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The Conversation
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| Additional DVD options | Edition | Discs | Price | New from | Used from |
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November 18, 2024 "Please retry" | — | — | $20.95 | $21.28 |
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August 17, 2010 "Please retry" | DVD | 1 |
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| Genre | Drama |
| Format | Closed-captioned, Color, Dolby, Multiple Formats, NTSC, Widescreen |
| Contributor | Allen Garfield, Cindy Williams, Elizabeth MacRae, Francis Ford Coppola, Frederic Forrest, Gene Hackman, Harrison Ford, John Cazale, Mark Wheeler, Michael Higgins, Phoebe Alexander, Robert Shields, Teri Garr See more |
| Language | English, French |
| Runtime | 1 hour and 53 minutes |
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Product Description
A routine wire-tapping job turns into a modern nightmare as Harry hears something disturbing in his recording of a young couple in the park.
Genre: Feature Film-Drama
Rating: PG
Release Date: 8-AUG-2006
Media Type: DVD
Product details
- Aspect Ratio : 1.85:1
- Is Discontinued By Manufacturer : Yes
- MPAA rating : PG (Parental Guidance Suggested)
- Product Dimensions : 7.75 x 5.75 x 0.5 inches; 2.4 ounces
- Director : Francis Ford Coppola
- Media Format : Closed-captioned, Color, Dolby, Multiple Formats, NTSC, Widescreen
- Run time : 1 hour and 53 minutes
- Release date : December 12, 2000
- Actors : Allen Garfield, Cindy Williams, Frederic Forrest, Gene Hackman, John Cazale
- Studio : Paramount
- ASIN : B00003CX9I
- Number of discs : 1
- Best Sellers Rank: #61,991 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)
- #3,102 in Mystery & Thrillers (Movies & TV)
- #9,684 in Drama DVDs
- Customer Reviews:
Customer reviews
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Learn more how customers reviews work on AmazonCustomers say
Customers consider "The Conversation" a classic film with strong performances, particularly Gene Hackman's well-cast role, and appreciate its psychological thriller elements and thought-provoking nature. The movie receives positive feedback for its character study, with one customer noting how it explores the morality of privacy. However, the pacing is criticized as agonizingly slow, and while some customers find it captivating, others describe it as a complete waste of time. The story receives mixed reactions, with some praising the great plot twist while others find the storyline weak.
AI Generated from the text of customer reviews
Customers praise this movie, describing it as an amazing and incredible gem from the 1970s, with one customer noting it as Francis Ford Coppola's best work.
"Great movie. Loved the use of pre-Godfather actors and directors." Read more
"Basically this is a good movie with a very original story. Cast, story, acting, photography, etc, all good. Psychologically interesting...." Read more
"...well directed,great and appropriate music, great acting great story, great ending" Read more
"Worst movie I've seen in years." Read more
Customers praise the performances in the movie, particularly noting Gene Hackman's well-cast role and the stellar supporting cast.
"...I though The Conversation was a very well done film with good acting and a surprising twist at the end...." Read more
"...-great acting -great story -great ending Cons -some dialogue was a little contrived..." Read more
"Great actors. A bit slow for my tastes." Read more
"...Smart film making. First rate story and acting and you never know what's going to happen next. Gene Hackman at his best." Read more
Customers find this movie suspenseful and intense, describing it as a classic murder thriller and psychological thriller.
"Creepy, subtle, and gets under your skin..." Read more
"This movie is very suspenseful and keeps you guessing until the very end. Gene Hackman is amazing. Loved the ending." Read more
"...has a remarkable grasp on communication and delivery to create a suspenseful and creative masterpiece." Read more
"Random and rambling, I was hoping for something like China Town, it was not!..." Read more
Customers find the movie thought-provoking, with one customer describing it as a psychological spy film that poses interesting questions about ethics.
"Excellent thought provoking movie. Gene Hackman shone as a very troubled person. The top notch supporting cast was also very good.l" Read more
"Really enjoyed this moody, introspective film. For a movie based on sound, it is a relatively quiet film which enhances its subject matter...." Read more
"Outstanding and insightful!!!!!!!!!!!" Read more
"...commentary, too, operates primarily on this level: his enthusiams focus on incidentals (interesting incidentals, but incidentals nevertheless), such..." Read more
Customers praise the film's character study, with one noting its sharp focus on scenes and characters, while another highlights how it explores the morality of privacy.
