The French Connection (1971) Movie Reviews

Snoogans 12/14/2011 (0 of 0 found this helpful)

Rating of
3/4 

A pretty good crime film.

mitchellyoung 11/05/2011 (0 of 0 found this helpful)

Rating of
3.5/4 

This is a murky crime thriller that seems to be more about atmosphere than it is about a clearcut plot. The grittiness and nastiness of Hackman's character sets it apart from most other crime films that feature "honorable" police officers. The car chase scene is, I think, the best ever made, besting even Bullitt's iconic chase.

patjohnson76 09/05/2011 (0 of 0 found this helpful)

Rating of
3.5/4 

A solid and gritty crime drama, as two cops do what they can to break up a drug smuggling operation in early 1970s New York. Hackman is strong as Popeye Doyle, one of his more famous roles, and Scheider is strong as well as his partner. Director Friedkin gives us some smart scenes and angles in creating the tension and build-up as the cops zero in on their targets. Famous for its car chase scene (which modern audiences may find tame compared to today's special effects) and Hackman's Academy Award winning performance, TFC still holds up well in today's time.. Blu-ray release has, for some reason, a color tint to it to give it a grittier look, which is completely unnecessary.

sapien 02/13/2010 (0 of 0 found this helpful)

Rating of
2.5/4 

I didn't understand most of it. And, what little I did understand I didn't particularly care for. But, I'll give it the benefit of the doubt in my rating.

TheWolf 08/20/2007 (0 of 1 found this helpful)

Rating of
3/4 

The film at its core is a tense, slow-moving thriller, dramatic in its musical score and over-acted brutality. Scenes are left to their own devices, moving forth indeterminately, in a very drama-characteristic fashion. However, there's plenty of chasing and violence to satisfy an `action' classification. This action, however, is played so that it's less about the adrenaline rush, and more about that tense underlying heartbeat. The style of the film then, is a very paced and dingy chase scene.

Chris Kavan 07/24/2007 (0 of 0 found this helpful)

Rating of
3/4 

It may not be the masterpiece it's made out to be, but so many other films owe a debt of gratitude to the French Connection that it deserves respect. Hackman is great as the hard-nosed Det. "Popeye" Doyle - one of his best roles.

Alex 02/21/2007 (0 of 1 found this helpful)

Rating of
2/4 

Action movie? Best Picture? Good car chases? No No No. This film really shows it is dated. The chases and the action scenes are sub par compared todays standards in my opinion. "The French Connection" is over rated and outdated.