#93 AFI - The French Connection

I watched this one a little while with my Dad as it was available on a streaming device. I was thinking I'd be in for a "Ronin" or "Bullitt" film but not quite something up to par with Die Hard and the glorious action movies of the 80s. I think it did fit snuggly in between the two. 

I did think this was more of a gritty police film and about the events that are laid out as opposed to heavy action and explosions a la Die Hard. But, a REALLY great car chase scene that does rival both Ronin and Bullitt which are two of the best in my opinion. I read a bit about the chase scene and there was a crash at an interesection that was unplanned - man didn't know chase scene was going to be filmed -- so they left it in because of that fact. Yes they did pay for repairs, but it did bring in some realism to the chase which is what makes it best. 

Basic plot unfolds, get wind of a drug heist with an *ahem* French connection and the events lay out as the two main cops set out to bust this event. 

I always like to read reviews by other people on IMDb or RottenTomatoes.com or elsewhere just to get an idea of what other people think of films. Usually I can agree or see their points on films, and this one was no exception. I read one review that said it was interesting to have Doyle (Gene Hackman) as sort of the "bad" character with his racism and drunkeness as the drug dealer Charnier was the dapper "European sophisticate" and I thought about that myself. We do see scenes where Charnier is dodging them through out the city and the subway and proving the cops to be not as good as they seem. Eventually they figure out the plot and attempt to take out the dealer. 

But there's no real resolution to this film. We see in the epilogue that Charnier does escape and most of the people involved either skated charges or just served a bit in prison. It's a tale more about the grittiness of police work and not something to show that everyone gets caught when doing something criminal so to speak.