Greenes
Please don't spend money on this.
BoardChiri
Bad Acting and worse Bad Screenplay
Kien Navarro
Exactly the movie you think it is, but not the movie you want it to be.
Jakester
It's not fair to compare this film with "The French Connection" which is a once-in-a-generation coming together of perfect script, perfect cast, and perfect director. (Also perfect timing - America was very worried circa 1971 about whether big cities like NYC were governable. Plenty of academics said "No they're not!") That said, I will proceed with my comparison. The greatest strength of "The French Connection" is its gritty realism - its near-documentary feel. We are convinced this is how New York cops speak, move, and behave on the mean streets while chasing down drug traffickers. We miss this in "The French Connection II" where, too often, things feel artificial, forced, staged.The second big problem with "II" is all the fricking scenery chewing going on. Gene Hackman was a 900 pound elephant by the time the producers started developing this picture - what he wanted, he got. I would be willing to bet that he wanted the addiction/withdrawal sequence to be lengthy and detailed ("Hey, I can really ACT here and get me some AWARDS"). The sequence ends up being show-offy after 15 minutes. (I will say, the way Hackman says "Dandy little southpaw" is gorgeous.) The score is mediocre (a sharp contrast to the razor-sharp, minimalist scoring of the original, even though they're written by the same guy). The photography is average (again a sharp contrast).Re the fish-gutting sequence at the beginning of the film - this would work much better if we were informed from the outset that they're looking for drugs, then we'd find their work funny and intriguing rather than weird. Re the cultural/language gulf between a New York Irish cop and Marseille - this is moderately amusing for a while but gets played-up too much. Re the red truck in the heroin lab - it's parked a good 60 feet from where it logically should be; this is Amateur Hour filmmaking, done merely to create a little bit extra shoot-'em-up excitement. Re the inside of the heroin lab with all the test tubes and lab technicians - this is interesting stuff - much more could have been done with it.
alexanderdavies-99382
It is no surprise that a sequel to the masterpiece "The French Connection" was commissioned. After all, the 1971 film helped to define a much more realistic kind of Hollywood movie and is in a league of its own. Gene Hackman brought so much depth to the tough cop, Popeye Doyle. In the hands of a lesser actor, the character would have become one-dimensional. Released in 1975, "French Connection 2," is actually very good on its own terms. Naturally, Gene Hackman was brought back and so was Fernando Rey as the drug dealer who eluded capture in the previous film. Aside from actor Ed Lauter, every cast member in this sequel is French apart from Hackman. It made sense to have this 1975 film, seeing as there were a few loose ends from before. Being set and filmed in Marseilles, we see a more vulnerable side to Popeye Doyle. He doesn't know any area of France, he has never been to that particular country before, so his being on alien territory makes him a target in more ways than one. There are some good action scenes which keep the viewer interested but the film suffers from overlength. If the running time had been trimmed by about 15 minutes, then the narrative would have been stronger. This is no fault of the director, John Frankenheimer. He certainly deserves more recognition as he made some very good films. The drug addiction reference makes for rather uncomfortable viewing as we see first hand, Doyle's graphic and disturbing withdrawal symptoms. I can understand why this was included in "French Connection 2," as Fernando Rey is determined to rid himself of this cop who has been a thorn in his side from day 1. He will employ any means necessary to rid himself of his adversary. However, the drug addiction took up too much screen time. Regardless, it is testament to how tough Doyle is as his fighting spirit is still there. Surviving his ordeal, only makes him that more determined to catch his man. The French police with whom Doyle works, view him with a certain degree of suspicion and concern. After all, Doyle's reputation precedes him....... There isn't so much of the humour or camaraderie that is so evident in the previous film but one scene that is quite droll is as follows: when Gene Hackman goes to a bar and he can't make himself understood very well as his French is limited and the barmans English is even worse! Then after a few drinks together, they merrily walk the streets of Marseilles after the bar is closed. That was a good scene. This isn't a classic but worth viewing all the same. There were plans by "20th Century Fox" to produce a third "French Connection" film with Gene Hackman being paired with Richard Pryor as his new partner. It was scheduled for production for about 1979. That sounds interesting, a shame it didn't bear fruition.
movie reviews
The movie starts out fairly entertaining with Hackman playing a crude intelligent tactless Eastwood like New York cop encountering funny language barrier situations. All these movies from the era have a "James Bond flair" of an exaggerated macho super male protagonist.So much of it seemed to be filmed on a set (all the indoor scenes) kinds of cheapens and wrecks the fun of time travel--but there were a decent amount of outdoor live scenes still..Where I started to get bored was when Hackman goes cold turkey after being forced to take heroin for 2 weeks so the baddie Rey can get information from him. I actually started to fast forward through that endless part.The whole attitude towards drugs is a bit corny and laughable--but this was made in 1976 so you have to put up with that.I never fully understood the plot a far more serious flaw....at one point it is revealed the Hackman was sent there as bait--bait for whose benefit the French? They don't seem to want him there. Anyway that is confusing.As others state the action scenes go on too long....the dry dock...the chases....with sound effects added afterwards. Also I found the idea that after Rey knows everything is being watched he goes ahead and pays off the captain of the ship---having no clue it might be watched---that is just plain stupid writing.I agree Rey doesn't make a good bad guy....needs to instill fear--not.This movie cost $4.3 million and grossed $12.6 million so what do I know? Semi Recommend
souther02
Ah, yes, another 70's movie that loses its luster alongside Miami Vice and Bad Boys. What am I? A wise guy? Guess that's true.French Connection II is a lot different from The French Connection. It was neither a better or worse movie. It was different, and one reason is that Roy Scheider was not there. French Connection was set and filmed in the port town of Marseilles.Ben "Popeye" Doyle does not have a lot going for him, at the beginning and for most of the movie. He is greeted by a police chief(Bernard Fresson) who is dressing fish at a dock with a dozen or more of his men who are all doing the same. Barthelemy finds out he has been had, that what he is looking for among all the fish is not there, that it's an April Fool's joke. What Doyle finds out after a little cordiality is that Doyle is not wanted in Marseilles. Barthelemy points out to Popeye that a lot of men are lost in the shootout at Charnier's drop point in New York. Popeye is there in Marseille to get Charnier no matter what, even after the bloodbath back in New York. But Popeye's hands are tied---Barthelemy only allows Doyle to be an observer. Knowing Inspector Doyle's aggressiveness and furtive agreement with himself(and the devil if it means that), it's a foregone conclusion that Doyle will go after the heroin trafficker. If you know the other movie. Doyle is a loose cannon. But he is a smart cop, a good shot, and being in France does not faze him. After all, Ben Doyle is a New York cop.If any film proves Hackman's worth as an actor, his artistry as a performer comes shining through when Doyle is shot with heroin. The realism of a heroin user under the influence is evident as Hackman falls deeply under the drug's spell. He is like a person who has had a lot..He has no strength, he has no desire really, to get up off the bed. How he comes to get the junk is something to find out elsewhere ..I like finding out first hand.Later, when Hackman is coming off the stuff, there is a little comedy as Hackman talks to the chief. The detective's withdrawals are authentic, as is his derision toward the police chief. But soon Popeye Doyle is back on the case, fit as ever, and with the blessings of Barhtelemy --but not entirely.A tight film, with some nice sights on the way. And no violins in the background. Popeye does not miss out on the femmes. He doesn't not miss much, period.
