Review: The Connection

The Connection is a wonderful new crime film that perfectly capture the essence of Italian crime maestro Fernando di Leo. While the film does hit familiar beats, it consistently does so in style. Coupled with a string of great performances, The Connection is a success. 

The French Connection, William Friedkin's amazing film from 1971, is U.S. side of this story. Director Cédric Jimenez provides a different take on the same set of circumstances. Set in Marseilles during the ’70s, this is more of a European counterpart to Friedkin’s film, examining the efforts of Magistrate Pierre Michel (Jean Dujardin from The Artist) to clamp down on an enormous heroin smuggling operation and its leader, the gangster Gaëtan “Tany” Zampa (Gilles Lellouche). 

The rivalry between these two men, both "bosses" in their own way, drive the film. The obsession of both gives the film a riveting subtext. Again, men obsessed with the destruction of one another is nothing new to these kinds of crime ring stories but its done so well here it hardly matters.

Jimenez and his crew do an amazing job of recreating the era details. One wouldn't be mocked for thinking this film came from the 70's given the cinematography and the music the film employs. Shooting the entire film on 35mm really gives it an authentic look. 

Overall everything works in The Connection. Sure this may not be new territory that hasn't been explored by great directors before but it excels at being entertaining and gripping. New territory is not always necessary and the film proves to be a great companion to the classic The French Connection.

4/5