Capsule Film Review: The Connection (La French, 2014)

Life can imitate arts, which also includes films based on real events. One such example can be found in 2014 French film The Connection, which depicts organised crime in 1970s Marseille, including gangs that took their name from famous 1971 Hollywood film The French Connection, itself based on real life drug trafficking operation in Marseille. Protagonist of the film is Pierre Michel, investigative judge who tries to bring down all-powerful crime network led by Gaetano "Tany" Zampa (played by Gilles Lelouche) and plot deals with Michel's attempts often frustrated by Zampa's deep connection to local businesses, politicians and police force. Directed by Cédric Jimenez, The Connection suffers from poor pacing in the first part, as well as being torn between idea to make gritty realistic gangster film and 1970s nostalgia. Impression is vastly improved in the second part, which features more action and homage to Michael Mann’s Heat,

RATING: 6/10