The Connection

Name: The Connection
Genre: Action, Thriller, Crime
Released: May 15, 2015
Duration: 135 min
Rating: 67

2015

METASCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 18 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 10 Ratings

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6.9

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6.9	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 10 Ratings

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Movie Details & Credits

Drafthouse Films | Release Date: May 15, 2015 | Not Rated

Summary: Real-life Marseilles magistrate Pierre Michel (Jean Dujardin) goes on a relentless crusade to dismantle the most notorious drug smuggling operation in history: the French Connection. In his crosshairs is charismatic and wealthy kingpin, Gatean "Tany" Zampa (Gilles Lellouche), who runs the largest underground heroin trade into the States.Real-life Marseilles magistrate Pierre Michel (Jean Dujardin) goes on a relentless crusade to dismantle the most notorious drug smuggling operation in history: the French Connection. In his crosshairs is charismatic and wealthy kingpin, Gatean "Tany" Zampa (Gilles Lellouche), who runs the largest underground heroin trade into the States. Though the fearless and tenacious Michel, aided by a task force of elite cops, will stop at nothing—including boldly orchestrated drug raids, devastating arrests, and exacting interrogations—to ensure the crime ring's demise, Zampa's "La French" always seems one step ahead. As La French mounts its retaliation, Michel will be forced to make the most difficult decision of his life: to continue waging his war, or ensure his family's safety, before it's too late.… Expand

Director: Cédric Jimenez

Genre(s): Action, Thriller, Crime

Rating: Not Rated

Runtime: 135 min

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Metascore

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Critic Reviews

100

Mick LaSalle

Jun 4, 2015

Riveting from its first moments. Read full review

Marc Mohan

Jun 12, 2015

Despite familiar elements, including the classic family-versus-work conflict faced by almost every movie cop in history and the equally hoary discovery of corruption among Michel's colleagues, The Connection remains tense and believable. Read full review

Peter Rainer

May 22, 2015

From scene to scene The Connection is never less than watchable, although it is also never less than predictable. Read full review

Josh Kupecki

May 27, 2015

A two-hour-plus cat-and-mouse game between the two heavyweight actors unfolds, and is enthusiastically filmed against a to-die-for soundtrack, detailing the exhaustive efforts on both sides to take the other down. Read full review

Dan Jolin

May 26, 2015

For all the charisma of its hero and villain, it falls down on its failure to resist cliché. Read full review

Robert Abele

May 14, 2015

Despite the pedestrian screenplay (by Jimenez and Audrey Diwan), Dujardin and Lellouche are magnetic performers who slip easily into their antagonistic roles. Read full review

Alan Scherstuhl

May 12, 2015

It's a fleet, engrossing, familiar drama, a movie that's forever moving. Read full review

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User Reviews

Davidnb

May 22, 2015

These reviews are nonsense, it was fun, thrilling, completely engrossing, and Jean Dujardin is a full fleged movie star. On this one, the critics are dead wrong. I highly recommend it.

1 of 2 users found this helpful11

Broyax

Oct 1, 2017

Rarement à notre époque, très rarement même, un film français émerge du tas d'ordures habituel, un film ambitieux avec des moyens, une distribution un minimum soignée et une vraie histoire à raconter.

C'est l'histoire du juge Pierre Michel, l'intrépide juge au four et au moulin, dans lesRarement à notre époque, très rarement même, un film français émerge du tas d'ordures habituel, un film ambitieux avec des moyens, une distribution un minimum soignée et une vraie histoire à raconter.

C'est l'histoire du juge Pierre Michel, l'intrépide juge au four et au moulin, dans les bureaux et sur le terrain, dans sa vie familiale également, pourfendeur de la French Connection et de ses truands et autres salauds, un homme hors du commun, un chevalier des temps modernes en somme.

Evidemment romancé, le film bien écrit trace un portrait très attachant d'un véritable héros, de sa volonté et de sa détermination dans la lutte contre le crime. Et à cet égard, on ne s'attendait pas à une telle prestation, une telle démonstration de notre Dujardin national, très doué pour la comédie mais ici étonnamment juste et sobre, subtil et précis, dévoué entièrement à son personnage. Il porte le film très haut, bien aidé par un scénario solide.

En face, Lellouche est nettement en demi-teinte, ce qui prive La French de toute tentative d'approcher la référence en matière de face-à-face épique au jeu des gendarmes et des voleurs, à savoir le très grand Heat, la fresque tonitruante bien connue et reconnue. Néanmoins, le film français reste de haute volée par son rythme soutenu, son intensité générale et son écriture brillante.

On regrettera l'utilisation de caméras à l'épaule (réalisation à l'américaine) ici et là dans l'action, une utilisation fort malvenue, car la caméra à l'épaule, c'est le mal. Quelques détails peuvent faire tiquer également, quelques autres maladresses de réalisation mais l'ensemble est diablement efficace -et émouvant- et servi par une belle musique.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

foxgrove

Jun 10, 2015

This below average crime drama sets out to pay homage to the French Connection films of the 70’s, but never comes close to eliciting the thrills and spills of either film. This one, also set in 1975 like French Connection Number 2, starts with a confusing screenplay which is cliché ridden,This below average crime drama sets out to pay homage to the French Connection films of the 70’s, but never comes close to eliciting the thrills and spills of either film. This one, also set in 1975 like French Connection Number 2, starts with a confusing screenplay which is cliché ridden, lacking in tension, excitement and pathos. One watches with a detached apathy as the movie just lies there and dies there. Characters and performances add nothing except further confusion. Ultimately, one is left bored and bewildered as frantic camera movement, frenetic editing and an awful pop soundtrack ensure that the film embalms itself in bland mediocrity.… Expand

0 of 2 users found this helpful02

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