The Conversation (1974)

Featured Audience Ratings

• Chris W

  
  I think it's fair to say that Francis Ford Coppola pretty much owned the 70s. In a row he made The Godfather, this film, The Godfather part II, and then a few years later made Apocalypse Now. Not only that, but he co-wrote Patton and produced THX 1138 and American Graffiti. I… More
  I think it's fair to say that Francis Ford Coppola pretty much owned the 70s. In a row he made The Godfather, this film, The Godfather part II, and then a few years later made Apocalypse Now. Not only that, but he co-wrote Patton and produced THX 1138 and American Graffiti. I think I've made my point, especially since all of these films are critically lauded, and deservedly so. With this film, we follow Harry Caul, a top surveillance man whose life revolves around his work, which is primarily spying on others. He takes his work very seriously, and has basically no social life. He lives a spartan existence, and in contrast with invading other peoples's privacy, keeps his own life tightly guarded. During a routine wiretapping job, he becomes obsessed with the conversation he is recording, mostly due to misinterpreting the emphasis on certain words he hears. This leads him to try to prevent what seems like an inevitable tragedy, but ultimately finds him way over his head in a situation no one wants to be a part of. Taking cues from Antonioni and Watergate, this is a slick, albeit surprisingly low-key and muted psychological paranoid thriller. It's quintessential 70s from the aesthetics, to the style, and the ovrall tone. It's got universal themes, which makes it timeless, but it definitely fits the mold for a typical 70s film, and that's definitely not a bad thing. The film is perhaps a tad overrated. I am giving it an extra half star though, because I love the approach and techniques, This is a film where sound (in general, but especially with editing and mixing) is crucial, and this is Example A of how to do this sort of thing right. I would have liked to known more about Harry, and gotten some more penetrating insight into his character, but there's just enough that comes through all the subtlety that I cna't complain too much. Hackman is great, and is nondescript look is wonderful. John Cazale once again proves that he was the best character acotr ever, especially since every film he was in during his short career was great, as were his performances. Teri Garr is pretty attractive in a very retro way, and it's fun seeing Ford in a shadowy type of role. There's a nice uncredited cameo that I won't surprise, but the choice is a good one. All in all, a fascinating film about guilt, paranoia, and obsession. The style and techniques trump substance, but this is far from a shallow film. As I said, it's just very understated. Sometimes though, this is the best way to do things.

• xGary X

  
  An obsessive surveillance expert becomes convinced that a sound recording he has made could result in the murder of a young couple. The Conversation is a very, very clever film. It's got the kind of intelligent, original "twist in the tale" premise that Christopher… More
  An obsessive surveillance expert becomes convinced that a sound recording he has made could result in the murder of a young couple. The Conversation is a very, very clever film. It's got the kind of intelligent, original "twist in the tale" premise that Christopher Nolan has made his own and technically it's marvellous. A really creative use of sound design and artful direction from Coppola is augmented by an excellent central performance by Hackman making for a film that has much to be admired. The main problem is the detachment and sterility of the subject matter. It's very difficult to warm to such an emotionally cold and compulsive central character and as such it's all a little uninvolving; you can see exactly WHY Coppola made all the creative choices he did but that does not necessarily mean it's an entertaining film to sit through. Very enjoyable on an intellectual level, but light entertainment The Conversation is not.

• Melvin W

  
  Every time I see a great Francis For Coppola movie like The Godfathers, Apocalypse Now, and The Conversation I think how'd this guy make Jack, but I guess that's beside the point. The Conversation is a very slow moving but oddly hypnotizing film. Gene Hackman gives a great… More
  Every time I see a great Francis For Coppola movie like The Godfathers, Apocalypse Now, and The Conversation I think how'd this guy make Jack, but I guess that's beside the point. The Conversation is a very slow moving but oddly hypnotizing film. Gene Hackman gives a great low-key performance as audio-surveillance expert Harry Caul. The music in this film is perfect for how slow and powerful the plot is. What I love about it, is how what we think we are watching, what we think is obviously going to happen is completely wrong. A truly great film from a great director.

• Matheus C

  
  Another great film on paranoia from the best decade for American cinema.

