The French Connection (1971)

The French Connection is a sometimes exciting, sometimes boring, police/action story about two NYC policemen trying to nab a French Drug dealer. There’s nothing wrong with it, but you wonder why in the world it why it won an Academy Award. Perhaps, in 1971, it was the grimy New York locations shots, or the “shocking” raw violence and language, or the amazing Car stunts. And then there’s Gene Hackman’s Popeye Doyle, the original foul-mouthed, macho cop, obsessed with getting the bad guys.

But 50 years later, all this is pretty standard
And I was hitting the FF (despite it being 104 minutes) throughout the movie. We spend too much time tailing/staking-out the bad guys or showing the Frenchman or Hackman’ private life. And there’s no real characterization. Roy Schneider is given little to do, and the bad guys are paper thin cliches. The script? It doesn’t have one memorable line. We even get the standard “Keep me on the case, Chief” scene and fights with the superiors.

The Movie contains a lot of unrealistic action.
The car drive (an EL Chase?) under the EL is justly famous but makes little sense, since he almost kills himself and a dozen innocent people. Why didn’t  Doyle just phone the next station and have the the killer picked up? Nor does the French Assassin behave in realistic manner. Why kill a low-level NYC policeman? Or use a high-powered rifle (that misses) from a rooftop? And why get on the El Train with no escape and only one destination? In other words, he’s a professional killer - with no escape plan. Really.

Summary A good movie of its kind - but unworthy of a Best Picture Award. Some good things: The Car chase, the bar scene, and Gene Hackman. But too much is forgettable. Bottom-line?  Its just standard cops and robbers. Recommended for Hackman fans & those nostalgic for gritty 1971 Brooklyn.