JohnDoe
Bryn
Brenton3 Days Of the Condor (1975)-Trailer Included
December 13th 2006 01:54
Three Days of the Condor
DVD Cover
Starring: Robert Redford, Faye Dunaway, Cliff Robertson, Max Von Sydow, John Houseman
“Boy, what is it with you people? You think not getting caught in a lie is the same thing as telling the truth?”- Condor
A benchmark of 70’s paranoia and conspiracy theory cinema, Three Days of The Condor is a fast moving, intelligent espionage thriller, possibly more relevant today than when it was released over 30 years ago.
Tackling the depletion of fossil fuels and the inevitable war on oil, the line between fact and fiction becomes blurred, maybe I’ve already said too much. How about I just tell you how the film begins.
Joseph Turner (Robert Redford), codename Condor is a gifted researcher with a photographic memory and an aptitude for logic.
“These things are really pretty simple - they just look complicated.” – Condor
A nonconformist with a dry sense of humour and a healthy cynicism, he works for the American Literary Historical Society...Or that’s what the sign on the door says.
Turning up late, he skims swiftly through the mornings reading, then heads out to grab the office lunches. Taking a short cut through the basement he avoids the rain and picks up the order.
Returning the same way he left, he gets back to the office and discovers everyone that he works with has been brutally murdered. Surrounded by violent mayhem, shocked and frightened, he processes the situation and is smart enough to escape his intended fate.
Reaching a payphone he calls his superiors, turns out that his place of employment is actually a cover for the CIA and someone wants to kill him. Able to trust no one, with assassins lurking in the shadows, now the paper pusher must improvise being a field operative in order to survive.
“Listen. I work for the CIA. I am not a spy. I just read books! We read everything that's published in the world. And we... we feed the plots - dirty tricks, codes - into a computer, and the computer checks against actual CIA plans and operations. I look for leaks, I look for new ideas... We read adventures and novels and journals. I... I... Who'd invent a job like that?” - Condor
How’s that for a killer set up? The first 15 minutes yank you into the story and from there its double crosses, clandestine romance, a lot of quick thinking, bullets flying and some close quarters hand to hand combat.
Hunted by both the agency and nameless guns for hire, Condor must solve the mystery of why everyone he worked with was massacred in order to stay alive.
“Condor is an amateur. He's lost, unpredictable, perhaps even sentimental. He could fool a professional. Not deliberately, but precisely because he is lost, doesn't know what to do. Unlike Wicks, who has always been entirely predictable.” - Condor
Robert Redford chatting to Ex CIA Director Richard Helms. What a fun brain that would be to pick.
Exceptionally clever, well written and acted Three Days of The Condor is a thriller to rival anything in the Hitchcock cannon. Rivetting and compelling, the films style set the standard for new millennium political fare like Good Night and Good Luck and Syriana.
Socially minded Director Sydney Pollack (The Slender Thread, The Swimmer, The Yakuza) controls the movie with a self assured hand. Brave and daring he knows the science of suspense and maintains the tense velocity and atmosphere with the will of a pit bull.
The tightly woven screenplay by Lorenzo Semple Jnr (Parallax View, Papillon, Batman TV) must have jumped off the page when the Director and cast read it.
Economic, the dialogue resonates and the narrative always moves forward. Full of thoughtful details and meticulous attention to the plot, it is clear that technical advisor Richard Helms (ex Director of the CIA) was a wealth of information on set.
Sliced and diced, the films quick editing was cutting edge and enhances every moment subconsciously.
Adding the final layer of seventies cool to the proceedings is the funk steered soundtrack. Pumping away at just the right moments to give you a grin and let you know this is just a story and it should be entertaining.
Actor Robert Redford (Sneakers, Downhill Racer, All The presidents Men, The Candidate, the Sting, Butch Cassidy, the Hot Rock) has collaborated with the Director on several projects throughout his career. (Eg: Out Of Africa, Jeremiah Johnson, The Way We Were) Bringing out the best in the often underestimated star, in Sydney Pollock’s hands Redford gains a depth and empathy that is sometimes lacking in other performances.
Faye Dunaway (Arizona Dream, Barfly, Mommie Dearest, Network, Eyes of Laura Mars, Chinatown, Bonnie and Clyde, Thomas Crown) brings more than just romance and sexiness to her part. There is a frailty and vulnerability that enhances the chemistry between her and Bobby.
