1971 was pretty good year for movies with films like Fiddler on the Roof, Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, The Last Picture Show, Dirty Harry, and A Clockwork Orange all coming out that year. Among those other solid films, and maybe even the best of the bunch, is The French Connecton. The film won five Academy Awards for Best Picture, Best Director (William Friedkin), Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Film Editing and Best Actor (Gene Hackman), it is currently listed on AFI's top 100 and holds and 98% on Rotten Tomatoes... This is one of those that is 'must-see'.
Probably best known to most for having one of the all-time great car chase scenes, the film offers a lot more than just one notable action set-piece. It's a gritty, compelling, well-paced crime/thriller with some great acting, particularly by Gene Hackman. Speaking of Hackman, while I love him in films like Hoosiers, The Conversation, Unforgiven, The Firm, Superman, The Birdcage, and A Bridge Too Far, his role as Popeye Doyle in this film is him at his best.
This is probably obvious, but I highly recommend The French Connection.
Great movie, 5 out of 5.
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