Review of The French Connection (1971) by Nick O — 25 Aug 2013

I tell ya, "The French Connection" is one of those of-its-time movies where the real true star of the thing is its look. William Friedkin is as much a presence front to back as anyone else here, his nifty, shifty camerawork a quietly dazzling thrill across every frame.

The whole movie feels like a ride, a pendulum swing. Of course Gene Hackman is also pretty incredible as Popeye Doyle, a cop crooked yet compelled enough to call him determined. Coming so early in the golden age of 1970s cinema it's surprising just how little the "The French Connection" offers in terms of easy answers.

But that's testament to its searing scope and vision, and reveals "Connection" as a pitch-perfect police procedural with still yet a hell of a lot more on its mind short of being able to say it has an agenda.