"I liked this movie. Good character study." Read more
"...lies, spies and power in Watergate-era America, and an excellent character study about the interplay between conscience and professionalism in one..." Read more
"...His character isn't likable and the story isn't that interesting. The ending left me unsatisfied. The other characters are weak, no depth?..." Read more
"Hackman creates a very believable character and the consclusion serves up a real surprising twist on who are the innocent and guilty." Read more
Customers have mixed opinions about the movie's entertainment value, with some finding it captivating and interesting, while others describe it as extremely boring and a complete waste of time and mental capacity.
"...Anything Gene Hackman is worth watching. Nice psychological thriller. Hackman's performance is tops. Interesting to see very young Harrison Ford." Read more
"...This movie is amazing in its ability to be both boring and annoying. I actually took the dvd out after watching and threw it directly into the trash...." Read more
"...I should add, as you all know, there are a lot of very interesting and quirky features of the characters and writing otherwise,..." Read more
"what a a boring movie. not well acted by anyone. it was one of those dark movies, everything just solemn...." Read more
Customers have mixed opinions about the movie's story, with some praising its great plot twist and interesting ending, while others find it weak and somewhat unnerving.
"A great story, with wonderful performances by some presently well known actors before they were famous. Harrison Ford is one...." Read more
"...is credible but even Hackman's acting talent can't rise above a weak storyline that comes with its share of static noise -- oddly reminiscent of..." Read more
"Typical 70's flick. Decent plot, but just very slow at times." Read more
"...Gene Hackman is amazing. Loved the ending." Read more
Customers find the pacing of the movie extremely disjointed and agonizingly slow.
"Slow, boring, dark, unsatisfying ending, complete waste of time and mental capacity. Avoid at all costs." Read more
"Very strange movie; extremely disjointed and hard to follow!..." Read more
"...The reason is it's a crappy movie, really slow. For this to be nominated should tell us that 1975 was a crappy year." Read more
"Very slow and boring. Plot did not make since." Read more
Reviews with images
Top reviews from the United States
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- Reviewed in the United States on June 28, 2022As you can see in my Header, great film I was really drawn in about 1/3
of the way through, the beginning seemed to drag, but eventually it
started to come together for me.
If you haven't seen this yet, read no further, this note is for
those that have seen this:
--
--
Ok, so here is how we (the viewers) were lied to or deceived to
by the film maker, in the editing.
At 39:10 and again at 39:34 a line was spoken:
''...he'd kill us if he had the chance'' the key here is that the inflection,
emphasis was on 'he'd' meaning very clearly that the couples lives
were very possibly in danger, which fell in line with the overall tone
of the movie, Gene began to fear for their lives.
Later, toward the end at 1:45:55, the line is spoken MUCH differently,
though it is the same line and in the same identical footage, it now
is spoken/voice re-dub, to indicate very clearly that the couple likely had plans of
killing 'him' (Frank Duval),
Here is that same line again; ''He'd kill _us_ if he got the chance'' but the emphasis is
now on 'Us' meaning very clearly that they could have plans to kill
him or have him killed, as a preemptive move, ergo; 'he'd kill US if he got the chance, so
us killing him is justifiable, and they plan to do just that, and they did. lol
So, still a great movie, but I mildly resent the deception, ok, it bothered me,
I didn't knock off a star for 'it' , but probably should have, well, it's a pretty old
film, we'll let it speak for itself.
I should add, as you all know, there are a lot of
very interesting and quirky features of the characters and writing otherwise,
one thing I noted, maybe some of you did, Gene wears this weird translucent,
gray rain guard/windbreaker everywhere, very bazar.
- Reviewed in the United States on September 1, 2010I wasn't alive in 1974, but I can't imagine how strange and alluring "The Conversation" must've felt to those who witnessed it when it was first released. Was the surveillance technology advanced for its time? Was the culture paranoid of being watched? Did audiences fully understand the film's undertones at the time? Did people expect our culture would become even more monitored in the future?
I don't really know the answers to those questions, and in a way, I prefer not to when I think about "The Conversation". To Harry Caul, those questions are irrelevant when the story begins. He truly dedicates his surveillance to making a clear and well-produced record, and tries not to listen to the content. He sees his work as a way to record "sound", without any attention to its meaning. Only when Caul begins to ponder the consequences of his actions does his life begin to unravel.
