Harry Caul is an industrial spy, but he begins to suspect his subjects are in danger, in this intense and paranoid thriller.
Certificate
Duration113 mins
Review by
The Conversation is the most original and intelligent film by Coppola, and maybe the most of all time; the best of Hackman, the best of Coppola, they obviously understood each other, what more could you possibly want? Coppola, from such simple idea, efficiently transforms the film into such a haunting study of paranoia, told through excellent cinematography and perfectly-crafted sequences with Oscar-nominated sound editing that remain powerful even to today. Beginning with a masterful telephoto shot, zooming and following Harry Caul (Gene Hackman), a surveillance expert and also the main subject of the film, the movie begins to intrigue you, particularly succeeding with virtuoso, gripping shots that capture your attention. Caul believes a couple he has been spying on will be murdered and thus, begins a tense tale of mystery, loneliness and one of the most shocking conclusions of film of all time. This is a film that contains the finest efforts of the genius director and the incredible actor and on top of that, the whole film works in a moral level, proving its massive significance. This is a strong example of tense, precise and meticulous cinema, proving it can be easily compared to the legendary Godfather films.