A One Mann’s Movies review of “The Conversation” (1984).
Celebrating its 25th anniversary, and reissued in a restored cut in selected cinemas, is Francis Ford Coppola’s thriller from 1984, “The Conversation”. This triple Oscar nominee (for Best Picture, Original Screenplay and Sound) is a movie I have heard a lot of praise for but never seen. I rectified that omission this afternoon.
Bob the Movie Man Rating:
Plot Summary:
Harry Caul (Gene Hackman) is a 44-year-old freelance surveillance expert who is seen as the best of the best: “Best bugger on the West Coast” as a competitior describes him. Now given a job to record two young people in a busy city plaza, he does his naturally brilliant job and obtains a flawless recording of the conversation. But haunted by a tragedy from his past, the paranoid technician is concerned that by turning in the tapes to the government department he will put the young lovers in terrible danger.
Certification:
UK: 15; US: PG. (From the BBFC web site: “Moderate violence, language, discriminatory terms”.)
Talent:
Starring: Gene Hackman, John Cazale, Allen Garfield, Frederic Forrest, Cindy Williams, Michael Higgins, Elizabeth MacRae, Teri Garr, Harrison Ford, Robert Duvall.
Directed by: Francis Ford Coppola.
Written by: Francis Ford Coppola.
Twitter Handle: #TheConversation.
Running Time: 1h 53m.
“The Conversation” Summary:
Positives:
- Brilliance in direction from Coppola with some virtuoso scenes that stick in the mind.
- The character of Harry Caul is superbly nuanced and brilliantly portrayed by the peerless Gene Hackman.
- Great story; great twist.
Negatives:
- The abrupt ending leaves you with questions.
Review of “The Conversation”:
Such directorial verve!
This was Coppola’s follow-up to “The Godfather” and you again see why he is so well regarded as a director. We start with a continuous panning shot into and then around the central plaza that goes on and on and on as the credit roll. We follow a street performer (mime) following individuals around the square and mimicking them. Only at the end of the opening titles do you realise that the guy he is now mimicking is our hero (Gene Hackman). We then cut to someone on a nearby rooftop with cross-hairs trained on the young couple… only to realise it’s not a rifle but a microphone. It’s audacious stuff.
Another standout scene is Haul agonising about the tape playing in the background in his open floor, sparsely furnished loft while Meridith (Elizabeth MacRae) strips naked in front of him to engage in sex. (This feels a bit daring given the certificate in the US is a surprising “PG”… perhaps it was cut?)
Hackman again delivers
Gene Hackman, now 93 and still going, was an incredibly prolific actor, particularly in the 70’s and 80’s, but it’s really difficult to think of movies where we was never less than “good”. Even in terrible movies, he tended to add class and elevate his role. Here he near his very best. Harry Caul is such a brilliantly nuanced character (you can see why Coppola’s screenplay was Oscar nominated). Nervous and paranoid (3 sets of locks on his door) he is also aloof and anti-social yet wonders why he can’t find (or indeed even express) his love for the frustrated Amy (a lovely cameo by Teri Garr). He is haunted by guilt from a job that went horribly wrong in his past: “I’m not afraid of death” he says in a dream sequence. “I am afraid of murder”. He seems to be anchoring his sanity with the jazz that he joins in with on his saxophone…. indeed, the instrument becomes about the only thing he ends up left with at the end of the film (and so you just know where “it” must be hidden!)
A breeding ground for future brat-pack-directors
Coppola was from a stable of innovative directors of the time that included George Lucas, Steven Spielberg, Peter Bogdanovich. The film is notable for showcasing some stars who would go on to greater fame in coming years. A very young-looking Harrison Ford plays a small but key role, a year after his breakout role in Lucas’s “American Graffiti” and three years before superstardom as Han Solo. And Teri Garr, mentioned above, was to appear in Mel Brook’s classic “Young Frankenstein” in that same year and then excel in Spielberg’s “Close Encounters of the Third Kind” just three years later.
It was also a surprise to see Robert Duvall in the film…. although he is not credited.
A clever story
For a thriller like this, you are constantly wondering where it is all going. And the payoff from this one doesn’t disappoint. I never saw the twist coming.
If I had a criticism it might be to have ended the film on that reveal. As it is, we progress to some additional scenes which, while intriguing, left me with more questions and slightly dissatisfied.
Summary Thoughts on “The Conversation”
This has a good reputation and deservedly so. It’s a cracking little motion picture, typical of the sort of tight and well-executed thrillers that they used to make in the 70’s and which there are not enough equivalents of today. There were only 5 of us in our screening this afternoon, but we all so enjoyed it so much that we were all chatting about it on the way out… and that doesn’t happen often with films these days.
Where to Watch it (Powered by Justwatch)
Trailer for “The Conversation”:
The trailer is here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mDgKPQWyjRk .
Subscribe
Don’t forget, you can subscribe to One Mann’s Movies to receive future reviews by email right here. No salesman will call!
One of my all time favourite Hackman movies. Amazing that you hadn’t seen this before. I think John Cazale is worth a mention here – plays that part so well and after the angst of Fredo in Godfather, who else could play that role as well in that time. I also always want to mention Allen Garfield (Bernie Moran). The way he plays the envious and bitter guy who will always be a 2nd fiddle to Caul – I’ve seen him play similar roles in other movies and TV shows and nobody plays it better than him (IMHO)
Yep… it was one of those embarrassing omissions in my film watching history! Agree that John Cazale is really good… the sort of role that Eddie Marsan would be so good at in a remake.
Totally agree re Eddie Marsan. Have you seen him in Tyrannosaur. What a performance! The way he portrays the outwardly normal appearance of real evil.