Today’s quick review: The French Connection. Following a hunch, Brooklyn detectives Jimmy Doyle (Gene Hackman) and Buddy Russo (Roy Scheider) begin to tail Sal Boca (Tony Lo Bianco), a store owner who keeps questionable company. Convinced they’re onto a major drug deal, Doyle and Russo work long hours to find the evidence they need. But the mastermind of the operation remains just out of reach: French drug smuggler Alain Charnier (Fernando Rey).
The French Connection is a crime drama about two narcotics detectives’ hunt for a French drug smuggling ring. The movie dives into the details of their investigation, from their initial discovery of Boca to the raw legwork needed to find the next link in the chain. Meticulous storytelling, a high level of realism, and a couple of tense chases give The French Connection some appeal. However, its slow pacing and low stakes won’t work for everyone.
The French Connection immerses itself in the details of Doyle’s police work. His job is anything but glamorous, a tiresome sequence of stakeouts, leads that don’t pan out, and skepticism from his superiors on the police force. The slow grind of the investigation does lead to some good payoff down the line; Doyle’s victories are hard-won and satisfying. The French Connection also doles out a few well-chosen action scenes to ramp up the tension.
However, The French Connection doesn’t fare as well outside of these specific strengths. The plot moves slowly, is narrow in scope, and is missing the strong dramatic hooks and shocking reversals of other crime dramas. The deal between Charnier and Boca throws Doyle for a loop but isn’t all that clever in concrete terms. The movie gambles that the procedural side of the plot will occupy the audience until the plot finally begins to pay off.
The French Connection secures a place for itself with its grounded, realistic setup and targeted use of action. It aims for a specific effect with its investigation and largely achieves its goal. But the movie won’t have as much to offer for modern audiences who are used to more overt thrills and more elaborate plots. Those looking for an organic criminal investigation should give it a shot. Those looking for raw excitement may want to skip it.
For a more lurid crime drama from the same era, try Get Carter. For one with a wider tonal range and better character work, try Mean Streets. For a modern, more action-oriented drug investigation, try Miami Vice.
7.7 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it a 7.0 for solid execution of a particular flavor of crime drama; your score will vary.