• Daniel P

  
  My first impulse upon finishing this was to put it back in the DVD player and watch it again. (Which I did, a week later, when I thought I'd had long enough to process and re-approach.) It's a stunningly good movie, and in many ways, it's left me speechless. I've… More
  My first impulse upon finishing this was to put it back in the DVD player and watch it again. (Which I did, a week later, when I thought I'd had long enough to process and re-approach.) It's a stunningly good movie, and in many ways, it's left me speechless. I've been trying to think of what to say about it for about a month, and I'm still not there. If nothing else, I can say that this film makes its money in one clear way, and that's in how it shifts effortlessly from piece to piece of the complicated, dangerous, exceedingly private life of Harry Caul (Gene Hackman) without ever losing the thread of the story. It's a heartfelt character study built on rare, true intrigue, and I think it might be Coppola's best - yes, better than the Godfather! I can see myself watching it over and over again, and puzzling over the details. A timeless masterpiece of a film, required viewing for all.

• Dan S

  
  A fantastically plotted and acted paranoid thriller which features Gene Hackman's best performance in his highly decorated career as a lonely surveillance pro who finds himself in a dilemma when he suspects the people he is listening in on might be targeted to be killed at some… More
  A fantastically plotted and acted paranoid thriller which features Gene Hackman's best performance in his highly decorated career as a lonely surveillance pro who finds himself in a dilemma when he suspects the people he is listening in on might be targeted to be killed at some point soon. Francis Ford Coppola had potentially the best movie year of any director ever in the history of cinema, nailing "The Godfather Part II" as well as this splendid piece, which is suspenseful all the way through and fittingly tragic seeing what happens to Hackman's character. A terrific film, and one that should definitely be seen.

• AJ V

  
  Although much of the movie may be quiet and somewhat slow paced, it's really an intense thriller, and very worth watching. I loved this movie, and I highly recommend it.

• Ross C

  
  What happens when a private surveillance expert suddenly starts getting doubts over the morality of their work. This dry 70s flick never really amounts to much. Early important role for Harrison Ford.

• Conner R

  
  One of Francis Ford Coppola's many masterpieces, this took the idea of voyeurism to an entirely new level. It's almost scary to see how incredibly easy it is to drop in on someone's private life. The whole tone of the movie is downright disturbing. From the bizarre dark… More
  One of Francis Ford Coppola's many masterpieces, this took the idea of voyeurism to an entirely new level. It's almost scary to see how incredibly easy it is to drop in on someone's private life. The whole tone of the movie is downright disturbing. From the bizarre dark spaces to the ominous sounds, it's never apparent what will happen. Gene Hackman gives one of his greatest performances, next to The French Connection it's my absolute favorite. He plays a character so devoid of affection, yet somehow you feel compassion for him from the get go. No matter how many times you see it, there's always something new to find.

• Tim S

  
  An excellent noir-type thriller from Coppola, fresh off of The Godfather.

• Aaron N

  
  Mark: He'd kill us if he got the chance. In my opinion, I believe that during the 70s, Francis Ford Coppola was one of the greatest working directors. With two Godfather films, a Vietnam war epic, and this film, Coppola was on fire during this time. I love this film, just as… More
  Mark: He'd kill us if he got the chance. In my opinion, I believe that during the 70s, Francis Ford Coppola was one of the greatest working directors. With two Godfather films, a Vietnam war epic, and this film, Coppola was on fire during this time. I love this film, just as much, if not more than his Mafia epics, and I give it credit, just as I do with the Godfather films for doing basically everything right. Gene Hackman stars as Harry Caul, a private and cautious surveillance expert, recording conversations for other people for a living. On one particular assignment, involving a man and a women having a cryptic conversation in a park in San Francisco, Harry becomes very involved with what the meaning behind the dialogue exchange is, and more so once the party he is working for begins to act much more suspicious than he would like. What follows is Harry's attempts to get a grip on the assignment he's drawn himself into, while also dealing with the lone existence he's created for himself. Hackman is great here. Playing a character much different than the majority of other roles he's been given, here he has the task of underplaying many emotions to convey the life of a person deep inside his own shell. From the way he handles conversations to the stray looks he gives to something not quite right, Hackman shines throughout. Co-starring in the film you also have John Cazale (look him up, died too young, but very impressive filmography) playing an associate of Harry's. Then you have Harrison Ford in what is probably his creepiest role ever. Harry Caul: I'm not afraid of death, but I am afraid of murder. The look of this film is great, using the surveillance theme as a wonderful way to mix both the plot and the overall atmosphere the film attempts to evoke. Having the opening conversation repeated again and again, propelling both Harry and the viewer into a spiral of analysis over the meaning and context of what is being said functions effectively and leads greatly into the films final act. While mostly playing out as a character study with themes involving paranoia, the thriller elements that work their way into the are quite effective as well, while never sacrificing the character work handled throughout. Certainly helping is the score by David Shire, which effectively supports the moods of the characters and the fact that Harry's character is a jazz fan works nicely into the film as well. Not much more to say, besides the fact that this is just a truly great film. Martin Stett: I'm not following you, I'm looking for you. There's a big difference.

