The Conversation

Although The Conversation is the least well known of Francis Ford Coppola's films of the 1970s—overshadowed by the dramatic sweep of The Godfather and the sensory overload of Apocalypse Now—this 1974 production was arguably his most accomplished piece of filmmaking, and it ranks as one of the best movies of the era. Gene Hackman is brilliant as Harry Caul, a private surveillance expert who keeps himself removed from the implications of his work by obsessing over recording quality and disregarding the content of the conversations…until he captures something on his equipment that may have fatal consequences. John Cazale plays Harry's garrulous co-worker, Stan; and Frederic Forrest, Cindy Williams, Teri Garr, and Allen Garfield costar, along with a pre–Star Wars Harrison Ford. Coppola's original script—which steers clear of specific politics, but serves up a heady mix of conspiracy, distrust, and personal responsibility—comes to life beautifully under his subtle direction. Bill Butler's camerawork and Walter Murch's richly textured sound design and dense editing further add to the overwhelming atmosphere of paranoia and isolation here. The Blu-ray debut features two superb and illuminating commentary tracks (one by Coppola, the other from Murch), along with new and archival featurettes. A haunting, harrowing classic, this is highly recommended. (S. Axmaker)