Film review

  • French Connection II

    Old YorkerFilm review

    John Frankenheimer (1975)

    John Frankenheimer is well up to handling the action sequences that dominated the original but this sequel is principally a showcase for Gene Hackman, reprising the role that won him an Oscar last time around.  Foul-mouthed, amoral Popeye Doyle is now playing away, in Marseilles.  The centrepiece is a cold turkey episode after Popeye has been pumped full of heroin.  This, like plenty more in the film, is too much, in spite of Hackman’s excellence and Claude Renoir’s almost literally stunning photography.  Yet like its predecessor, French Connection II delivers in terms of visceral excitement and Frankenheimer makes the ending cleverly economical.  Dislikeable but recommended.

    [1970s]

  • Gordon’s War

    Old YorkerFilm review

    Ossie Davis (1973)

    Green Beret Gordon Hudson returns to New York from Vietnam to discover that his wife has died – she’s one of the many victims of the drug dealers who’ve taken over Harlem.  Gordon determines to clean up the neighbourhood with the help of some vigilante mates.  They set about accomplishing the task with violent aplomb.  As in the following year’s Death Wish, there’s no insight into the characters but plenty of sentimentality.  Paul Winfield, who plays Gordon, has been quoted as saying that he wants to be the best film actor in the world – ‘Not as good as Olivier or Brando – the best’.  Winfield is going the wrong way about it.

    [1970s]

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