Director: Francis Ford Coppola

Cast: Gene Hackman, John Cazale, Frederic Forrest, Allen Garfield

Original Release Date: 1974

Scores: Technical: 80, Story: 85, Acting: 80, Overall Score: 80

A sometimes forgotten though rather critically acclaimed at the time Francis Ford Coppola film he made between the Godfathers, starring Gene Hackman, great as ever. I saw it last night, surprised since I’d never heard of it, but it was rather acclaimed in the Academy Awards and Cannes Film Festivals at the time of its release.  

It has quite a deceptive but overall simple plot, a professional wiretapper (This was actually made during the Watergate Era, which adds another dimension to it) and surveillance expert played by Hackman is hired by a mysterious private company to survey and record a couple’s conversations. Slowly he begins to get entangled into the situation, wondering why the conversations are important and what the company plans to do to the couple.  
Frankly it’s a very interesting, entangling story that seemface=”Arial” sizes rather simple for a while, but has a very satisfying outcome.

With all that said though, I think it’s a bit overrated, I mean, it’s a nice film I suppose, but it pales in comparison to Coppola’s other more well-known films. It’s still a hell of a lot better than Jack, Dracula, The Godfather: Part III, and a lot of his other films, and though it is a bit simple, the ending is satisfying and an unexpected twist. I recommend just giving it a rent. 
You know, it seems lengthy at almost two hours, but I have to say it all passed rather quickly…It also, by the way, features a very young Harrison Ford.

Perhaps a bit overrated, but these days it’s a little overlooked for sure. I mean, it’s a good Gene Hackman performance and Coppola’s direction is fine as always. Maybe it just pales in comparison to his classics like Apocalypse Now and The Godfather. Worth a rent though, and maybe a purchase if you’re a big Coppola fan.

Review By: Sanbud Tehrani