coppola's the conversation is by far one of my favorite films. i first saw it when i was in 6th grade and was blown away. the tone of the film is so haunting. the score is just brilliant. its so subtle and elegant --- it creeps up on you so wonderfully. i cant get enough of harry caul's world. many people think this is overrated. are severly disagree. are there any others out there that love this film as much as I do?
I've been really meaning to see this movie ever since I got into movies and heard the name Francis Ford Coppola when I saw my first movie by him, Apocalypse Now. I really do need to see it.
~rougerum
The Conversation is great. I've seen it many times, it holds up every viewing. The DVD is great, wonderful commentary by Murch and Coppola. This film was ahead of its time, as surveillance has now become a bigger fixture in modern life (especially after 9/11). Hackman gives what is perhaps (after Scarecrow) his best performance, and that's saying quite a lot. Cazale was great, too. Allen Garfield kicks ass. This is simply a wonderful, classic movie, the best film of 1974, a year with tons of great movies.
Speaking of John Cazale -- he appeared in 3 films (Godfather, Godfather 2, Deer Hunter) that won Best Picture Oscars. His other 2 films (Dog Day Afternoon, Conversation) were nominated for Best Picture. Not a bad batting average. Sadly he died 25 years ago (March 1978).
I love this movie. The way it quietly but suddenly slips into surrealism (or did the toilet scene really happen? There's a good discussion) is so shocking the first time you see it.
I didn't think about it when I first watched it, but Roger Ebert brought up an interesting point in his Great Movies essay on it, which is that Caul is essentially really bad at his job -- he had one great coup that got him some reknown, but otherwise he's quite amateurish. That put the movie in a whole new perspective for me; it really turns it into something far deeper than a simple thriller.
One of the best final shots of a movie ever.
Quote from: GhostboyI love this movie. The way it quietly but suddenly slips into surrealism (or did the toilet scene really happen? There's a good discussion) is so shocking the first time you see it.
I didn't think about it when I first watched it, but Roger Ebert brought up an interesting point in his Great Movies essay on it, which is that Caul is essentially really bad at his job -- he had one great coup that got him some reknown, but otherwise he's quite amateurish. That put the movie in a whole new perspective for me; it really turns it into something far deeper than a simple thriller.
what was ebert's reason for calling harry caul an amateur? im not sure i agree. another really interesting tidbit that is revealed in the commentary, is the meaning of harry's last name -- CAUL -- besides the obvious connection to the word CALL which links to the whole survelance motif. a CAUL is the term for the embreotic sac which covers infants at birth -- this directly links to the transparent rain coat that harry always wears, as well as the many shot where he is obstructed behind translucent surfaces -- its a really nice visual motif-- what a great film.
From www.suntimes.com/ebert/greatmovies/conversation.html
"His colleagues in the surveillance industry think Harry Caul is such a genius that we realize with a little shock how bad he is at his job. Here is a man who is paid to eavesdrop on a conversation in a public place. He succeeds, but then allows the tapes to be stolen. His triple-locked apartment is so insecure that the landlord is able to enter it and leave a birthday present. His mail is opened and read. He thinks his phone is unlisted, but both the landlord and a client have it. At a trade show, he allows his chief competitor to fool him with a mike hidden in a freebie ballpoint. His mistress tells him: "Once I saw you up by the staircase, hiding and watching for a whole hour."
Quote from: MacGuffinOne of the best final shots of a movie ever.
One of the coolest OPENING shots of a movie ever.
Quote from: bonanzatazQuote from: MacGuffinOne of the best final shots of a movie ever.
One of the coolest OPENING shots of a movie ever.
Defenitely.
Yes...a film that can open and end with the shots The Conversation does is very impressive. I really liked how the conversation is slowly decoded during the first part of the film. Gene Hackman blew me away in this film and although the film is at parts slow...it keeps the viewer interested in it with an excellent score and cast.
