Posts
Bullitt
Many great crime/crime thrillers
films have been set the hilly San Francisco, two examples are Dirty Harry (which would be worthy pick
for this week's theme) and Alfred Hitchcock's Vertigo (which I think doesn't fully fit the theme). Dirty Harry is great, but the film I am
going to pick is the 1968 thriller Bullitt
starring the effortlessly cool Steve McQueen. Bullitt is famous for its unforgettable car chase in the streets of
San Fran and the surrounding areas, it is a classic of the 60s.
The French Connection
Much like Bullitt, William Friedkin's The
French Connection is iconic for its car chase, in this case it is Popeye
Doyle (Gene Hackman) in a car following an elevated New York subway train. Director
William Friedkin would go on to win Best Director as the film scooped awards
for Best Actor (Hackman) and Best Film.
LA Confidential
Much like Bullitt, the city
playing host to LA Confidential also played host to a number of great crime
films, most notably Chinatown. Set in 1950s LA, LA Confidential harks back to
the noir films of the 1940s and is undoubtedly one of greatest films of the 90s.
Bonus Pick
Some bloggers do pick a bonus pick just to perhaps sneak in a choice they love but it didn't quite make to cut or perhaps, which is true in my case, they're not sure if fully fits the theme. The Secret in Their Eyes is a quite magnificent Argentine film worthy of a bonus nomination for this sequence alone - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wE2gTZN-oPU - Sorry it doesn't have English subtitles.
Excellent picks including your bonus pick. I'll be seeing The French Connection for the. first time since it's on my Blind Spot list this year.
ReplyDeleteI'm quite surprised at the low number if people who have seen The French Connection, Best Picture winner, Iconic actors, iconic director. Expected more people to have seen it.
DeleteI haven't seen any of the ones you picked, though I've always wanted to see The French Connection and I think I've seen a bit of L.A Confidential.
ReplyDeleteI love your bonus though, I just watched that for the first time a week or so ago. That sequence was fantastic.
I recommend them all. LA would have won a hatful of deserved Oscars if it weren't for Titanic
DeleteHaven't seen none...unfortunately.
ReplyDeleteThanks for your bonus by the way! :)
I remember talking about both Bullitt and The French Connection in one of my classes. That week our primary focus was on 60's espionage films but we did spend some time talking about police procedural like those and how they helped to shape the modern action films. I remember we did watch the famous car chase from Bullitt as well, but I still have yet to see the rest of it.
ReplyDeleteI'm guessing one of the films you looked at was The Spy Who Came In From the Cold? and The Ipcress File? Two awesome British spy thrillers.
DeleteI haven't seen Bullitt, but I want to. Love L.A., like French but kind of hate Secret. All around great list though, nice range!
ReplyDeleteWhat do you hate Secret?
DeleteThe Secret In Their Eyes is BRILLIANT. Pretty unremarkable story, but they way it's filmed is just beyond. I almost can't believe they're remaking it.
ReplyDeleteI'm almost embarrassed to admit I still haven't seen Bullitt or The French Connection. L.A. Confidential is so, SO great, though.
Hadn't heard of a remake...can't say I'm surprised though.
DeleteLove your three main picks. L.A. Confidential is my favorite of the three, it just gets everything right and the acting is amazing. Bullitt is the essence of cool and it would be hard to find a more beautiful couple than McQueen and Jackie Bisset. The chase sequence is riveting in Connection the rest sounding it isn't quite at its level but it's still a solid film.
ReplyDeleteBullitt is just effortlessly cool. Haha
DeleteA lot's been made of the car chase in Bullitt and I'm pretty sure people still call it the greatest of all time but I enjoyed the movie thoroughly from beginning to end. It definately made my short list for this week.
ReplyDeleteIt's an awesome film, Steve McQueen is such a cool guy.
DeleteI like FRENCH CONNECTION* and SECRET IN THEIR EYES**, and I love L.A. CONFIDENTIAL.
ReplyDelete*I hate the sequel. Have you seen it?
**I do think it counts.
I haven't no. Hardly hear anyone talk about it.
DeleteI adore French Connection. The ending is so bleak.
ReplyDeleteThe scene where Doyle shoots the convict, following the car chase, is always quite controversial.
DeleteLA Confidential is the only one I've seen and I've only good things about TFC, so have to check it out some time.
ReplyDeleteIf you liked LA Confidential, you will like The French Connection.
DeleteExcellent picks. The French Connection and L.A. Confidential would definitely top my best police movies list as well.
ReplyDelete