'The Conversation' is often the forgotten treasure of Francis Ford Coppola's 1970s reign. Sandwiched between the first two Godfathers and 5 years before the release of 'Apocalypse Now', the topics discussed in The Conversation are ever more relevant today.
The plot involves a man (Gene Hackman) working as private surveillance. When he is asked by a client to detail a conversation between a couple, he finds himself in a web of intrigue.
The Conversation works so well for two fundamental reasons. One is the fact that it's a great mystery. Flawlessly edited, we become intrigued by the mysteries and consequences that this conversation sets out to bring. However, it is also an intense character study of an incredibly lonely and isolated individual.
Gene Hackman's performance is so brilliant I sometimes wonder why he didn't take more roles like this. Unlike his bravado performances in 'The French Connection' and 'The Royal Tenenbaums', Hackman plays the role with such quiet sincerity that I could barely tell it was him playing him, a mark of a true performer!
The movie goes into the depths of the moral repercussions that go into the art of surveillance. As the world is often split on issues like Snowden and Wikileaks, the film asks whether it is the right thing to go into other's businesses to uncover truths or whether we should stay out of it for our own good.
As a director, Coppola often got a lot of flak for selling out after the disaster of 'One from the Heart'. However, the movie is so flawlessly put together from a technical and storytelling point of view that you remind yourself why Coppola was and is the master that he is. Whilst this may not have the memorable and operatic set pieces of 'The Godfather' and 'Apocalypse Now', 'The Conversation' deserves to be held in the same breath as both films.
The plot involves a man (Gene Hackman) working as private surveillance. When he is asked by a client to detail a conversation between a couple, he finds himself in a web of intrigue.
The Conversation works so well for two fundamental reasons. One is the fact that it's a great mystery. Flawlessly edited, we become intrigued by the mysteries and consequences that this conversation sets out to bring. However, it is also an intense character study of an incredibly lonely and isolated individual.
Gene Hackman's performance is so brilliant I sometimes wonder why he didn't take more roles like this. Unlike his bravado performances in 'The French Connection' and 'The Royal Tenenbaums', Hackman plays the role with such quiet sincerity that I could barely tell it was him playing him, a mark of a true performer!
The movie goes into the depths of the moral repercussions that go into the art of surveillance. As the world is often split on issues like Snowden and Wikileaks, the film asks whether it is the right thing to go into other's businesses to uncover truths or whether we should stay out of it for our own good.
As a director, Coppola often got a lot of flak for selling out after the disaster of 'One from the Heart'. However, the movie is so flawlessly put together from a technical and storytelling point of view that you remind yourself why Coppola was and is the master that he is. Whilst this may not have the memorable and operatic set pieces of 'The Godfather' and 'Apocalypse Now', 'The Conversation' deserves to be held in the same breath as both films.