Review of The French Connection (1971) by Jason D — 31 May 2010

Two years before directing the ultimate horror film, The Exorcist, director William Friedkin made this tough-as-nails, gritty cop drama starring the immortal Gene Hackman as Jimmy "Popeye" Doyle, a tough, no-holds barred cop whose every bit unlikable but good at what he does.

Partnered up with the awesome Roy Scheider, the two begin tracking a known drug peddler Tony Lo Bianco, who ultimately winds up leading them to bigger and bigger fish until they reach the motherload in the form of French kingpin Fernando Rey whose pulling off a big drug deal in order to fund his harbor business back home.

As Hackman, Scheider, and the rest of the police make every effort to track Rey's every move, the man and his cronies always seem to be one step ahead. The film culminates in an exciting last half that provides plenty of realistic action and thrills, especially the subtly dark, harrowing, and unexpected ending.

Ok, maybe the car chase is a bit inventive, but as a whole, this movie is really genuine. It's a real gritty, tough 70's film that deserves all of the accolades and attention, still to this very day.

A definite classic from Friedkin and Hackman. Kudos also goes to screenplay writer Ernest Tidyman (who wrote the Shaft novels!) for fleshing out the book written by Robin Moore. Excellent and flawless film.