Fans of "The Conversation" love to wonder how technology has impacted our culture. Other fans are simply engrossed in the characters and plot developments. What's great about this movie is that you ignore one of those angles and still be mesmerized. If your attention is solely on Harry Caul and how his latest job has affected his life, then "The Conversation" is a terrific thriller. And if your attention wanders towards how our lives have been changed forever by technology, specifically surveillance, then "The Conversation" will give you plenty to think about. You can be as isolated as Caul is when the story begins, and you can be as involved as Caul is when the story ends.
The premise sounds simple when you talk about plot. In short, Harry Caul (played with great restraint and insecurity by Gene Hackman) is an expert on spying on people for different clients. His latest job requires some tweaking because his targets' conversation is cluttered with all sorts of sounds from the San Francisco streets. As he tunes his recording, he begins to suspect something terrible is about to happen.
Like all great stories, "The Conversation" is effective because of the telling. Seeing a technician tune an audio recording sounds boring, but it works because since Harry Caul seems to lack interest in a social life, we want to see what he IS passionate about: His work. Or how about those annoying scenes in movies when a bunch of characters are being unpleasant drunks? In "The Conversation", there's a lengthy sequence where Harry has allowed some fellow surveillance experts into his workplace. Rather than be a bunch of idiots behave foolishly, there's a hotshot East Coast expert named Bernie (Allen Garfield) whose made a name for himself, but is borderline-obsessed with how Harry pulled off a couple of tricky jobs. His cockiness is equalled only by his jealousy, which results in some very cruel tricks as the evening goes on.
The supporting cast is top-notch, because we remember the faces we need to, and forget the faces that Coppola wants us to forget. The targets of Harry's latest job are shown just enough so that we remember their faces and voices, but don't know too much about their personalities...just like Harry does. On the other hand, Harrison Ford delivers an unforgettably creepy turn as the assistant to Harry's client. There's a scene where Harry is obviously being followed, and when Harry finally confronts the assistant, Ford slyly replies:
"I haven't been 'FOLLOWING' you. I've been 'LOOKING' for you." It's clear that it's the former.
It's not often that the sound effects of a movie make headlines, however Walter Murch's work on the sound is more crucial to the piece than most movies (Ben Burtt's work on "WALL-E" comes to mind). I have yet to watch the DVD extras with Walter Murch, but the way the conversation between Harry's targets (hence the title) fades in and out is superb. During the opening credits, the camera slowly zooms in on a town square, filled with distant music and chatter. But then a soft electronic distortion fades in and out. As the camera approaches closer to the ground, the garbled noise is even more noticable. When we get closer to the conversation and the targets, their sentences are periodically interrupted with low clarity. Sometimes what we miss is inconcequential chit-chat; other times, we miss crucial pieces to the puzzle that will change Harry's life forever.
If there's any weakness in this movie, it's one early scene where Harry visits a woman in the middle of the night. It's a sad scene where Harry confuses his ladyfriend's questions for an interrogation. She simply wants to know more about his life, and he's still shaken that someone managed to leave a present in his apartment when he thought he had the only key. The reason this scene doesn't quite work for me is because it never made sense to me how someone as lonely as Harry Caul managed to meet this woman in the first place, let alone how they managed to have a physical relationship. If this scene had been removed, the later courtship between Harry and one of the alluring partygoers still would've worked. However, that's a minor quibble that quickly resolves itself early in the movie, letting the story quickly regain its momentum.
And once "The Conversation" picks up momentum, it maintains its grip through the end of the picture, from the details of Harry's investigation to the troubling aftermath of a shocking, violent turn-of-events. To be sure, "The Conversation" has one of the most unforgettable endings (and camera shots) in motion picture history.
"The Conversation" is my favorite film from the 1970s. There is so much more I want to share with you, the sign of any great film, I think. "The Conversation" is not only filled with complexities and subtleties, you can enjoy the film as simply or as deeply as you want to. Francis Ford Coppola and Gene Hackman have stated in separate interviews that "The Conversation" is probably the favorite of their respective film careers. I couldn't agree more.
