The Conversation

The Conversation is a mystery drama film. The movie is about Harry Caul, played by Gene Hackman, a professional wire tapper who’s paid large sums of money to secretly record people. He becomes obsessed with his latest case, a conversation between a couple walking around Union Park in San Francisco. Worrying about the couple’s safety he listens endlessly to decode what they’re saying.

Gene Hackman is great in the role of the guarded and secretive Harry Caul. He portrays Harry as a lonely man who struggles to connect with people. He is a man who despises personal questioning towards him. Hackman truthfully expresses Harry’s paranoia and guilt about the information he knows.

The Conversation is a thought provoking mystery drama. Director Francis Ford Coppola uses many still shots of Harry just listening and thinking. He repeatedly shows the conversation in the park to allow us to slowly unravel the meaning behind the dialogue. Like Harry, the classical piano score gives off an ominous feeling. This movie shows the dangers of invading privacy.

4 out of 5 stars

1974 R, 1h 53min