Review of The Conversation (1974) by Aaron A — 31 May 2011

"I think he was once somebody's baby boy, and he had a mother and a father who loved him, and now there he is, half dead on a park bench".

Synopsis: An audio surveillance expert faces a moral quandary when he suspects that a couple whose conversation he's been hired to surreptitiously record will be murdered.

The picture is probably Francis Ford Coppola's most underrated film. Released between The Godfather and The Godfather part II, The Conversation was simply overshadowed and apparently never got it's due (I feel disappointed such a marvelous film went under my radar for so long). It's definitely a Francis Coppola film. There's a certain way he stages conversations in crowded areas no other film director would, this "certain way" is in the Godfather films and here as well. Like his other films, it's methodically paced, and in the end incredibly rewarding.

It's rather simple (though masterfully told) story says a great deal more than the amount of dialogue present in the film.

This is without a doubt one of the best performance from Gene Hackman i'v personally ever seen. Though his character is loved by the ladies and incredibly well respected in his field of profession, Hackman portrays Harry with a haunting memoir buried inside his eyes. It's a performance I am greatly appreciative to have witnessed.

With distinctive directing, a great script, and a masterful performance from Gene Hackman, The Conversation is not only a masterpiece, it's one of Francis Ford Coppola's essentials.

Ps. Harrison Ford and Robert Duvall also have minor roles.