Regardless of my love for The Godfather and Apocalypse, I think this is my very favorite Coppolla film. It makes a nice early-seventies triple-bill with Pakula's 2 great surveillance-and-paranoia-themed films (I do count the excellent Klute as such, indirect though the theme may seem in it).
Quote from: cowboykurtis
what was ebert's reason for calling harry caul an amateur? im not sure i agree. another really interesting tidbit that is revealed in the commentary, is the meaning of harry's last name -- CAUL -- besides the obvious connection to the word CALL which links to the whole survelance motif. a CAUL is the term for the embreotic sac which covers infants at birth -- this directly links to the transparent rain coat that harry always wears, as well as the many shot where he is obstructed behind translucent surfaces -- its a really nice visual motif-- what a great film.
Holden CAULfield. His red hunting cap.
Been a while since this topic's been posted in, but I've been inspired by MacGuffin's av...
It's been a while since I've seen this, a few questions:
Ghostboy or anyone, what was the surreal bathroom scene you're referring to? Also, what was the opening shot? I remember the last one of course, left me really speechless, I don't think there's any other shot out there that instantly and easily reflects and relates what is going on is such a fucked up character.
I feel as if I've only seen parts of this movie repeated in other movies following it, like Enemy of the State (again with Hackman) and Sneakers. Did any movies along this thriller/spy type precede it? Godardian, what Pakula movies are you mentioning?
In everything I've seen about Harrison Ford, no one mentions this as his pre-Star Wars career, I think he's really great in his role. I think this film is proof that Coppola needs to make more goddamned movies. It's my favorite of all his films because it's so concentrated and focused on everything about this one character. You could argue the same for Apocalypse Now, but in the end I think that's more about Kurtz and Sheen's reaction to him than either one in particular.
yes truly a masterpiece. not as great as apocalypse now in my opinion but definitely a masterpievce. in a way, it reminds me of hitchcocks the birds. i havent seen this in a while but because of this thread im gong to watch it again.
...:yabbse-embarassed: ..never seen it....
yes, this was one of my all time best blind-buy moments, 2 1/2 years ago.
plus, the Murch commentary is top dog.
well i finally saw this movie tonight for the first time. got some mixed feelings about it.
i kind of liked it, but i guess i can't dig it as much as alot of you guys. my main complaint is that i felt a tremendous and inappropriate lack of tension throughout the film. as a so-called thriller or mystery, my brain was not working on this movie as much as i hoped for. the only times i felt something really intriguing happening was when harry was deciphering the conversation by playing back the tapes, when stett was on the screen, when harry was in the hotel rooms, and when harry was trying to de-bug his apartment.
however, the music is some of the best i've ever heard in a movie before, and i was impressed with the ending alot. and it was fun watching something so, for lack of better words, so fucking seventies.
but other than that, i can't say much more than calling the movie a fair work.
I need to go buy this. I've wanted to see it for a long time.
Quote from: snaporazi kind of liked it, but i guess i can't dig it as much as alot of you guys. my main complaint is that i felt a tremendous and inappropriate lack of tension throughout the film. as a so-called thriller or mystery, my brain was not working on this movie as much as i hoped for.
It's strange. I had similar feelings the first time I saw the picture. I kept almost falling asleep. But, I watched the movie a couple of years later and it was like a completely different movie. The tension was there, the intrigue, the characters, the pathos...it was all there and working to tremendous effect. I'm not sure exactly what it was but I definately saw its greatness when I revisited it. It is a great film.
I suggest checking it out again and seeing if it works better.
I just watched this in class yesterday....weird
Great film, actually strangely one of the few films that scared the living crap out of me and gave me nightmares.
Quote from: SiliasRubyGreat film, actually strangely one of the few films that scared the living crap out of me and gave me nightmares.
ur a special person, silias.
Coppola's Conversation to Become a Series
Source: Variety
Producer Tony Krantz ("24") is teaming with screenwriters Christopher McQuarrie (The Usual Suspects) and Erik Jendresen ("Band of Brothers") to turn Francis Ford Coppola's The Conversation into a weekly series for ABC.
