The April Classics - The French Connection (1971)
Details
Sorry about filling this one in late! This month’s pick is obviously in tribute to the late, great Gene Hackman. I think it’s safe to say Popeye Doyle is his most iconic role, and, as such, the one most likely to be recognized by generations of moviegoers, at least in the sense that many will have seen the famous car chase—or one or more of dozens of imitations in succeeding decades.
The French Connection is so much smarter than shootouts and car chases, though. The plot is based (more or less) on actual events and features a handful of characters inspired by real people, and the script is razor sharp. Director William Friedkin said he was inspired by the realism of Costa Gavras’ Z, and you can see how it pays off. Gritty and uncompromising, this is one of those ‘70s movies whose style modern directors often try for but never quite nail. Oh, and it’s shot all over NYC (another hallmark of contemporaries like Taxi Driver and Dog Day Afternoon).
Hackman is…well, you’ll see, and we’ll discuss why this film is a touchstone in any consideration of his work. Looking forward to sharing this one and hope to see you there!
HOW TO WATCH
(1) For this watch party we will be using a different software solution.
We will be using Watch2Gether.
Instructions for attendees is available at the following Google Drive URL:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1t1qvgOzBh239qAvG9l1oIaWiRj7UhU84/view?usp=sharing
It does require a browser extension, so please install the extension ASAP.
(2) watch on your own using your favorite streaming service. Its available on Amazon Prime, Youtube, Apple TV, Fandango, Google Play and perhaps others.