Review of Dirty Harry (1971) by Ying-Min C — 05 Aug 2010

Does POLICE mean JUSTICE? Is LAW always right? To ask these questions, Dirty Harry makes one special kind of classic anti-hero.

Dirty Harry is about one police inspector and one killer. One day, a killer called Scorpio appears and asks San Francisco government for money by killing many victims. Harry Callahan, called Dirty Harry because his behavior is out rule, gets a mission to catch Scorpio with his partner Chico Gonzalez. But Harry not only has to face Scorpio, but also the law.

I have to apologize that I thought Dirty Harry is this kind of movie like James Bond that just want to show how cool main character is. I am totally wrong! Maybe Harry and James Bond are similar: they are both handsome, both selfish, both never die (even both their enemies shot millions of bullets). Being an action movie, Dirty Harry is a little slow, but it describes more real truths about social justice that James Bond never faces. Scorpio is a so smart criminal that he knows how to use media, law and Harry?s rashness. When we watch this movie, we may agree with Harry?s justice. But in real world, we only can see an evil and cruel police officer in the news. It?s a difficult question like the death penalty. As a police inspector, the representative of law, Harry must be a tragic anti-hero. And I think Chico is an important character in this movie. He is a contrast of Harry, maybe can be ?Clean Chico?. But he is also a hero. Not as dramatic as Harry, Chico?s justice is much near social rule. Although he is never Harry, he can realize Harry. Chico represents common people?s thinking.

Although Dirty Harry is a 70s movie, I think its color and light is very outstanding. In the very beginning shot, the woman in yellow swimsuit is swimming in the blue swimming pool on the roof, with green ground. Then she is shot, red blood spreads in water. All the shot have no lines just silent. What an imaginative beginning! And the shot when Harry and Chico hide on the roof is also good. The signboard with red and blue neon light turning making different color in their face is so magical. There are many dark and night scenes in this movie with little light telling story by shadows.

I like the music too. One shot when Scorpio on the roof observes people in the park, music appears with what he sees, very interesting. Another part I like also about Scorpio and school bus. It?s an excellent idea that children sing instead of shout. With the scared face of driver, this shot is so weird that makes audience fear. But sometimes no music is better. Like the shot when Harry chases Scorpio in football field, you can hear nothing but the sound of footstep.

As Harry, such a charming character, Clint Eastwood also showed the tragic part of Harry. He can show different emotions of Harry clearly by the same lines, especially the most famous one. Reni Santoni had good performance too. I really like his expression when Chico sees Harry rising along the building, show how he thinks about Harry completely.

If you only have seen crime-action movies that like James Bond, you must see Dirty Harry, and you will know that Bond, James Bond, is just a boring guy.