Review of The French Connection (1971) by Dilan B — 23 Nov 2008

The best word to describe The French Connexion with is gritty; from the sparse direction, to the taciturn acting of Gene Hackman, to the strange score. What this film reveals so palpably is that to make an interesting detective film, you don't need quick cut editing, loud bombastic music, ultra violence or fancy camera work, but rather strong characters who exist apart from the contrivances of the plot, and a director who is willing to play scenes out for as long as they are necessary.

Ultimately though the success of the film is it's reality: we see the detectives doing the banal, time consuming, boring work required to make a bust. On top of that we are shown the failures, as well as the successes; this isn't a film where the main cop makes a breakthrough after looking up into space for a couple of seconds. Instead the shots of choice for Friedkin is having action in the foreground and then changing focus to show someone else watching in the background (or vice versa).

Ultimately this realism probably provides the major flaw in the film which is its ending which is so unfulfilling despite being very apt for the rest of the film.