- Reviewed in the United States on June 23, 2013Gene Hackman has long been an actor I admire. In this 1974 film written and directed by Francis Fird Coppola, he rises to the level of greatness.
Harry, played by Gene Hackman works in the surveillance industry, and is said to be the best at his kind of job. However, on one job a woman and little girl were killed after one of his jobs, and he tried to distance himself by saying he was in no way responsible. Harry is a clever man, very quiet and a loner. in fact his girlfriend, Teri Garr, before a nose job, did not know where he lived or what he did for work. He has a new job and is afraid that several people will be killed. This is all he can think of, it follows him, and in the end, we wonder if it will destroy him.
Lots of actors you will recognize, a very young Harrison Ford, Cindy Williams and several others. This is A film with a lot of tension, black and white. It tells the tale of how relying upon technology may be a fool's errand. Nightmares and a guilty conscience follow Harry. Will he survive?
Highly Recommended. prisrob 06-23-13
Top reviews from other countries
-
sleepyReviewed in Japan on March 28, 20164.0 out of 5 stars 世界は見た目通りではない。そして聴いた通りでは・・。邦題「カンバセーション・・・・盗聴・・」コッポラ監督の英import PAL盤
レビューが結合されていますがASIN: B0000TZ7IG EAN:5017188812191のものです。
1974年作品。「ゴッドファーザー」のⅠとⅡの間に製作された、フランシス・コッポラ監督による、
音をモチーフにした神経スリラー。英import PAL盤なので再生環境を確認ください。
英語字幕あり・日本語字幕なし。
プロのベテラン盗聴マンのハリー(ハックマン)。I am not afraid of death. I am afraid of murder…
(私は死を恐れない。怖いのは殺人だ). 自然にやってくることは怖くない、
他人の(害意ある)意思が恐ろしい・・。忘れがたい夢のシーンでの彼のセリフ。
霧が立ち込める中でターゲットの女性に警告を発する切実さ。
本作で自らが裸にされていることを知らず暮らす善良な人々のように、
俺の生活も精神も他人に裸にされていのではないか、という病的な、
しかしこんな仕事に従事していては当然の疑心暗鬼のブーメラン。
人を守る何らの壁もなくなった時代の病理(これは現在、一層顕著だろう)・・。
サンフランシスコで盗聴を生業とするハリーが依頼され録音した3つの同時録音音源を
再生するシーンが良い。彼がそれを聴くと頭の中に映像が、
いわば回想シーンのように再生されるのを我々は見る。
何度もリフレインされる同じ会話と同じフラッバックの映像・・。
この繰り返しが彼を一つの結論へと導き、オブセッションとなるのだが・・。
このあたりの編集が特に映画的興奮を静かに呼び起こす。
ターゲットのちょっとした声音や言い回しが、彼のイマジネーションを膨らます。
ターゲットが感じている不安と、この仕事を長年やってきたことから生まれる不安がシンクロし、
トラウマが磁気テープのように再生される。
盗聴する者が盗聴される側に、監視する者が監視される側に。
自分が出来ることは他人も出来るという事実が彼の精神を静かに蝕んでいく。
ハリーの被害妄想、加害(ある過去の失態による)、罪悪感、悔恨、神経症的強迫観念と、
それらが産む疎外感とコミニュケーションの不全をこつこつと描く。地味なくらいに。
神父への告解・懺悔とマリア像が彼の一面を表す。録音は彼の「信仰」なのである。
これら過去のトラウマを乗り越えていくようなカタルシスのある、近時の甘くて無駄に劇的な映画と
大きく異なる。彼は過去を払拭するヒーローではない。
倦んで疲れて、そして静かに怒るしがない男(この意味で代表作「フレンチ・コネクション」シリーズの
ポパイ刑事と異なるが、他人を一定距離以内には入れることが出来ない点で共通点を持つ)。
恋人とのシーンは重要で、彼が誰にも心を開かない(開けない)ことをさりげなく示している。
月並みな言い方だが、現代人の孤独、不安、パラノイアが全編に不穏に流れている。
