French Connection II

This was never going to be as good as the first film, but as sequels go - especially in the 1970s - this isn't half bad. Gene Hackman's "Popeye Doyle" is doped up full of heroin, and abandoned to the streets. Luckily he is discovered and after some cold turkey, sets about getting back onto the trail of "Charnier" (Fernando Rey) in Marseille. It is here he must work with the French authorities - as suspicious of him, as he is of them - to effect a catch! Marseille is always a great venue for films like this - it has an earthily cosmopolitan seediness that really lends well to this kind of drama. Certainly, this plot lacks the intensity of the 1971 original, and "Doyle" frequently comes across here as a bit of an arrogant American ass, but the pace is still pretty good, and there is plenty of action to keep it lively for a couple of hours with car chases and shoot-outs a-plenty.

**Better than the first!** This action packed sequel moves like a runaway train! William Friedkin's film was excellent - yet contained too many scenes of people sitting in cars watching other people go in and out of buildings - the stakeout scenes bring the film to a halt. The scenes were integral, yes, but they are a damn drag to sit through. Frankenheimer's _French Connection II_ is a superbly acted and taut thriller that contains a substantial amount of humour too! The perfect movie. Hackman's finest performance can be found here and his harrowing withdrawal from heroin is a wonder to behold. Yes, this is an action packed masterpiece and I thoroughly recommend it to fans of gritty 70's cinema.