The Film
One of the benefits of a new higher quality video format (in this case, Blu-ray Disc) is the ability it gives us to rediscover our favorite classic films, seeing them in more visual and sonic detail than ever before. In the case of the French Connection films, it was actually a chance for me to discover these classics for the first time. Having been 4 years old when the first film came out, I didn't get to see it in theaters, but it was always one of those "I've really got to get around to watching this one day" films. And I'm glad I did.
Although The French Connection and French Connection II share two of the same characters and actors, and the same score composer, each takes a very different tack on the international investigative thriller. Where the first film was set almost entirely in New York City, the second is set in Marseilles, France. Where the first was an understated and sometimes slow-paced work of investigative intrigue, the second is more of a psychological character study of one man's quest for vengeance and vindication.
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The second film begins where the first leaves off, with New York detective Jimmy "Popeye" Doyle (Gene Hackman) hot on the tail of French narcotics trafficking kingpin Alain Charnier (Fernando Rey). Doyle has made it to France auspiciously to catch the mysterious Charnier and bring him to justice, but perhaps he is just a pawn in a larger game, of which he is utterly oblivious. Featuring a nearly over-the-top performance by Hackman as he descends into and (hopefully) out of, the lifestyle of one of Charnier's victims, and a fairly implausible storyline, the sequel never matches the excitement and originality of the first film, but nevertheless it has its moments and is worth viewing, for those who may have felt unsatisfied with the ambiguous ending of the first film.
The Picture
French Connection II has certainly never looked better on home video, but the 1080p AVC-encoded transfer on Blu-ray shows a slight softness which one would expect of a 34-year-old film. The high def treatment may have some unexpected negative side effects as some of the make-up effects which may have passed muster on video tape or DVD look garishly unreal under the HD microscope. A notable example of this is the "blood" of a stabbing victim early on in the film which looks more like reddish-orange paint than like any bodily fluid I've ever seen, except perhaps on Bourbon Street after one too many hurricanes (the drink not the storm). This may be exaggerated by the transfer's slightly oversaturated reds which also makes skin tones look a little too ruddy.
The Sound
Studios seem to feel compelled to liven up the mix of classic films which were never intended to be presented in surround sound. The film's original mono mix has been re-mastered into 5.1, presented here in a lossless DTS-HD Master audio mix. But unlike some recent re-masters, such as the classic Bond catalog and Disney's Sleeping Beauty, which offer compelling and immersive surround sound tracks, French Connection II seems like it has only undergone some ambience enhancement. Little has been added in terms of low end impact or front to back (or even left to right) directionality. You can opt for the original mono mix instead and you won't be missing anything. The eerie, yet in retrospect slightly cheesy, original score by Don Ellis provides welcome reminiscence to the original film, and the dialog is clean and intelligible, even if it frequently fails to match the movement on the actors' lips (bad foley work perhaps?). Overall, it's a passable but far from stunning audio mix.
The Extras
The film's director, John Frankenheimer, recently passed away, and contained here is a tribute to him by fellow directors (including French Connection director, Bill Friedkin himself), actors, family members and co-workers from the crew of the film. That 25-minute piece, "Frankenheimer: In Focus" provides a retrospect of the late director's work for both the small and large screens. It is one of two HD extras, the other being a short conversation with Gene Hackman where he talks a bit about his work in the film.
Also available are two commentary tracks, one with the director and another with Hackman and producer Robert Rosen. Frankenheimer's commentary track is very enlightening as he mentions his initial trepidation at making a sequel which was overcome as he delved into it with the writers and actors. The last bits available are a couple of image galleries from the film's production and a few trailers for the film.
Final Thoughts
When it comes down to it, The French Connection probably didn't need a sequel, and though John Frankenheimer did his level best to bring some originality and passion to the story, it's one that fans of the original film should probably not feel compelled to see. The Blu-ray release does offer a decent video and audio transfer as well as some intriguing extras, however so it's certainly worth a rental if you're wondering what happens with Popeye and his arch-nemesis, "Frog #1."
Where to Buy:
Product Details
- Actors: Gene Hackman, Fernando Rey, Bernard Fresson, Cathleen Nesbitt
- Director: John Frankenheimer
- Audio/Languages: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 (English), Dolby Digital mono (English, Spanish, French)
- Subtitles: English, Spanish, Cantonese, Mandarin
- Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1
- Region: A
- Number of Discs: 1
- Rating: R
- Studio: 20th Century Fox
- Blu-ray Disc Release Date: February 24, 2009
- Run Time: 119 minutes
- List Price: $34.98