怖いのは、世界は見た目通りでも、感じた通りでもないということ。
そして自身の依って立つところがぐらつくこと。
本作のハリーは、経験と勘と過去の贖罪の意義がガラガラと音を立てるのを聞く・・。
そんな中でテナーをぶりぶりと吹くシュールさ。
本作ではさまざまな音がうまく活かされている。
録音されたテープはもとより、機械の操作音・電子音等々。この意味で音の映画ともいえる。
その正確さ(それは思い込みなんですけど)と無機質さが
なんだかこっちを冷え冷えとさせるんですよね・・。
主にフィルムに焼き付けられた視覚による体験である映画というメディアの中で、
録音テープに刻まれた(会話、Conversation含む)「音」が最重要な役割を果たすという
逆転の構造・着想に感心。
Supervising Editor, Sound Montage, Re-Recording(総合編集監修といった感じか)と
クレジットされているウォルター・マーチは編集と音響の第一人者。音を顧慮した編集メソッド。
職人というだけでなく、映画の本質にも影響を与え、作品を変えてしまうスキル、信頼、新技術、
センス、新しい発想を持つ、とどこかで読んだ。
コッポラの「地獄の黙示録」でも同様の大きな貢献を果たした(らしい)。
彼が本作で果たした仕事は計り知れないと思う。コッポラ、アンソニー・ミンゲラとの仕事が多く、
著作本や自身のドキュメンタリ・フィルムもある(「Murch」)。本作はリチャード・チュウと共同で作業。
音楽はデヴィッド・シャイア。コッポラの妹タリアの(今は元)だんなさん。
現代音楽っぽい不協和音に近い不思議なピアノ、人を落ち着かなくさせる旋律が
本作の空気をかなり支配していると思う。カメラは「ジョーズ」「カプリコン1」等のビル・バトラー。
特に冒頭がドキュメントぽくて良い。脇役にはアレン・ガーフィールド、フレデリック・フォレスト、
ジョン・カザール、シンディ・ウィリアムス、ハリソン・フォード、テリー・ガーが居る。
カメオでロバート・デュヴァルもチラリと出ている(重要な役)。
1971年の映画「コールガール」(Klute)
(ドナルド・サザーランド、ジェーン・フォンダ主演、アラン・J・パクラ監督)を想起させる。
あちらはさらに静謐で、都会人のディスコミニュケーションと孤独の無自覚を扱っていたが、
芯に彼ら2人の奥の温かみを感じさせた。こちらは温かみはなく、
寂寥と懐疑、焦燥を主人公ハリーが体現する。
また後年のデ・パルマの傑作の1つ「ミッドナイト・クロス」(Blow Out)の主人公の音響マン、トラボルタも
(盗聴ではなく偶然にひろったある音だが)ある事件が以後の人生に大きな影を落としている物語で
本作と類似点がある。音が主要なツールになっている点も
(アントニオーニの「欲望」との類似を挙げる評もどこかで読んだが私は未見)。
一見わかるような派手なギミックは少ないが(それでもホテルのあのシーンは吃驚)
コッポラ・ファンで本作を観ていない方はぜひこの地味でプライベートなフィルムを
ご覧いただければと思います。ひりひりざらざらした感触。苦い後味。
ラスト10分ほどはニューロテックな展開もあり眼が離せないですよ。実質星4つ半。
Conversation, 1974, US, The Directors Company, The Coppola Company,
Paramount Pictures / Paramount Pictures
Theatrical aspect ratio 1.85:1 (intended ratio) , 113min, Color, Mono, 35mm
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
細かい傷・パラは取り除かれている。滲み・つぶれはない。自然な色合いだが、
製作年代を考えてもややざらついて褪せた感じ。ただコッポラのゾーエトロープ社が主体になり
製作した版なのでこれが意図したクオリティの可能性大。
ただ冒頭あたりの画質の良くないショットは登場人物がスコープから見ている映像だからと思う。
音声は明瞭。
リージョン2対応PAL 英盤
映像仕様は16:9LB(ヴィスタ)、画面アスペクト比:1.78: 1(若干左右トリミングか)
片面 2層、113min、Color. 音声:5.1ch サラウンド / オリジナル・モノラルサウンド
字幕:英語、イタリア語。On / Off 可能 。メインメニュー、チャプターメニューあり、ピクチャーディスク
映像特典:
〇Close-Up on “The Conversation” 製作当時のメイキング
(撮影風景等、約9分、1.78:1、画質は良くない。英語字幕あり)
〇Theatrical Trailer(劇場予告編。おそらく米、1.78:1、字幕なし、3分強)
〇DVD Production Credits 本DVDはコッポラ自身のスタジオ「ゾーエトロープ」により、
リマスタ(映像、音声)された。その際のクレジット。
当時の製作・音響担当であるウォルター・マーチが5.1サラウンドの監修をしている。
音声特典:オーディオ・コメンタリ
〇監督のコッポラ
〇音響のウォルター・マーチ どちらも残念ながら英語字幕なし。
付属物:―
発売:American Zoetrope, Paramount
販売:英Miramax ,Buena Vista Home Entertainment, 2005
他の商品:邦盤DVD2種。BDは1種、該当頁によれば本商品と被らない特典映像もある模様。
中古ならどれも比較的安い。Importもリージョン1と、2のPAL, リージョンA.とBといろいろ出ています。
