One of my favorite films of all time and by far my favorite Robert Redford film. Considering the amount of time I’ve spent reading anything and everything, I’ve felt a kinship with Joe Turner for decades. Also for me, my favorite Faye Dunaway film. She’s perfect in this. LOVE her character.
An absolute 5 out of 5 Sparrow Hawks.
Condor is one of those films that really, REALLY grows on you far more over time. The first time it’s a great thriller and one of the better spy films of the decade. Eventually it sinks in and hits you like a load of bricks. Every last detail works beautifully and even the love story is convincing. I don’t know if there is a better or more believable Redford role and the drama is heightened by the fact that he plays a man who is completely in over his head and a bookworm at that long before Jack Ryan was “just an analyst”. The interplay between him and Max Von Sydow is priceless.
Again this is a picture that only grows in stature. The ending is extremely deep and perfectly open ended in the best possible way that so many 70’s films were. While it is reminiscent of MARATHON MAN and others of the same ilk, Condor has its own identity but is still one of the truly timeless films of the decade that isn’t talked about enough. And essential for spy nerds.
This reminds me I still really need to read the book and get the Blu-ray. I had been holding off because there are two different versions in Europe with different transfers/extras. I just have the trusty Laserdisc.
I’ve always loved Sydney Pollack in interviews, lectures and general thought process but usually never liked most of his later films all that much. They’re good and all but just not quite my thing usually. Condor is right up there at the top for me but my favorite is THE YAKUZA which I think is his masterpiece.