Bullitt

Rating:
Summary: McQueen is cool!!!
Review: That's right folk's, McQueen is cool in this very good film from 1968. As Frank Bullitt, Mc Queen is in his element as the stoic, laconic character that became his trademark. Car-chase through San Francisco city streets has to rank in top three all-time car chases ever filmed, with McQueen performing many of the stunts himself. Jacqueline Bissett is solid as love interest, and Robert Vaughn is, as always, perfect in the role of the underhanded, less than forthright cop in charge. Film set the stage for such other McQueen classics as, "The Getaway", and "Le Mans". Definitely a man's movie, but romantic, if at times slow love story, will keep the lady in your life interested. Much recommended!

Rating:
Summary: Put on a Sweater
Review: This detective drama aimed to be the essence of cool, and succeeded, in fact it's a little too cool, can somebody turn up the thermostat? Barely anybody in the picture is allowed to show any genuine emotion, although one of the hoods looks a little upset before he's shotgunned. Director Peter Yates apparently planned to tell the whole story with action and came up with a near-classic. In fact his spectacular staging of McQueen's car pursuit of two Mob assassins is usually blamed for the countless imitation car chases that have blighted American movies ever since. It's certainly one of McQueen's signature roles, but why give him a hokey name like Bullitt?

Rating:
Summary: Let's go for a walk.
Review: This film won an Oscar for Best Editing! Wow, it must have been a really bad year for editing. This movie wastes so much time it's hard to stay awake at times. There are too many shots that have nothing to do with the movie or develop the plot in any way. There are extended shots of Bullitt ordering at a restaurant, Bullitt buying TV dinners at a grocery store, Bullitt getting breakfast at the hospital, Bullitt talking to his girlfriend about pipe, ahhhh! There are also too many shots of people doing nothing but walking, walking down the hallway, walking down the street, walking through the door, walking to church, walking up the stairs walking walking walking! It is amazing. It takes an hour for the movie to do what should take only 15 minutes.
Probably the cheesiest scene in the whole movie is when Bullitt's girlfriend gets upset after she follows the police into a hotel room and finds him in there with a dead body. (Don't ask me why she does, or why the police just let people on the street follow them into a crime scene.) Well anyway she gets all upset and says "I thought I knew you, but I am not so sure anymore. Do you let anything reach you? I mean really reach you? Or are you so used to it by now that nothing really touches you." And goes on and on about how callous he is and doesn't want to be reminded of the world he lives in.
Please, give me a break; he is a police officer for heaven sake. They see dead people all the time, and what did she expect, him to break down and cry every time he sees a dead body?
It was a pathetic attempt at sentimentality.
The only redeeming qualities of this movie are Steve McQueen's cool acting, the car chase scene and seeing some nice sports cars from the 1960's.
But, the plot is so thin if all of the walking, eating and conversations about pipe were left out this movie could have been half as long. This movie reminded me of a bad TV show.
I considered giving it two stars just for Steve, the chase scene the nice cars and the film does at times has a nice stylized feel to it. But two stars is just slightly below average and this film is way below average, Perhaps a 1.5.

Rating:
Summary: A super cult movie
Review: This film, has been till now the major achievement of Peter Yates, there are several reasons for this statement, a dazzling direction, the charismatic presence of Steve Mc Queen playing the role of an emblematic anti hero cop , the best car chase ever filmed in San Francisco, the spectacular beauty and talented Jacqueline Bisset, the presence of a raising promise as Robert Duvall, the sinister character of Robert Vaughn as the corrupt senator, supported by a fine script without any hole, plentty of suspense and multiple reflections, this film has generated many similar films but without its shinning power and dynamical force.
Do you need any adittional reason to acquire this one?
Don't miss, you don't have any excuse. You'll be always rewarded.

Rating:
Summary: HORRIBLE
Review: This is definately one of the most boring movies I have ever seen. I bought the title because of the ravings about the car chase and forced myself through the rest of the film. Since everyone else rated this movie so well, you might think I'm an idiot for my opinion. If you haven't seen the movie, give it a try and you decide. Oh, and Bullitt and his 68 Mustang are NOT CHASING A GTO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! IT'S A CHARGER!!!!!!!!!!!
Thank you very much for your time and consideration!

Rating:
Summary: Great MQueen
Review: This is my favorite movie of Steve McQueen's.
I has a good caast and the plot is great. Not only does it have the very firstand best chase scene. the final part where MQueen chases the bad guy at the airport amongst the planes is great.
I recomend this movie greatly.