Cliff Robertson (Spiderman, Brainstorm, Underworld USA, Devil’s Brigade) as you would expect is well cast. Max Von Sydow (Exorcist) brings a sense of menace and as always rings true in his role.
This precise film really does show up lesser contenders in this genre. In an era where a sense of safety permeates from most mainsteam fare this is the product of a generation that believed cinema could change the world and was a responsibility to be taken seriously.
Sure it’s primarily a medium for entertainment but as this film proves that doesn’t mean you need to sacrifice in order to take something away with you into the real world once the curtains roll back and cover the 100ft screen.
The DVD:
Transfer: Anamorphic Widescreen/5.1 Dolby Digital
Wow, the picture and sound are of an exceptionally high standard. I’ve seen the film many times but never like this. The soundtrack thumps the sub woofer and becomes a bonus character and the widescreen picture revealed little touches that until now eluded me. Extras or not this is a must see.
If my words haven’t convinced you, check out the nail biting trailer below and then tell me I’m lying.
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Comment by Adrian
Philosophy Blog
Comment by JohnDoe
Film & TV on DVD
"Interesting and impressive", now those are two words I love hearing to describe my words. (You get a big double thumbs up of cool, from Fonzie.)
The film effortlessly entertains and makes it all look easy. There is much to stimulate and feed the imagination.
Forgot to say yesterday how cool it was meeting you on Sunday. Hopefully we will have another outing soon.
Comment by Bryn
Horrorphile
And I noticed the filmmakers tensed the narrative up by reducing the novel's "Six Days ..." to "Three Days ..." LOL.
Oh, and I love that Data 70 font too!!
Comment by JohnDoe
Film & TV on DVD
Gotta love those 70's do's and the trailer oozes retro. The film does not feel as dated.
As a Pollack fan you should run, dont walk, past the Blob and pick up a copy of this too cool for school thriller
From our conversation the other day you will find a lot of ideas to latch onto in this.
And dont knock the font I still have fond memories of my Omega........
Comment by Bryn
Horrorphile
Not knocking that font, I love it! My father had lots of Letracet of it ...
Comment by JohnDoe
Film & TV on DVD
Comment by LaurenD
And damn, JD, you do a great review. I'm digging your angles and the depth you bring to the genre.
LaurenD
btw-- I just saw a Hindi film, 'Bandit Queen' about Phoolan Devi. Ever see or review that one? It surprised me. And no, it's not a musical.
Comment by Bryn
Horrorphile
JD knows his shit. I love reading/hearing shit about movies by people who actally know and love their shit. You know that shit/? Fuck, that shit is good. Excuse my indulgent shit there JD. But gota say "Redford is good shit.".
Comment by JohnDoe
Film & TV on DVD
you are forever in my cool books, nice to know my sacrifice of the real world has not been invein. Thank You.
I saw Shekar Kupar's Bandit Queen a few years ago, enjoyed it but havent review it, yet. I am not a huge Bollywood fan but this one was very moving and visually stunning.
Bryn,
the blood sect is strong with your words praise, and 70's Redford is something special.
Comment by Cibbuano
20/20 Filmsight
Science News
Hunt Famous
Orble Post of the Day
Fat Cult
Techbreak
Comment by LaurenD
An Orbler's going to post again how much they despise this sort of congratulatory shit, but it's OK if we say shit, isn't it? And if this shit's true.
Ya, JD, not a Bollywood fan, either, I'm glad to hear your response to BQ. I watched the whole thing with my knuckle between my teeth and hadn't expected to make it through the first half hour.
LaurenD
Comment by JohnDoe
Film & TV on DVD
Im a big fan of this era in cinema too and 3 Days of The Condor is a prime example why.
I will strive to keep you "Fired up".
There are certainly a lot of films from this time period that will end up on my blog.
LaurenD,
On my blog you can say whatever you like. Good or bad, as long as you speak your mind Im happy.
Critcicism is just as important as prasie and both can be a writers friend. Without your words I would wither and die. I love the support, Thank You.
Agree that Bandit Queen was challenging viewing but satisfying.
Comment by Bryn
Horrorphile
Comment by Luke
Book Club
Old Movies
Cane Toad Warrior
Everyone should watch it.
Comment by JohnDoe
Film & TV on DVD
Comment by Luke
Book Club
Old Movies
Cane Toad Warrior
Comment by JohnDoe
Film & TV on DVD
Together we will get the world to see the films we like.