Review of Three Days of the Condor (1975) by Michael V — 15 Nov 2011
This is a great spy thriller close to hitting the Hitchcock vein. I guess the best thing about this movie is the fact that it doesn't give away all its information at once. At first Redford appears to be an ordinary guy who arrives late for work.
Nothing special there. But because he gradually builds up tension by slightly releasing more information, the writer knows how to keep you focused and interested. I guess the best way to describe this movie is calling it a classic spy thriller without James Bond-like locations or outragous bad guys bent on world domination and no super hero who can beat all the bad guys with neat gadgets.
No, this is a normal man who was at the wrong place at the wrong time and who now has to face an unusual and life threatening situation. I guess that's where this movie gets its strength: you can easily identify with him, even though he is employeed by the CIA.
And you get the complete package. The paranoia towards the government, some good but quick fight scenes, the insecurity of not knowing who your enemies or your friends are... all give it that typical feeling.
But even 35 years later this movie hasn't lost any of its power or relevance. All in all this is a very good and stylish thriller that offers plenty of tension and some very nice acting. But this is still without flaws.
You get bad music, the romance feels forced and more to the idea of lets get two of our hottest stars in the sack together instead of it feeling relevent to the story. Thanks to the combination of the acting, a good story and some nice camera-work, Pollack has created a movie Hitchcock might have been proud of if he had done it.
This review of Three Days of the Condor (1975) was written by Michael V on 15 Nov 2011.
Three Days of the Condor has generally received positive reviews.
Was this review helpful?
