I loved this movie when I first saw it in a theater, and I already owned the DVD. I think it's a masterpiece. I bought THIS DVD for the special features. In his commentary Francis Ford Coppola answered several questions I've had about this movie for 50 years! And as a matter of fact, everything he says is fascinating. And there's also a commentary by the film editor. It doesn't get better than this!
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I really like the characters Gene Hackman plays, but this one is an exception. I found the movie boring and dragged out way too long.
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"The Conversation" is not light-hearted fare. If you want Friday-night, mindless guffaws, you need another film. This is a movie that makes you think. The central theme of the film is privacy: how a professional eavesdropper (I'd say 'wiretapper', but the film shows they were using wireless technologies even in 1974), tries to protect his own even as he invades the privacy of others. The main character, Harry Caul (played by Gene Hackman), wrestles with his own moral responsibility toward some of the information he learns by discreet and illicit means, and by the end of the film must face an invasion of his own personal privacy. The secrets that unfold along the way present the main character with challenges he is in some cases not ready to face; he tries to stay personally detached from the work, but stumbles across the blur in the fine line between professionalism and social responsibility. (I'm being intentionally vague to not give away too much of the plot.) Coppola does some interesting things with the camera that blend with the film's undercurrent of clandestine surveillance. He sometimes lets the camera mimic a security videocam, with action moving in and out of the shot. This in itself is a little disturbing to the viewer, since it's not what you're used to seeing in a movie, and it does serve to keep the audience a bit on edge. This is intentional; it's an edgy subject. But it is also probably part of what gives rise to the occasional criticism that the action moves too slowly. I suppose the movie could have been edited to go faster, but I think Coppola did a masterful job at developing the plot and the character...though he does take his time in doing so very thoroughly. Is it hard to follow? I didn't think so, but make no mistake--it IS complex, and it does assume an audience is bringing a sober attitude and a certain amount of intelligence with them to the film. It will challenge your thinking on privacy, surveillance, morality, and many other issues...especially in an age (not imagined thirty-odd years ago when the film was made) of wireless home telephones, instant messaging, handheld video cameras, Wi-Fi Internet connections, digital cell phones, and more. Current technology makes it easier to lose your privacy today than ever. Speaking of technology--I found this movie interesting for another reason. I've worked with video and audio for my entire career (not spy work but professional production), and it was fun to see the tools that were used in the past to "do" surveillance. Three discreet recording passes on quarter-inch tape, with different microphones, then trying to play them back in sync in to create a master recording as the action passes from one mic to the next? Archaic, in 2006 terms! This would have been a frustrating and daunting feat...not completely impossible, but very complicated and even after painstaking effort still not entirely precise. (But then, they didn't imagine computer-based non-linear multitrack digital recording in 1974, either.) These scenes from Caul's warehouse as his is editing his master tape, plus the scenes shot in the midst of an actual surveillance trade show, provide interesting snapshots of the technology of the time. "The Conversation" is not something you'll show at parties or pop on idly for background noise on a rainy afternoon; it's too dark for that. But I do recommend you view it at least once, and deal with the questions it poses.Read full review
In between the first two chapters of THE GODFATHER, Francis Ford Coppola masterfully directs this paranoia thriller that ranks as among the best films of the New Hollywood era and one of my favorite movies of all time. Gene Hackman plays Harry Caul, a surveillance expert who discovers a sinister plot involving murder while recording a young couple’s (Frederick “Chef” Forrest and Cindy “Shirley” Williams) conversation in the park. Hackman gives a tremendous performance as a man not only putting his career on the line, but also his privacy as well. Other standout performances include John Cazale (you will be missed) as skeptical former assistant Stan who sells out Caul for the oafishly, flamboyant Bernie Moran played by Allen Garfield. Harrison Ford is also terrific as the Director’s slimy assistant Martin Stett. However, the one actor who really shines is Michael Higgins giving a brief, but memorable turn as the ex-cop-turned-fellow surveillance expert Paul. Everything about THE CONVERSATION is brilliant from the opening shot of San Francisco’s Union Square to David Shire’s haunting piano score. But the real honor would go to Walter Murch for his contribution to the film’s groundbreaking sound design. While the recording plays throughout the movie, the viewer becomes the observer and quickly gets involved in the film. Therefore, it becomes important to listen rather than watch the movie.Read full review
This movie is worth a viewing. A good character study of paranoid psychosis. Hackman does a great job here as does Coppola with his direction. This movie was made between Godfather 1 and 2. It was also very interesting to see how much San Francisco has changed since 1973...No bum poo!
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PLOT: GENE HACKMAN is a hired surveillance expert~ and he reads more into a conversation than what he should have heard~ excellent plot and acting~ FRANCIS FORD COPPULA'S earned an Oscar Nomination for this one~ as Professional evesdropper Hackman is at the top of the Surveillance Game~ made in 1974 he has three microphones and cameras going at the same time and then "edits" using his skills to make a "tape" of a conversation in crowd ~ of a young couple~ Cindy Williams and Frederick Forest~ who "believe" since they are in a VERY large Crowd it will be impossible to bug their words~ but Hackman as Harry Caul has the expertese to do it~ but now as he skillfull edits the three seperate recordings into one "masterpiece" of audio he is concerned someone may be trying to kill the couple~ HARRY LIKES THE MONEY but Harry is a man on the "edge" and becomes involved in secracy and murder~ some fun where Harry visits the local "Surveillance Convention" and all the MODERN stuff they had back in 1974~ I am sure it was but it is DATED fun to see now~ Hackman steals every scene~ and this builds to shocking twists and turns~** WATCH FOR HARRISON FOR IN A EARLY "BIT PART" AS THE GUY FOLLOWING HACKMAN~* I GIVE IT A 10 OUT OF 10 FOR PLOT THAT BUILDS from a simple surveillance job to a man who decides he has LISTEN to what he really taped~ Gene Hackman never disappointments~ IF YOU FOUND THIS REVIEW HELPFUL PLEASE REMEMBER TO VOTE~Read full review
A good movie with Glen Hackman. Goes in depth to his personality which would be a good watch to goe with the later movie with Will Smith "Enemy of the State". Would give you more understanding to why he reacts the way he does and a bit of his history of a Privet Eye. Takes place in San Francisco. Film date is 1974. A religious and personally-secretive surveillance expert has a crisis of conscience when he suspects that a couple he is spying on will be murdered. And gets more emotionally involved when he bumps into the women he was watching in a elevator. Something he always said a surveillance expert should never do. There is a scene at a gadget convention of the latest snooping gadgets of that day. He soon becomes suspicious of those around him when they start acting questions about his background and sing song the woman was singing that he watched.Read full review
Just didn't like this movie. Surprised because it received high ratings. Different strokes for different folks
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This was one of the movies that got me interested in audio electronics. Great storyline and interesting characters. Worth watching again
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GREAT FILM, HACKEMN IS ALWAY HIS BEST IN A TRILLER
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