Review of The Conversation (1974) by Corey M — 28 Feb 2009

Francis Ford Coppola ruled the 70s.

The Godfather, The Godfather Part II, and Apocalypse Now.

I just recently watched The Conversation and loved it.

Smaller and tighter than Coppola's other picture that year (The Godfather Part II), The Conversation is fantastic in every department.

Gene Hackman sinked into his role of surveillance expert, Harry Caul, with great diffuculty, since he and the character were nothing alike. Hackman wore normal clothes and got along with people well. Caul wore nedry clothes and out-of-style glasses, and was always paranoid with people.

Caul doesn't like being asked questions, and has no real relationships.

Caul does an assignment for a shadowy organization. He fears that two young people's lives are in danger, having had a experience in the past that was similar.

There are very good supporting performances. John Cazale again delivers a very good performance, showing how much talent he really had. Harrison Ford plays an assistent to The Director of the shadowy organization. There is also an uncredited performance by one of Coppola's promient actors of the 70s, but I won't say who it is. It is a nice surprise.

The sound editing is fantastic. It should have won an oscar that year, and for Best Actor as well.

If you haven't watched The Conversation yet, for your own sake, watch it.