I had a roommate in college that listed this film as one of his favorites. My wife also talks about the quality of this film. I picked this purely by accident, without the intention of watching the father/daughter directors on back-to-back days.
The 1970s were truly of classic period of film making and Francis Ford Coppola stands as one of the reasons. Granted, he made bigger films during that era (the two "Godfather" films and "Apocalypse Now"). This may be considered his "quiet" film from that decade, but that doesn't lessen the impact "The Conversation" holds.
Gene Hackman is a surveillance expert. He has been hired to record a conversation between two people that occurs in a crowded park. The movie centers around Hackman trying to take the recorded pieces and carefully assemble them to recreate the complete conversation. He obsessively works on this tape, trying to get every element audible.
While his meticulous work has made him a legend in the field, it has also left him paranoid with a side order a guilt due to a previous job. He tries to take steps in leading secretive life, although in a couple instances, he fails. The tension builds as the conversation comes together and what it may imply.
This is a film about language, on how a word or emphasis can change the meaning of a sentence along with context. I read that the dialogue was recorded multiple times in different ways, which changes the interpretation of the conversation. Obviously this translates to current times, where a text can be interpreted in multiple ways.
An incredible piece of work that I'm surprised, and thankful, that someone hasn't tried to remake using modern technology as the mode of surveillance.
Rating: 10/10
Movies I've previously seen: 4
First time viewings: 40
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