DVDカテゴリでThe Conversation と検索ください。
関連キーワード:(未見の方はスルーしてください)
70年代、サンフランシスコ、ユニオンスクエア、盗聴のプロ、陰謀、贖罪、磁気テープ、
パラノイア、幻想、サックス、バスルーム、ジャズ・ファン、電話、ウォーターゲート
連想作(あくまで参考程度に): 欲望(アントニオーニ)、ミッドナイト・クロス、
コールガール、エネミー・オブ・アメリカ
現物は下よりきれいな画像です。
レビューが結合されていますがASIN: B0000TZ7IG EAN:5017188812191のものです。4.0 out of 5 stars
sleepy世界は見た目通りではない。そして聴いた通りでは・・。邦題「カンバセーション・・・・盗聴・・」コッポラ監督の英import PAL盤
Reviewed in Japan on March 28, 2016
1974年作品。「ゴッドファーザー」のⅠとⅡの間に製作された、フランシス・コッポラ監督による、
音をモチーフにした神経スリラー。英import PAL盤なので再生環境を確認ください。
英語字幕あり・日本語字幕なし。
プロのベテラン盗聴マンのハリー(ハックマン)。I am not afraid of death. I am afraid of murder…
(私は死を恐れない。怖いのは殺人だ). 自然にやってくることは怖くない、
他人の(害意ある)意思が恐ろしい・・。忘れがたい夢のシーンでの彼のセリフ。
霧が立ち込める中でターゲットの女性に警告を発する切実さ。
本作で自らが裸にされていることを知らず暮らす善良な人々のように、
俺の生活も精神も他人に裸にされていのではないか、という病的な、
しかしこんな仕事に従事していては当然の疑心暗鬼のブーメラン。
人を守る何らの壁もなくなった時代の病理(これは現在、一層顕著だろう)・・。
サンフランシスコで盗聴を生業とするハリーが依頼され録音した3つの同時録音音源を
再生するシーンが良い。彼がそれを聴くと頭の中に映像が、
いわば回想シーンのように再生されるのを我々は見る。
何度もリフレインされる同じ会話と同じフラッバックの映像・・。
この繰り返しが彼を一つの結論へと導き、オブセッションとなるのだが・・。
このあたりの編集が特に映画的興奮を静かに呼び起こす。
ターゲットのちょっとした声音や言い回しが、彼のイマジネーションを膨らます。
ターゲットが感じている不安と、この仕事を長年やってきたことから生まれる不安がシンクロし、
トラウマが磁気テープのように再生される。
盗聴する者が盗聴される側に、監視する者が監視される側に。
自分が出来ることは他人も出来るという事実が彼の精神を静かに蝕んでいく。
ハリーの被害妄想、加害(ある過去の失態による)、罪悪感、悔恨、神経症的強迫観念と、
それらが産む疎外感とコミニュケーションの不全をこつこつと描く。地味なくらいに。
神父への告解・懺悔とマリア像が彼の一面を表す。録音は彼の「信仰」なのである。
これら過去のトラウマを乗り越えていくようなカタルシスのある、近時の甘くて無駄に劇的な映画と
大きく異なる。彼は過去を払拭するヒーローではない。
倦んで疲れて、そして静かに怒るしがない男(この意味で代表作「フレンチ・コネクション」シリーズの
ポパイ刑事と異なるが、他人を一定距離以内には入れることが出来ない点で共通点を持つ)。
恋人とのシーンは重要で、彼が誰にも心を開かない(開けない)ことをさりげなく示している。
月並みな言い方だが、現代人の孤独、不安、パラノイアが全編に不穏に流れている。
怖いのは、世界は見た目通りでも、感じた通りでもないということ。
そして自身の依って立つところがぐらつくこと。
本作のハリーは、経験と勘と過去の贖罪の意義がガラガラと音を立てるのを聞く・・。
そんな中でテナーをぶりぶりと吹くシュールさ。
本作ではさまざまな音がうまく活かされている。
録音されたテープはもとより、機械の操作音・電子音等々。この意味で音の映画ともいえる。
その正確さ(それは思い込みなんですけど)と無機質さが
なんだかこっちを冷え冷えとさせるんですよね・・。
主にフィルムに焼き付けられた視覚による体験である映画というメディアの中で、
録音テープに刻まれた(会話、Conversation含む)「音」が最重要な役割を果たすという
逆転の構造・着想に感心。
Supervising Editor, Sound Montage, Re-Recording(総合編集監修といった感じか)と
クレジットされているウォルター・マーチは編集と音響の第一人者。音を顧慮した編集メソッド。
職人というだけでなく、映画の本質にも影響を与え、作品を変えてしまうスキル、信頼、新技術、
センス、新しい発想を持つ、とどこかで読んだ。
コッポラの「地獄の黙示録」でも同様の大きな貢献を果たした(らしい)。
彼が本作で果たした仕事は計り知れないと思う。コッポラ、アンソニー・ミンゲラとの仕事が多く、
著作本や自身のドキュメンタリ・フィルムもある(「Murch」)。本作はリチャード・チュウと共同で作業。
音楽はデヴィッド・シャイア。コッポラの妹タリアの(今は元)だんなさん。
現代音楽っぽい不協和音に近い不思議なピアノ、人を落ち着かなくさせる旋律が
本作の空気をかなり支配していると思う。カメラは「ジョーズ」「カプリコン1」等のビル・バトラー。
特に冒頭がドキュメントぽくて良い。脇役にはアレン・ガーフィールド、フレデリック・フォレスト、
ジョン・カザール、シンディ・ウィリアムス、ハリソン・フォード、テリー・ガーが居る。
カメオでロバート・デュヴァルもチラリと出ている(重要な役)。
1971年の映画「コールガール」(Klute)
