Matialth Good concept, poorly executed.

Chirphymium It's entirely possible that sending the audience out feeling lousy was intentional

Taraparain Tells a fascinating and unsettling true story, and does so well, without pretending to have all the answers.

Hadrina The movie's neither hopeful in contrived ways, nor hopeless in different contrived ways. Somehow it manages to be wonderful

shakercoola A mystery thriller with a moral dilemma at its centre. The film has good use of subtext: an obsession with privacy; striving to know everything in a way that impedes participation of others. It's a film very resonant today with all the advancement in surveillance technology. The sound design has big impact on the mood of the film. The screenplay puts the one who bugs others at the centre of the story and this creates tension throughout. Hackman's performance is a career best - his social awkwardness is superbly played.

bockwoldtny This film is a hidden gem that I would almost rate above "the Godfather. It is a perfect example of the slew of paranoia films in the mid 70s. One of the reason's why you can't compare it to Coppola's masterpiece is of course that the scope is radically different. "The Conversation" is a very intimate, quiet but compelling and ultimately terrifying character study. They don't make 'em like that anymore. At least not in a mainstream film with a major actor, Gene Hackman, who has at the height of his game. To me this stands as an excellent example of form and content coming together to form a near flawless whole. Using this film for teaching two aspects that are very foregrounded is the use of cinematic space and sound. It unfolds, for a 21st century audience at least, at a slow pace but the fact that it is also a thriller helps the film along. It is not entirely an art film but also plot-driven. If you want to begin to understand what was great about American Cinema in the 70s, still post-Easy Rider this is a good starting point.

Sameir Ali Francis Ford Coppola, the legendary film maker has his signature in the movie. The movie may be a little dragging in the beginning for normal audience. But, once you finish the film, you will be excited and go for a second time. That's the master.The Conversation is about a spy expert. He is specialized in taping people's conversations. The movie begins with such a complicated task. The brilliant protagonist, with his futuristic vision has well planned and executed that operation. But, as he decodes the target's conversations, he has a feeling that if he handover the tape to the client, the victims may be murdered. This thought haunts him and makes a tough time with the client.In this era of technology, where you can fix a camera anywhere you like, this movie is really important. There is an exhibition that the protagonist attends. The technology explained there is amazing. Remember the movie was released in 1974.A very well made film. It has a different face of its own. The movie will leave an impact in your mind. You may be worried about how secured your privacy is...!!A must watch. Highly recommended.#KiduMovie

George Wright I saw this movie for the first time on TCM and I was totally enthralled with this understated classic. The movie draws you into the character of Harry Caul, played by Gene Hackman, when we first see him using a surveillance device on a young couple in a crowded square in San Francisco. We continue following him as he goes about his daily routine but with a twist; this time, he feels he was an accomplice in a plot to kill. He replays the scene in his mind and on his tape recorder and is trying to find a secret plot from the innocent conversation of the couple in the square. We are riveted to Harry as he goes home to play his saxophone, visit his mistress, played by Teri Garr, make a phone call to deliver the tape, go to church to make his confession, and encounter a mysterious office assistant, played by Harrison Ford. Harry is a practising Catholic. But his religious scruples stand in stark contrast to his job as a paid eavesdropper. Harry does his job and collects his money by spying on people. It turns out he is a guy who is good at his job. A party that follows a trade show tells us that other practitioners of his art want to know his trade secrets. The ending is not what Harry expects, which leads us to further speculation. Viewers are treated to a mystery that is never resolved but the story itself draws us into the character of Harry Caul, who takes on something of an iconic status. Francis Ford Coppola gives this movie a certain look and feel that often comes with a novel. A great movie.