Harry Caul (Gene Hackman) is a private detective, specializing in monitoring telephone conversations. Colleagues think it is genius at work, but he knows that this is not true: The apartment is so unsafe that the owner enters the undisturbed birthday. His letters are opened and read on a daily basis, the phone's not secret. At the height of the awkwardness of stealing a cassette with a very import... read more
A paranoid detective journey into the world of sound and conversations. Possibly the most chilling films ever made in the 70s 'conspiracy theory' genre. The Conversation frightens with its grim, gripping view of the surveillance world.
The Director of a large anonymous corporation hires surveillance expert Harry Caul to record a young couple's private conversation. The film opens w... read more
Description:Francis Ford Coppola (You're a Big Boy Now, The Rain People, The Godfather) is a proficient film-maker with a keen cinematic sense and a deep moral sensibility. He finished the first draft of the screenplay for The Conversation in 1969. Like The Rain People, it is essentially a story about responsibility. Hooked into the happenings ofFrancis Ford Coppola (You're a Big Boy Now, The Rain People, The Godfather) is a proficient film-maker with a keen cinematic sense and a deep moral sensibility. He finished the first draft of the screenplay for The Conversation in 1969. Like The Rain People, it is essentially a story about responsibility. Hooked into the happenings of Watergate, this moral parable has immense wallop. But the movie suffers from a severe case of arrested development and an unbelievable finale.
Harry Caul (Gene Hackman) is the "best bugger on the West Coast." He's made a name for himself as a private surveillance and security technician. His contracts have included work for the government and industrial espionage jobs. When we meet Harry he's involved in a $15,000 piece of spying on a young couple in San Francisco. He brings all his skills into play while taping a lunchtime open air conversation against between the couple in a mall. Using cameras, directional parabolic microphones, and two shadowing devices, Harry manages to put together their conversation against all odds.
But in the process he realizes for the first time in his life that morality cannot be separated from the professional use of technology. Put another way, everything is not permitted when life is put into the balance. And, even more important, Harry has the tables turned on him in a series of incidents wherein his own privacy is assaulted. A landlady somehow breaks through the three locks and alarm system on his apartment door to place a birthday present inside. The girlfriend he keeps in another apartment insists on knowing more about him and threatens to break off their relationship when he refuses to open himself up to her by telling her where he works, what he does, and how he feels. And finally, another professional snooper plants a bug on Harry and tapes a private conversation between him and a hooker.
Harry begins to see that he has a responsibility to the couple he has taped; their lives may be in danger. In a dream, it comes to him that he's not so much afraid of his own death as he is frightened of the possibility of others being murdered.... (more)(less)
"A classic suspenseful thriller by Francis Ford Coppola that doesn't seem to get as much attention as his other great works or when discussing great films from this part of the decade of decadence. Probably b'cuz it was released the same year as The Godfather Part II, & therefore was overshadowed by the weight of that movie's hyper-hoopla. Never the less, The Conversation is a piece of mid 70's cinema that you just can't go wrong with as it is a work by a master director at the height of his prim"
"24.04.
DVD, 2nd viewing
DIRECTED BY Francis Ford Coppola
Enjoyed this more than on my first viewing. An excellent little film about cold war paranoia that is psychologically thrilling and convincing. I really like the sound design and music in this film.
The only thing that really marred the movie down were the completely inane female characters. I mean, they're either sexy mannequins or drunk seductresses with lines such as "I LIKE TO HIT MY HEAD AGAINST THE WALL". OK.
But really, the roll C"
"2nd viewing.
Watched on Blu ray on March 1st.
The picture and audio quality are superb on this blu ray release.
The film itself is incredibly atmospheric, and after a second viewing it is actually even more impressive. The cinematography is beautiful, very carefully constructed and full of great touches and subtleties. The score is very affecting and hypnotic, and it becomes essential to film's overall mood and its lonely protagonist (played to perfection by Gene Hackman).
Winner of the P'al"
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20 From 74: My Favorite Films Of 1974
Movies watched in 2013 (April - June )
Movies seen in 2013
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Films Watched in 2013
