. Starring Steve McQueen as the good detective, who gets himself stuck in a weird gangster deal. Robert Vaughn plays the irritating lawyer, who is a constant pressure on Steve McQueen.

The movie has a bit of a 70's feel to it. The sounds of the cars, city, airport and hospital together with the score is really perfection. Especially the chase scene at the airport where McQueen is chasing a guy reminded me the airport scene in Heat - Great resemblance. And again, the sounds in this scene are just as good as them in Heat - Michael Mann must have scene this movie a couple of times.

Bullitt is not one of those detective movies where you are handed over a lot of Information. You have to think for yourself and often interpret the characters faces because the story lacks in dialogue - This is a big plus in my book. And even though every one has said this already, the car chase scene is freaking awesome. It's not like all these new, fast cut scenes. No, the scene in Bullitt is great in its pick of locations (San san francisco's bumby streets, the cars and their sounds and the acceleration from the cars. Man movie of the 60's, no question about it! :-).