(ドナルド・サザーランド、ジェーン・フォンダ主演、アラン・J・パクラ監督)を想起させる。
あちらはさらに静謐で、都会人のディスコミニュケーションと孤独の無自覚を扱っていたが、
芯に彼ら2人の奥の温かみを感じさせた。こちらは温かみはなく、
寂寥と懐疑、焦燥を主人公ハリーが体現する。
また後年のデ・パルマの傑作の1つ「ミッドナイト・クロス」(Blow Out)の主人公の音響マン、トラボルタも
(盗聴ではなく偶然にひろったある音だが)ある事件が以後の人生に大きな影を落としている物語で
本作と類似点がある。音が主要なツールになっている点も
(アントニオーニの「欲望」との類似を挙げる評もどこかで読んだが私は未見)。
一見わかるような派手なギミックは少ないが(それでもホテルのあのシーンは吃驚)
コッポラ・ファンで本作を観ていない方はぜひこの地味でプライベートなフィルムを
ご覧いただければと思います。ひりひりざらざらした感触。苦い後味。
ラスト10分ほどはニューロテックな展開もあり眼が離せないですよ。実質星4つ半。
Conversation, 1974, US, The Directors Company, The Coppola Company,
Paramount Pictures / Paramount Pictures
Theatrical aspect ratio 1.85:1 (intended ratio) , 113min, Color, Mono, 35mm
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
細かい傷・パラは取り除かれている。滲み・つぶれはない。自然な色合いだが、
製作年代を考えてもややざらついて褪せた感じ。ただコッポラのゾーエトロープ社が主体になり
製作した版なのでこれが意図したクオリティの可能性大。
ただ冒頭あたりの画質の良くないショットは登場人物がスコープから見ている映像だからと思う。
音声は明瞭。
リージョン2対応PAL 英盤
映像仕様は16:9LB(ヴィスタ)、画面アスペクト比:1.78: 1(若干左右トリミングか)
片面 2層、113min、Color. 音声:5.1ch サラウンド / オリジナル・モノラルサウンド
字幕:英語、イタリア語。On / Off 可能 。メインメニュー、チャプターメニューあり、ピクチャーディスク
映像特典:
〇Close-Up on “The Conversation” 製作当時のメイキング
(撮影風景等、約9分、1.78:1、画質は良くない。英語字幕あり)
〇Theatrical Trailer(劇場予告編。おそらく米、1.78:1、字幕なし、3分強)
〇DVD Production Credits 本DVDはコッポラ自身のスタジオ「ゾーエトロープ」により、
リマスタ(映像、音声)された。その際のクレジット。
当時の製作・音響担当であるウォルター・マーチが5.1サラウンドの監修をしている。
音声特典:オーディオ・コメンタリ
〇監督のコッポラ
〇音響のウォルター・マーチ どちらも残念ながら英語字幕なし。
付属物:―
発売:American Zoetrope, Paramount
販売:英Miramax ,Buena Vista Home Entertainment, 2005
他の商品:邦盤DVD2種。BDは1種、該当頁によれば本商品と被らない特典映像もある模様。
中古ならどれも比較的安い。Importもリージョン1と、2のPAL, リージョンA.とBといろいろ出ています。
DVDカテゴリでThe Conversation と検索ください。
関連キーワード:(未見の方はスルーしてください)
70年代、サンフランシスコ、ユニオンスクエア、盗聴のプロ、陰謀、贖罪、磁気テープ、
パラノイア、幻想、サックス、バスルーム、ジャズ・ファン、電話、ウォーターゲート
連想作(あくまで参考程度に): 欲望(アントニオーニ)、ミッドナイト・クロス、
コールガール、エネミー・オブ・アメリカ
現物は下よりきれいな画像です。
Images in this review
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RenReviewed in Mexico on November 11, 20175.0 out of 5 stars The Conversation
La mejor pelíula de Francis Ford Coppola. Nominada al Óscar cómo mejor película en 1974, junto a El Padrino 2.
ElleppiReviewed in the United Kingdom on September 7, 20155.0 out of 5 stars One of those films that were meant to be watched on blu ray. A unique masterpiece that "feels like November"