Coppola is on board as an executive producer, Krantz said, with ABC sibling Touchstone Television close to a deal to serve as the project's studio, along with Krantz's Flame Ventures.
Released in 1974, between Coppola's first two "Godfather" films, The Conversation is a sparse thriller featuring Gene Hackman as master of electronic surveillance Harry Caul.
McQuarrie and Jendresen plan to set the TV version in the present day, with Caul now equally adept at digital spying and traditional audio surveillance.
The series will feature close-ended stories, with Caul reluctantly taking on cases in order to help people deserving of assistance. But there'll also be an ongoing storyline since, as in the movie, Caul will be a man under constant observation by various government agencies due to a secret conversation he's recorded.
Caul will work with a group of four other experts he's assembled, none of whom ever know what the others are up to.
McQuarrie and Jendresen will write the pilot, executive producing with Krantz and Coppola.
That's a terrible idea.
However, the movie was quite good. I can't see it turning into a show that people would actually watch, is the problem, given Caul's personality and profession.
I think this show WOULD be popular. The problem is it won't be even close to the quality of the film. Yeah, that goes without saying because it's TV and the source material is one of the best films of the 1970s but even taking all that into account, it's probably going to resemble CSI more than The Conversation. But that's why it's going to be huge. Especially if they get a recognizable face, like Michael Madsen or Ed O'Neill or whoever is next in line for a TV comeback.
And now we all know where Christopher McQuarrie went after Year of the Gun. :yabbse-undecided:
Quote from: MacGuffin on September 18, 2006, 01:37:51 AM
Coppola's Conversation to Become a Series
Ehhh, seems okay, I just hope it doesn't scare me.
Quote from: hackspaced on September 18, 2006, 08:18:57 AM
I think this show WOULD be popular. The problem is it won't be even close to the quality of the film. Yeah, that goes without saying because it's TV and the source material is one of the best films of the 1970s but even taking all that into account, it's probably going to resemble CSI more than The Conversation. But that's why it's going to be huge. Especially if they get a recognizable face, like Michael Madsen or Ed O'Neill or whoever is next in line for a TV comeback.
And now we all know where Christopher McQuarrie went after Year of the Gun. :yabbse-undecided:
That's ultimately my problem with it. To make it appealing they'd have to throw out everything that made the movie what it is. Saying The Conversation is about an audio surveillance specialist with a very important tape is missing a lot. Perhaps it could be successful, but in the process they'd have to change Caul's character around to make him likable in a broader sense. A protagonist that is paranoid and doesn't talk much and lacks friends wouldn't make good primetime TV, I don't think.
another great film in the 5.50 bin at Wal-Mart.
wasn't sure about the links to PDL on the imdb page, but then i thought about the PDL apartment scenes.
murch's commentary said the original cut was 5 hrs!!! the girl who sleeps with harry and the rival had nothing to do with the missing tapes originally.
It's a classic for sure. Hackman is amazing but the supporting cast are great too including a weirdly effeminate Harrison Ford.
great commentary, i love coppala commentaries, this guy's got nothing to hide and almost seems to not even be affected by ego. i like the bit where he talks about his personal films compared to the newer ones he did. he pretty much tells us he sold out, fucking great!
also his talk on godfather part 3 is very candid, i get sick of the "wow, this shot is great" or "(such and such actor) is a genius, look at him/her in this scene". francis' commentaries are truly a breath of fresh air.
-sl-
sorry i think i remember talking about this a while back, can't remember if it was posted on this site or not.
Quote from: SiliasRuby on May 31, 2005, 04:06:20 AM
Great film, actually strangely one of the few films that scared the living crap out of me and gave me nightmares.
(spoilers, i guess)
no i'm with you, the blood coming up out of the toilet is still one of the most haunting moments for me. don't know what it is about it, just got under my skin.
the way the camera shoots as if it's a security camera is great, especially the last shot.
can anyone think of an earlier example where the camera stayed still why the action happened offscreen?
new wave maybe?
i always think of that hallway shot in Taxi Driver but that is after this film i believe.