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Three Days of the Condor

Three Days of the Condor

List Price: $14.99
Your Price: $11.24
Product Info Reviews

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Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Robert Redford's Best Film to Date!
Review: This is an extraordinary film, with a tremendous cast. I found the images of the world trade center very difficult to watch, after Sept 11.

This film is so much better than the CIA movies recently released, including Redford's Spy Game. If you like spy movies, buy or rent this one!

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: A MASTERPIECE.
Review: Simply flawless, this movie was the best movie to come out of the 70's. It still sends a chill to the bone. Haunting, riveting and a must for any serious movie buff. ...

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: "I just read books!"
Review: This movie is very very good. It has a very interesting premise. Redford is a CIA analyst who reads. He reads everything in print looking for codes or messages. He unwittingly uncovers and becomes a part of a conspiracy that he has to try to decipher while trying to stay alive. GREAT FLICK! Faye Dunaway, Cliff Robertson, and Max von Sydow are great!

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: PARANOID
Review: Here are the seventies again ! At that time, Hollywood was ruled by such directors as Alan J. Pakula, John Frankenheimer or Sydney Pollack. The bad guys were the C.I.A., the F.B.I., the Big consortiums or the Army and the good guys had the face of Paul Newman, Robert Redford, Warren Beatty or John Doe. It was one of the only periods in the history of cinema during which Hollywood was the champion of morality. Alas, times change...

THREE DAYS OF THE CONDOR stands very well the test of time with a solid plot involving a Faye Dunaway smiling for the first and last time in a motion picture, a Robert Redford gaining with this role a star status and a Max Von Sydow impersonating an official hitman. Nevertheless, there are a few gaps in the screenplay ; for instance, Robert Redford can a little bit too easily enter the Bell Central building and Faye Dunaway hasn't any difficulty to meet one of the C.I.A. big bosses. But, after all, it's only cinema !

THREE DAYS OF THE CONDOR is a classic political thriller of above-average quality which deserves a place in every serious movie lover's library. Sound is very well balanced and clear and images reflect the sadness of an early winter.
Rating: 4 stars
Summary: 4 Stars For "Condor"--One for the DVD!
Review: Wire-rimmed glasses and a slight stubble of beard isn't enough to make Robert Redford completely convincing as a bookish CIA researcher, though he gives a terrific "movie star" performance (partially the result of co screenwriter David Rayfiel being brought in to customize some of Redford's dialouge).

Also, Director Sydney Pollack ("Tootsie") doesn't seem to have the feel for suspense-thriller pulp (the way someone like Peckinpah had), so "Three Days of the Condor" is a little too monotone and flat at times to be a completely successful representative of the genre.

No matter.

"Three Days of The Condor" had all the timing in the world going for it.

Released in 1975, just on the heels of Watergate and in the midst of the Church Committee hearings on CIA excesses, "Condor" became the only box office success of Paramount Pictures "Conspiracy Trilogy" (the others being "The Conversation" and Parallax View").

It's also worth noting the cinematography (done by the great Owen Roizman) is spectacular...the rainy Manhattan streets never looked so beautifully moody....and the score by Dave Grusin avoids all the usual thriller movie stabs and sting.

The transfer quality of the DVD is superb, but the special features are non existent (all that's included is the original theatrical trailer--hardly a "special feature" in today's DVD world).

"Three Days of the Condor" remains essentially a stylish artifact of mid-70's paranoia, and viewed today, in light of recent events, contains some really bizarre echoes.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Pollack and Redford Combine
Review: Sydney Pollack and Robert Redford combine their talents for this impressive suspense film. Robert Redford plays a reader for the CIA and gets lucky one day. He then has to piece together a rather complicated puzzle. This movie unravels its secrets slowly and surely, leaving the audience stuck within it's web. Other movies nowadays like to spring it all on quick and thick, not so with this film. It piles twist upon twist, and the plot doesn't seem contrived or pre-destined to get to the big revelation, common in most suspense films. It flows wonderously and smoothly. The characters are believable and real, not caricatures or superhuman action heroes. It remains a favorite of mine after watching it years ago, and that is a testament to its staying power. A truly impressive film.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: ONE OF THE FINEST
Review: This classic suspense film was released in a chilling time. Viet Nam was a national, benchmark issue; Columnist Jack Anderson believed his life to be in danger from the government and the CIA was said by some to be involved in illegal plots and intrigues. Redford handles his role superbly; Faye Dunaway as well, and Max Von Sydow is most classy as a skilled, hired assasin. It is difficult to bring to mind a film since made that captures the plot and flow of this one. The suspense is gripping - a tribute to the Redford talent. This is the sort of classic one can view periodically and enjoy all over again. History since adds great irony to the film's premise.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Superb
Review: I do not like to give away important information in my reviews regarding a story-line or specific contents. I feel that one can acquire this information from the Amazon posted reviews and other public reviews. I have never liked when people 'spoil the story' or the suprise of item I am about to hear, read, or view.

This is one such story that cannot be 'given away' instead I recommend that you suprise yourself with this amazing suspense film. Intellegent, suspenseful, realistic, and just plain great. This is a timeless classic. Treat yourself - end of discussion.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Seventies Classic
Review: I first saw this movie when it was released in 1975. I was seven years old and it had me on the edge of my seat. Twenty - five years later it still moves along. It's aged very easily. Redford does an excellent job as a man who has no experience, or training, as a field operative. All he has going for him is his intelligence and the fact that he reads spy novels and murder mysteries for a living.He makes mistakes, but he also makes several brilliant moves that a sesoned operative would never consider, which is one reason why he survives. His actions seem believable. He's an ordinary man having to cope with an extraordinary situation. Max von Sydow and Cliff Robertson are also very good and though it is a small part John Houseman shines as one of the grand old men of the CIA. Though the technology has aged, as well as some of the field techniques ,much of it is still very relevant as is the motivation for wiping out Condor's entire department. It actually is a nice little twist when the truth is revealed. This is truely a classic espionge thriller. Though I enjoy the Bond movies 3 Days of the Condor belongs under the realistic category.In my opinion it leaves Tom Clancy and Jack Ryan in the dirt.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: A TImeless Classic
Review: THREE DAYS OF THE CONDOR is one of the finest espionage thrillers ever filmed. But it's not just entertaining. The script is thought-provoking and reflects fears and paranoias that still pervade our country's consciousness today. Robert Redford has never been better. His character is a refreshing hero who succeeds using his brain, not his brawn or some ridiculous firepower. There are so many great supporting performances as well, including Cliff Robertson, John Houseman and Faye Dunaway (who looks simply gorgeous). Max VonSydow plays the ultimate assasin for hire, equalled only by Edward Fox's turn in THE DAY OF THE JACKAL. The film's editing is perfect and the music score (by Dave Grusin) still sounds great, (quite a feat since the music from many films of this period sound terribly dated). All in all, I consider this possibly the best example of a domestic (versus international) espionage thriller and faultless in all aspects of production. The final freeze-frame shot is a stunner.


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