Review of The Conversation (1974) by Eric R — 25 May 2009
A Film with many flaws but is overladen with genius throughout. Gene Hackman is superb as the arkward detached loner, the direction, especially the attention to detail is remninisant to "Hitchcock" finest. The hotel scenes are geniunely disturbing and could of been straight out of Kubrick later movie "The Shining".
The first scene in the park, and the way it is broken up, replayed, reshot is all brilliant cinema. Any scene with Harrison Ford and Hackman is also especially good, Ford being eerily creepy. In fact all of the supporting cast are excellant.
The middle of the film which primary focuses with Hackman's paranoird, his demons and regret is again performed excellantly but unfortunately its very drab, dark, depressing and difficult to watch. Indeed one of the main flaws in this film through the middle hour at least is it not very entertaining; and somewhat repetitive.
Another discrepancy is that with the film being made in 1974, the authetic technology just really dates this film. As the film is 'uber' serious it has a massive impact on how the film is portrayed, and arguably it doesn't really work.
Ultimately therefore its a specialists film, its a piece of art over entertainment, and although the core values of the film are still relevant, the production isn't.
This review of The Conversation (1974) was written by Eric R on 25 May 2009.
The Conversation has generally received very positive reviews.
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