MOst people won't probably get all the complexity and depth of this film from a cinematographic and a content point of view, because THe Conversation is not a film meant to show off its uniqueness. But if you watch it and listen to it with the right attitude, you will get its incredible beauty and dramatic sense of life., and understand why it is regarded as one of the greatest films ever done. To me it's the best film by Coppola, along with Apocalypse Now, although being two opposite films. As the latter is grand and visually striking, this one is a little chamber film, whose audiovisual qualities are not inferior to the other film, but just differently visionary.
It's a film made of audio/video details, long shots, silence and sudden explosion of sound and music, an multilayered perception of reality and characters' mind that create a short circuit and a mix of hyperrealism and surrealism, because the more you hear the more you lose your sense of reality, of what's true and what's just in your mind. And Gene Hackman is perfect to convey this sense of gradual lost of orientation, playing a lonely man who feels reality, society, life itself is like leavinhg him behind and even more alone. He is the guy who's perception is at the same time a step ahead of all the others but does not help him to live his life with consciousness and confidence. Instead, he more and more realizes how everyone is alone and miserable and mean, feeling like a guardian who see the world from above but can't do anything to change it, and ends up being part of a plot that he cannot control.
Coppola could adopt a much easier way to convey this sense of disorientation that is typical of the Seventies but is also universal and still true, but he decide to do it through a plot that talks about perception and a cinematic style that tries to make us see and hear better, but whose results is to make us feel even more lost than before, exactly like his unforgettable and bleak character. There is a strange atmosphere all along the film, which reminds me of that line in "THe three days of the Condor" (shot in the same year and quite close to this film): "those pictures are not autumn or winter: it feels like November".
This is one of those films that deserves a great blu ray transfer and I must reckon that the blu ray is quite remarkable
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martinReviewed in Canada on February 28, 20255.0 out of 5 stars EXELLENT FILM,À VOIR !
LIVRER EN PARFAITE ÉTAT.
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Gimmy4266Reviewed in Italy on August 3, 20245.0 out of 5 stars Bluray 4k
Film eccezionale senza italiano ma la confezione e gadget meritano, ben fatta








