Chinatown - The French Connection

Holadem · 02-04-2002, 05:20 PM

I bought these two movies together, and watched them on consecutive nights. I liked Chinatown, and I am keeping it, though I much prefer LA Confidential.

I was quite disapointed by the French Connection, especially since I have wanted to see it for a long time. It has little to do with the ending, by then I had pretty much lost interest. The train station scene was great (not the car chase, which was good also), I am sure it is a classic, though I have never heard of it. But beside that the whole thing was pretty boring.

I have been looking for older films lately, and it seems I am dissapointed by half of them. I do believe I go in with the right expectations. It is possible that a lot of those films don't work for contemporary viewers anymore?

On the good news side, I bought Pump Up the Volume and A Bridge Too Far for $9 apiece. PUtV was a pleasant surprise, a keeper for sure. I would have never watched this little gem if I didn't see it mentioned here. Great movie.

I hope a Bridge Too Far is just as good. With it's cast (it seems everyone is in that movie!), it better be. But then the Thin Red Line also had one hell of a cast...

[Edit] FOr those who wwere wondering (I am one of them

), this thread is to gather opinions about the above movies - except ABTF which I haven't watched yet.

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Holadem

Joe D · 02-05-2002, 12:22 AM

Chinatown will get better each time you watch it, so you need to watch it again.

French Connection is a classic movie, but it's probably hit and miss. To me, it's a nice gritty movie.

Thi Them · 02-05-2002, 11:07 AM

I think The French Connection is outdated.

When I first saw Chinatown, I was rather underwhelmed by it due to having just seen L.A. Confidential. I've seen it a few more times since, and now I think it's as great as many say it is.

~T

Jack Briggs · 02-05-2002, 11:14 AM

Quote:

"It is possible that a lot of those films don't work for contemporary viewers anymore?"

No. If art is truly art, and it is good art, it stands the test of time. It is timeless. Connection captures beautifully a gritty time in our cultural history. And it is marvelously directed, and Hackman is unforgettable as Popeye Doyle. These were the times as they were, and the deeper issues speak to us today.

It's okay, though, not to care for it for whatever reasons. But that doesn't lessen the film at all.

Holadem · 02-05-2002, 04:20 PM

Quote:

No. If art is truly art, and it is good art, it stands the test of time. It is timeless.

Not sure I would agree that true art has to be timeless. That would be the ideal situtation, what all artists perhaps should strive for. It is perfectly possible for great art to only work for a certain period of time. People change, so does art, so does the perception of what art is.

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Holadem

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Ben Motley · 02-05-2002, 08:03 PM

Please. The Mona Lisa and the Sistene Chapel are dated. Does this make them any less the masterpieces that they are? I do believe that context must be taken into consideration. Battleship Potemkin is dated, Children of Paradise is dated, but they are still classic films. Bah! My ire is growing! I better leave this thread before I get real defensive. My point is that while a film may not "work" for todays masses, it's not the fault of the film being dated, but rather the fault of the audience in failing to be able to judge a film on it's technical merits and watch it regarding the sociological and technical climate in which it was made, rather than the film's ability to adapt to current sociological trends, concerns, and demands.

Did that make sense, or am I totally off my rocker?

Lars Vermundsberget · 02-06-2002, 03:54 AM

I think that made a lot of sense, really.

Robert Crawford · 02-06-2002, 05:51 AM

Ben,
Excellent post!

Crawdaddy

Andres Munoz · 08-04-2004, 09:02 PM

I was going to start a new thread about the French Connection since I just watched it, but I did a search and came up with this 2 year old thread (hope you don't mind Holadem).

SPOILERS AHEAD!!!

So what's up with the ending? A shot is heard and yet both the french guy and Popeye Doyle are alive. Was the shot supposed to make me believe one of them got killed? I don't know if I liked that too much.
The movie is definately hard core and seems very close to real life in the early 70's (although I wasn't born yet when it came out). And the car chase must have been really ground breaking at that time and I give it credit because of that. But it didn't have that much of an impact on me since I've already seen more recent great car chases like in Ronin and the Bourne Identity and Supremacy.

I can see why it won Best Picture and Gene Hackman Best Actor. Well deserved.

Holadem · 08-04-2004, 09:18 PM

Holy shit, did you really have to dig this one up? :b

No biggie tho, I do it all the time myself.

Not that I am even close to being an expert today, but 2.5 years is a LONG time for me as far as this hobby is concerned. Back then, I was just starting to expand my horizons, and was actively seeking out older films. It has been (and still is) a rewarding journey.

I haven't watched both films since then (I do own them both), but I have fond memories of Chinatown, and have the poster in my living room. As for the French Connection, I still don't know...

I still firmly disagree with the concept of timelesness as a requirement for greatness. Many great films need to be put in context to be enjoyed, or even appreciated.

Quote:

My point is that while a film may not "work" for todays masses, it's not the fault of the film being dated, but rather the fault of the audience in failing to be able to judge a film on it's technical merits and watch it regarding the sociological and technical climate in which it was made, rather than the film's ability to adapt to current sociological trends, concerns, and demands.

Fine, but it's the opposite of "timeless". The moment you invoke "context", "timelessness" is out the door.

Not to hijack your revival of this thread or anything Andres

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H