Rating: 
Summary: Who is watching who!
Review: This is a great movie for those who like movies such as Three Days of the Condor, Sneekers or Enemy of the State. Gene Hackman delivers the goods while losing himself in the process. There is a study here of modern day security and feeling that "Big Brother" may be watching. Watch this film if you have ever had that feeling that what you do or say is for someone elses eyes. A really sobering and and sometimes scary reality.
Rating:
Summary: A Fascinating Character Study!
Review: Francis Ford Coppola's other 1974 classic (The Godfather Part II was the other classic). Great story of a moral man deteriorating at an immoral job. Gene Hackman gives a powerfully quiet performance that ranks among his best. The movie starts a little slow but then we begin to see how the character evolves and it becomes a fascinating journey. The last scene of Hackman tearing his appartment apart is among the most powerful scenes ever filmed. A great picture. Extras: spot the two 'American Graffiti' stars, and the two 'Godfather' stars. From a scale of 1-10 I give this film a 9!
Rating:
Summary: A Jazz Movie!
Review: John Cazale (dead of brain cancer)was probably a better actor than Gene Hackman. Gene Hackman is himself a great actor. Not a tough guy like in the movie "The French Connection", Gene Hackman proves he can act in this movie. This movie needs no special effects because that is the theme of the movie--the spook-world of surveillance!
Rating: 
Summary: An intelligent character study.
Review: Francis Ford Coppola's first picture after The Godfather Part II, 'The Conversation' is a character study in the true sense of the word. A smallish picture set in Coppola's stomping grounds of San Francisco, this film features a superior group of character actors, notably Gene Hackman, John Cazale, Robert Duvall, Alan Garfield (who's always great), Frederick Forrest, and a bit part by Harrison Ford.This film came about at a time when the general public was somewhat under informed as to the widening use of surveillance techniques in non-government applications, and presents a dark portrait of a man with limited purview who knowingly stretches himself far beyond his own capability. This film asks a lot of questions, leaving many of the answers to your own interpretation or ponderance. I am not onto this film with the fervor or superlatives of many, but I do like it, and recommend it.
Rating:
Summary: excellent!!!
Review: Following his box-office smash "The Godfather", Francis Ford Coppola made this absorbing character study about a bugging device expert (Gene Hackman) who lives only for his work, but then finds himself obsessed with a taped conversation. A excellent piece of work!
Rating:
Summary: Coppola's forgotten masterpiece
Review: Coppola and Hackman made one of the finest films of the 1970's with this suspensful thriller which came after Godfather but before its sequel. Hackman plays Harry Caul, an obsessive professional wire-tapper who becomes overly involved with one of his clients. This unnerving suspense film and interesting yet tragic character study should have been ranked with the top 100 movies of all time, but the timeless appeal of The Godfather has reduced the notoriety of this film. Hopefully will be restored for widescreen release in the future. END
Rating:
Summary: The Commentaries Embellish This DVD
Review: This is an excellent piece of filmaking. Very, very underated to date although many of the Amazon posts catch this piece of story telling. Like the parallel editing sequence that MADE the end of Godfather 1, really kill (pardon the pun) at least according to Robert Evans (The Kid Stays in the Picture)-it is interesting to note that this particular new editor of "The Conversation"-contributed alot of great ideas to the story as well as working on the sound mixing. FFC was off working on Godfather II, so perhaps the Editor has a little more freedom and time to work his magic. Funny-most of the workers of the young studio were non-union so he could not even be credited as a picture or sound Editor. Famous Director of Photography Haskell Wexler was "let go" by Francis very early on and replaced. This action gave the film a superior look, for the theme of the film. You have to love the retro vibe of all that electronic tape gear in the digital age we now live. The visual look is crisp and stunning. If you view this DVD-watch BOTH commentaries. The haunting piano melody over the DVD Menu and that appears throughout the story-is worth appreciation alone. I actually sat down and counted out both sets of machine gun triplets in what is a rather dreamy piece of solo piano. As many have said already-this belongs in your DVD library. And let's not forget the early work here of Harrison Ford-complete with scar on his chin; Cindy Williams; Robert Duvall and Teri Garr. Enjoy and relish. People ARE watching and listening. Even Gene Hackman's sax has "ears."
