Film Review: The Conversation

Summary:

This isn't Coppola's best film but it's certainly one of his better works.

More DetailsAbout The Conversation (1974)Francis Ford Coppola’s provoking mystery-thriller stars Gene Hackman as Harry Caul, an expert surveillance man. A routine wiretapping job turns into a nightmare when Harry hears something disturbing in his recording of a young couple in a park. His investigation of the tape and how it might be used sends Harry spiraling into a web of secrecy, murder and paranoia. Set against the backdrop of San Francisco, THE CONVERSATION is a harrowing psychological thriller that costars Cindy Williams, Frederic Forrest and Harrison Ford and symbolizes the uneasy line where technology and privacy cross.

Starring: Gene Hackman, John Cazale, Allen Garfield, Frederic Forrest, Cindy Williams

Directed by: Francis Ford Coppola

Runtime: 109 minutes

Studio: Lions Gate

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Review: The Conversation

Francis Ford Coppola’s tense thriller ironically lost out at the Oscars to Coppla’s second Godfather film. This in no way diminishes it though. I would argue this is better than the uneven Godfather Part II. The film focuses on the taciturn Harry Caul (Gene Hackman) who is an expert in surveillance but he is distant from others, avoiding personal relationships beyond his colleagues and even with them he is somewhat distant. At the outset Harry and his team are based in Union Square in San Francisco and are spying on a young couple, Mark (Frederic Forrest) and Ann (Cindy Williams). Harry’s team are charged with simply recording their conversation before bringing the tapes to the Director (Robert Duvall). After completing the recording Harry is thrown into a quandary when the content of the couple’s conversation suggests they are in extreme danger. 

Putting together a quality recording proves hard work but after hours of meticulous editing Harry deciphers what Mark and Ann are discussing though it remains largely ambiguous. There is talk of them meeting at a hotel and that if knowledge of their activity is known someone will kill them. Harry is hesitant in handing this over to the Director and he becomes even more concerned when he visits the Director’s office and is met by Martin Stett (Harrison Ford). Stett doesn’t take kindly to Harry’s refusal to hand the tapes over to anyone but the Director. Retaining the evidence, Harry finds himself under surveillance and all the time the clock is ticking to a meeting the couple have arranged at a hotel. What fate awaits Mark and Ann? Can Harry intervene to stop it?

The Conversation is a well-crafted thriller that is carried with confidence and skill by Gene Hackman’s excellent central performance. I’m used to seeing Hackman playing loud and confident characters so it was refreshing to see him so subdued in this one. Meticulous but fragile in equal measure, this is Hackman near his best. The story remains intriguing throughout and there is a clever twist waiting at the end. The audience may be outsmarted but I didn’t mind one bit such was the interest the plot had inspired.

This isn’t Coppola’s best film but it’s certainly one of his better works. The Conversation is a very different film to the likes of Apocalypse Now and The Godfather and it was refreshing to see Harrison Ford so early in his career and unusually sinister in this role. In the end this is Hackman’s film though with only that surprise ending managing to compete with his stellar performance.

Verdict: 4/5

(Film source: reviewer’s own copy)