Category: 1971

The French Connection (1971)

Doyle is bad news – but a good cop.

Rating 18
Length 1h44
Release 18.01.1972
Director William Friedman
About New York City cop Doyle and his partner are trying to bust a drug cartel based in France. Albeit short-tempered, Doyle is a dedicated cop whose nemesis, Alain Charnier, is too polished for a criminal.
Moon: no moon sighting
Where to Watch: BBC IPlayer
Trailer:

The Good

Much in the same way Detective Peralta was inspired to join the force on the back of Die Hard, I could imagine John McClane being inspired by Jimmy ‘Popeye’ Doyle.
The character operates in the shades of grey and you can very quickly tell, it’s the only way to operate in the grime and challenges of 70s New York City. I could not imagine anyone other than Gene Hackman playing this ambigious role. Most of his great performances involve a flawed character.

For the time, this was considered fast paced. Oh how long for this standard, instead of the nauseating blurs of CGI we get today. Most younger viewers have been conditioned with the car chases of franchises, not least of which is Fast and the Furious.
However, those who truly love film will be able to appreciate the technical skill required for the chase sequence in this film. It’s simple, the cars keep to speed limit that doesn’t invoke the sound of NOS and yet it will still have your adrenaline pumping.

The Bad

The fact that this film has a sequel. Even though, I’ve not seen it, the ambiguity of that final scene is undone just from the knowledge that the sequel exists. Much in the same way there’s no sense of jeopardy in Marvel’s Black Widow because she’s present in films that take place after BW.

The Ugly

I know what the film was trying to achieve with the semi-hand held free movement of the camera; it compliments the tone by giving that pseudo documentary style of filmmaking. However, at times it really made me sick to my stomach.

Final Thoughts

It’s not a film I personally would watch for entertainment. However, I also recognise that this film walked so many crime based films and shows could run.

Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory (1971) Film Review

Rating PG
Length 1h38
Release 12.8.1971
Director Mel Stuart
About A factory owner gives 5 children a chance to win a lifetime supply of sweets. Charlie, along with four odious children enter the factory. Disasters befall each of the children. Will Charlie survive?
Moon: no moon sighting
Where to Watch: Amazon Prime
Trailer:

The Good

  • Gene Wilder is the reason why they should stop attempting to remake this story. This batshit crazy portrayal, for me at least, is such perfection that anything else (outside of a time machine to cast Spike Milligan) pointless.
    Wilder has has this ability to be this perfect character no matter how old you are when you watch. As a kid, I appreciated the child-like flare he had. Now, I adore the deadpan “help. police. A murder.” that clearly went over my head thirty years ago.
  • The humour, despite the American feel to overall film, feels very British. It’s the tone, particularly the news reports, that are clever and sardonic that I just adore.
  • Mr Turkentine is an odd addition to what is an oddly paced film, but they are some of my favourite scenes and as close to having a Python on set. This film, this story was made for the Pythons. Could you imagine it? Cleese as the spy, Palin as the teacher, Idle as Grandpa Joe?! Damn, I want that time machine now.

The Bad

  • It takes way too long to get into the factory. I mean, I hate to make the comparison here, but if the first Harry Potter had this pacing?! Jesus, could you spend that much time with the Dursleys?
    There’s way too much fluff and songs- get rid of “Cheer up Charlie” at the very least- and it really slogs along for the first half for very little pay off. Yes, keep all the bits about the other shitty kids. But Wonkamania could have been cut short. The film spends too much time telling me I should want to root for Charlie. Sorry, but the more you give me, the more I don’t care. He’s just as annoying as the others, he’s just good at putting on a public face.
  • The placement of the film. It’s not England, it’s not America… but what seems to be an imaginary place, off the map. Take Veruca, for example. She’s got two pure bred Yorkshire parents, yet her accent is what, exactly? Then the factory worker who says all of three or four words is American? Don’t fuck with my head!

The Ugly

  • Grandpa Joe is one shady mother fucker. Can’t get up for twenty years, but has no problem when it comes to taking Charlie on a fun day out? Bullshit! For one thing, I’ve lived with someone who rarely got out of bed; they fucking smell rank! Charlie ain’t taking Grandpa Joe anywhere.
  • The music. I am not a fan of 1970s musicals. Scrooge with Albert Finney, Oliver!, hell even Saturday Night Fever gets a firm “pass” from me. The only musical aspect I like is the little interludes from the Oompa Loompas. But then, I fucking hate the Oopmpa Loompas and everything they’re alluding to.

Final Thoughts

It’s better than Burton’s attempt, but I think the problem is more to do with the Dahl legacy than anything else. If you’ve never seen it, you must. For Wilder alone, you must put up with all the other shit.

Film Review: Dirty Harry (1971)

Rating: X/15
Length: 1hr 43
Release: 30.3.1972
Dir: Don Siegel
About: In the year 1971, a police detective ignores the orders of his superiors and gambles with innocent lives to capture a sniper terrorizing San Francisco.

The Good

  • Hate to go all ‘film student’ on you, but there’s some amazing visuals in this. Just after half way through the film, Harry (Clint Eastwood) is asked to ‘put your nose right up against the cement’. The visuals then turn into a POV shot as Harry looks up at the cross monument. It’s not something you see anymore in film and its quite disarming.
  • Andy Robinson is the definition of scary playing the man only ever identified as ‘Killer’ or Scorpio. From the manical laugh to the lengths he’ll go to frame Harry as a rotten apple within the police. He’ll give you nightmares and have you fearing nearly everyone. But that’s the thing, he is so brilliant at being scary.
  • Thrilling without being loud and fast, or a dull slow burn. The sort of story presented in Dirty Harry would be filmed in one of those two ways if it was made today. I loved this middle ground pacing.

The Bad

  • Outdated comments presented should not be removed, as censoring the past gets us nowhere. However, it doesn’t mean I have to like it.
  • Music is very DISCO! It’s hard to say if it fits the film or not, given that its reflective of the time. However, I’m not certain it matches the tone of the film at all times.

The Ugly

  • I’m not sure how I feel about the reveal of the body at the end. I’m pretty certain they wouldn’t have used an underage actress to be lifted out of the location completely naked, however the actress who is playing the discovered body is playing a 14 year old girl and I found the whole thing gratuitous.

Final Thoughts

I don’t know how I’d not seen this movie before now. It’s incredible from start to finish and one of the best thrillers I’ve ever seen.