The French Connection

From my Best Picture Marathon, part 6 of 6.



The French Connection, 1971. Two New York cops follow an unlikely drug smuggling lead.

Directed by William Friedkin. Written by Ernest Tidyman, based on a book by Robin Moore. Starring Gene Hackman, Fernando Rey & Roy Scheider.

Concept: 2/4 (Indifferent)
Story: 2/4 (Indifferent)
Characters: 2/4 (Indifferent)
Dialog: 2/4 (Indifferent)
Pacing: 4/4 (Great)
Cinematography: 3/4 (Good)
Special effects/design: 3/4 (Good)
Acting: 3/4 (Good)
Music: 4/4 (Great)
Subjective Rating: 8/10 (Great, 4/4). Gripping and memorable. It doesn't amount to more than an action movie (albeit one of the best action movies ever made), which is a little surprising for a based-on-a-true-story Oscar winner - in a good way.
Objective Rating (Average): 2.9/4 (Good)