Surveillance expert Harry Caul is hired by a mysterious client's brusque aide to tail a young couple. Tracking the pair through San Francisco's Union Square, Caul and his associate Stan manage to record a cryptic conversation between them. Tormented by memories of a previous case that ended badly, Caul becomes obsessed with the resulting tape, trying to determine if the couple are in danger.
Nominated for 3 Oscars. 14 wins & 16 nominations total
Top Critics Reviews
fresh:
A bleak and devastatingly brilliant film.
– ,
Time Out,
9 Feb 2006
fresh:
A taut, intelligent thriller.
– Roger Ebert,
Chicago Sun-Times,
27 Feb 2001
fresh:
Haunting and bothersome.
– Nora Sayre,
New York Times,
21 May 2003
fresh:
Coppola manages to turn an expert thriller into a portrayal of the conflict between ritual and responsibility without ever letting the levels of tension subside or the complicated plot get muddled.
– Don Druker,
Chicago Reader,
12 Aug 2007
fresh:
A major artistic asset to the film -- besides script, direction and the top performances -- is supervising editor Walter Murch's sound collage and re-recording.