Review of The Conversation (1974) by Pablo V — 04 May 2009

One of Coppola's most underated films, The Conversation is a daring take on privacy and the invasiveness of modern technology on the human psche. Coppola dazzles the mind and senses with his panoramic crane shots and brilliantly timed cuts in this neo noir classic sandwiched in between the first 2 godfathers. The use of sound within the film allows audiences to become hyper sensitive and in tune with the world they have become engrosed in. Like so many of Coppola's other films, there is no time in which the viewer can become distracted from the world of the film. The cinematography is top notch and use of camera movement and unique perspectives shows why Coppola is such a god within the industry.

Gene Hackmans portrayal of sound expert Harry Call is one of the finest achievments in acting I have ever seen, with great support from Harrison Ford and Robert Duval as well. The deapth of this character left me speechless (no pun intentded) and resonated with me on a very high degree. As a lesser adition to why this film is one of the greatest of all time, the chilling piano music that melodically followed the pacing of the film and the saxaphone play of Harry Call within the film added a nice touch to an already flawless film. The intrigue and mystery of this film is comparable to anything that has been made before or since and the direction and acting is in the same leauge. This witty, deep film is perhaps Coppola's finest achievment, although not many people have even heard of it in contrast to his other films, a top 5 film all around. The Conversation will astound and excite your senses while also leaving your mind to subtly stew over the many issues this film nailed on the head.