Rating:
Summary: McQueen is the coolest in this pioneering movie.
Review: This movie is the pattern for Dirty Harry and every car chase film that followed-both good and bad. The well-known car chase scene might have lost just a bit of luster over the years but remember, it was a first of its' kind in 1968. I'm old enough to remember this movie at the theater on a big screen (before the cineplex small screen devolution) and man, when the cars were jumping the hills in SF- you were there! Just ask my stomach. Watching on a small screen at home I'd recommend turning out the lights during the chase and enjoying the 7 minute rollercoaster ride. Name another movie that had a car named after it. In 2001 Ford put out a limited edition Mustang GT Bullitt, dark green fastback in homage to Steve and the "chase". I know that many movies that followed had impressive and more complex car chases but Bullit was first-name an earlier one. After Bullitt there was "The French Connection", "The Seven-Ups", "Dirty Mary,Crazy Larry", "Smokey and the Bandit", even "The Blues Brothers" and many, many more. So you can say that Bullitt created a subgenre of movies that lasted for more than a decade. Even TV got into the action (Dukes of Hazzard). Like I said -both good and bad. Now the movie storyline is great too. I've read many reviews here that say the movie moves too slow with little action. I disagree. Does "The Godfather" move too slow with little action too? The movie is done in a realistic, gritty style that has moments of explosive violence punctuating intelligent dialogue, acting and storyline-especially for 1968. Very much in the French style of film-making, as were French Connection, Dirty Harry, Laughing Policeman,The Exorcist, Atlantic City, et al. When the witness is blown away by a shot gun blast to the midsection he flys off his feet and slams into the wall-very realistic even by todays' jaded eye. No computer generated scenes here. Just good ole' special effects. Steve McQueen would be 72 if he lived but like so many other cultural icons that wasn't meant to be. Live fast, die young (well, middle-aged) and leave us with some wonderful movies.The Great Escape, Cincinnatti Kid, The Getaway, Papillon, The Thomas Crown Affair, On Any Sunday, Baby The Rain Must Fall, Junior Bonner, The Magnificent Seven, Le Mans, The Sand Pebbles, Nevada Smith, and more. Where are the Steve McQueen's of today? None of today's "stars" could be believable(laughable) in his roles. McQueen could kick any of their ... figuratively and literally. We miss you Steve!

Rating:
Summary: See why Steve McQueen was the
Review: What a tragedy it was the day in 1980 we lost Steve McQueen at age 50. To those who don't remember what a huge star Hollywood's "King of Cool" was, think what a shock it would be if in just five years Tom Cruise died of cancer. THAT is how big McQueen was, and kids today don't even know his name. For those who are curious, I recommend three films: 1972's "The Getaway," 1963's "The Great Escape," and the film that formed the cornerstone of his reputation, 1968's "Bullitt."

Actually, "Raiders of the Lost Ark" and "Lethal Weapon" fans may be disappointed since "Bullitt" is not so much an action thriller as a police procedural and character study centering on Frank Bullitt (McQueen), a laconic, lone-wolf police detective. Bullitt and his partners are chosen by their superiors to protect a mob witness who is due to testify in a high-profile criminal trial that an ambitious politician named Chalmers (Robert Vaughn) has staked his reputation and career on. Unfortunately, Bullitt's team is set up and the witness and partners are shot and left for dead. Bullitt is then left to figure out what happened, all while being stalked by a steely gray-haired [...] and his accomplice.

The centerpiece of "Bullitt"'s reputation, along with McQueen's legendary performance, is a hair-raising, high-octane car chase between Bullitt and the assassins through the streets of San Francisco that lasts nearly 20 minutes of screen time. So famous and so expertly was this sequence staged that the film won an Oscar for film editing even though it received only one other minor nomination (for Best Sound), which is almost unheard of. There is also an exciting chase and shootout across the runways of San Francisco International Airport that ends the film, but other than that action enthusiasts may be disappointed. However, those who like stories that actually make sense, have characters that are believable everymen and not just superhuman killing machines and feature action sequences that serve the plot and are not just tacked on to top everything that has come before will love this film.

The performances are uniformly expert, with standouts including Norman Fell and Simon Oakland as Bullitt's no-nonsense superiors, Georg Stanford Brown as a doctor, and John Aprea as the nearly mute, hair-raising [...]. Vaughn is a worthwhile adversary as a politician who (surprise!) is ambitious to the point he can't be trusted, and Jacqueline Bisset has a few touching scenes as Bullitt's sensitive girlfriend who has a hard time reconciling the quiet man she loves with the policeman who is so jaded he can look at a young female murder victim and not be moved in the least. And watch for Robert Duvall as a cab driver and Joanna Cassidy in a blink-and-you'll miss her bit.

But this is McQueen's film the entire way and he is absolutely legendary in a role that, along with Gene Hackman's Popeye Doyle in "The French Connection" and Clint Eastwood's "Dirty Harry" Callahan, created the modern screen image of the iconic, tough police officer. My guess is he has maybe fifty lines in the entire movie, but when he does talk, he wastes no words and every steely stare speaks volumes. And did I mention his chief support is the coolest automobile in screen history, a green 1968 Ford Mustang, which is almost as memorable as the character of Bullitt himself?

In addition, McQueen is aided immeasurable by Peter Yates' expert direction and the rock-solid script, which substitute thrills with unyielding realism. The photography and music are stellar, and the editing, well, as I said before, is Oscar-winning.

In all, "Bullitt" is one legendary film that has aged well, still looks great after 36 years and remains thrilling to this day. Serious film and action fans will not be bored, although thrill-seekers might. As for the DVD, it's a good, though not great package that is presented in its original 1:85:1 aspect ratio. In all, its a great introduction to a true movie star who deserves to be rediscovered by future generations of film fans. **** (out of *****)