• Anthony L

  
  A classic, Hackman is great as Harry Caul and Coppola directs beautifully as always. A real 70's thriller I find hard to tire of.

• Jennifer X

  
  This is a masterpiece, to be sure, but it wasn't a masterpiece that left me particularly riveted. I am so, so, so impressed with Coppola and Hackman's portrayal and all the interspersed themes I do not know what to say but I do not think I will ever watch it again.

• Ken S

  
  the only thing better than the movies are the Murch and Coppola commentaries

• Lady D

  
  This is a hard film to rate, it feels like the type of film which will be highly rated among big film buffs and yet, I found it painful to endure until about 15 minutes from the end, when in complete contrast the film becomes really enjoyable. I?m certainly interested to see what… More
  This is a hard film to rate, it feels like the type of film which will be highly rated among big film buffs and yet, I found it painful to endure until about 15 minutes from the end, when in complete contrast the film becomes really enjoyable. I?m certainly interested to see what others thought of it.

• Pierluigi P

  
  San francisco, California. where some of the greatest thrillers in film history have taken place, is the location of one of the most haunting and painstaking character studies in the genre. Gene Hackman is simply brilliant in his personification of a surveillance expert sunk by guilt,… More
  San francisco, California. where some of the greatest thrillers in film history have taken place, is the location of one of the most haunting and painstaking character studies in the genre. Gene Hackman is simply brilliant in his personification of a surveillance expert sunk by guilt, who gradually succumbs to the insidious and intricate scheme he is struggling to find out. Profoundly insightful and conspicuous.

• Drew S

  
  I need to give this another shot sometime. I watched it in class and everyone was getting really restless, which made me restless even though I was incredibly interested in the movie. Innovative sound use (it lost the Sound Oscar to a fucking earthquake movie?) and an awesome ending… More
  I need to give this another shot sometime. I watched it in class and everyone was getting really restless, which made me restless even though I was incredibly interested in the movie. Innovative sound use (it lost the Sound Oscar to a fucking earthquake movie?) and an awesome ending compensate for the occasionally flat plot. More later. Wow, I'm two for two...

• Christopher M

  
  I'd really like to say this is a perfect film, and it very well might be, but I think only another viewing or two can decide that for me. Anyway, The Conversation is a film made by Francis Coppola during, arguably, his prime as a director. It stars the great Gene Hackman as Harry… More
  I'd really like to say this is a perfect film, and it very well might be, but I think only another viewing or two can decide that for me. Anyway, The Conversation is a film made by Francis Coppola during, arguably, his prime as a director. It stars the great Gene Hackman as Harry Caul, a surveillance expert who runs into a personal conflict when he is apprised of the knowledge that the young couple he has been recording very well may be murdered. Everything about this film just pops. Coppola's direction is as tight as it can possibly be; everything about is smooth and efficient and maximized in terms of effectiveness. It is enhanced by a very good score that doesn't overpower but perfectly complements and sometimes enhances the tension. If Coppola is at his prime as a director here, so, too, is Gene Hackman. I've read on IMDB this is Hackman's personal favourite of his roles, and this is not surprising as it I think it's very likely his best performance throughout the years. Harry Caul, the ultra-secretive, ultra-cautious loner seems to be stream seamlessly through Hackman - he completely embodies the part in as much as it's possible. The film really does rest pretty much solely on Hackman, and the quiet magnitude of his work here makes it all the more memorable. This is considered a classic, and all the reasons above and more indicate why. The Conversation is not to be missed for any film fan.

• Tim S

  
  Hackman is one of my favorite actors and this is one of his best performances.

• Stephen M

  
  More of a character study than a thriller, though it does have a lovely twist at the end. Easily the best thing Coppola ever made and undoubtedly Gene Hackman's finest hour. I annoy people by declaring this Harrison Ford's best movie!

Read all 20 featured audience ratings