Rating:
Summary: Classic Enemy of the State
Review: Fans of "Enemy of the State" should find this older classic Gene Hackman movie worth viewing. Any fans of Grisham will probably fine this an interesing movie as well. When an electronics surveillance expert, played by Hackman, is hired to monitor a couple he becomes concerned for their lifes when he finds out they are having an affair and the husband is politically powerful. The story takes a dramatic twist near the end that you probably won't anticipate. Good cameos from Cindi Williams, Robert Duvall, and Harrison Ford. Very well made movie with good cast, sets, and music. I recommend it.
Rating:
Summary: One of my five favorites
Review: Pure, unpretentious genius unfolds before the viewer in this complex film, simply told, complete with what has to be one of the subtlest "gotchas" in cinema. From a cinematic perspective, The Conversation breaks the rules, which Coppola expertly reinvents, from the first slow, achingly long voyeuristic zoom into Union Square to the cold empty layers of Harry Caul's (his name a rather silly pun) apartment that echo his isolated, threatened existence. Coppola's camera distances the viewer from Caul, but just like Caul's transparent raincoat, we see beyond the lens into the quiet, tortured confines of Caul's mind.
As a story, The Conversation relies again upon subtlety and a patient viewer to watch Caul ironically become a casualty of his own profession. As Caul is the architect of his own success, he too becomes the architect of his own demise. The joke is on Harry, as the viewer, too, peers into the life of a man obsessed with privacy, a man who ultimately faces an unthinkable future...life under an ever watchful eye.
Rating:
Summary: Listen to "The Conversation"
Review: "The Conversation" is director Francis Ford Coppola's film made after "The Godfather". It stars Gene Hackman, whose previous movie was the Oscar winning "The French Connection".
The movie is entirely focussed on Gene Hackman's character, "Harry Caul", who is a professional eavesdropper, and the conversation he and his assistants have surreptitiously recorded between Cindy Williams of "Lavern and Shirley" fame, and Frederic Forrest, who subsequently plays "Chef" in "Apocalyse, Now".
Although the first few minutes makes us think this is some kind of whodunnit thriller, which it is ultimately is, it also becomes a psychological drama. After listening to the tapes, Harry thinks it's just a boring conversation without significance, and turns it in to the client's assistant, Harrison Ford ("Indiana Jones"), who warns Harry not to get involved because the tapes have dangerous information in it. Harry is now suspicious and takes the tapes back.
Harry now re-analyzes the tapes using homemade equipment, and discovers a line of dialog that was covered up by music in the original recording. He continues to analyze it, but his interpretation is wrong, believing someone might have died as a result of his work.
FF Coppola, in his commentary, informs us some of the inspiration for the movie came from the famous movie "Blow Up", in which a photographer believes he has discovered a murder accidentally captured in his pictures at a park. In "The Conversation", the visual photograph is replaced by the audio conversation. (I only gave "Blow Up" 1 star, and felt it was tedious, and in silly in many parts).
The movie now is mostly about Harry, who is a very suspicious loner (4 locks on his door), apparently has no personal belongings other than a stereo, saxophone and some trinkets including a plastic Virgin Mary figurine. He has no car, and an unlisted phone number. He wears a grey translucent raincoat, even on nice days. He does have some interaction with other eavesdroppers and goes to an eavesdropper's trade show (a real event), but has few friends (he even loses his lady friend). He is now consumed by the tape which gets him in to trouble with Harrison Ford and the actual client, played by Robert Duvall. They steal the tapes back from Harry's office, but pay off Harry with $15,000.
The final scene is amazing. Hopefully without giving too much away, after Harry learns the truth, he now finds himself under surveillance, and his paranoia gets the best of him. A fantastic scene.
Excellent photography which on many occasions uses a static camera which allows the actors to move into or out of the scene.
DVD has a commentary by director FF Coppola, another by editor and sound designer Walter Murch, a decent behind-the scenes, a trailer, and set up options. "The Conversation" is great all-around, and was Oscar-nominated for Best Picture, Sound and Writing.
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