The Parallax View

Starring:Warren Beatty, Hume Cronyn, William Daniels, Kenneth Mars, Walter McGinn, Kelly Thordsen, Jim Davis, Bill McKinney, William Jordan, Edward Winter, Earl Hindman, Bill Joyce, Stacy Keach Sr., Ford Rainey, Jo Ann Harris, Doria Cook-Nelson, Bettie Johnson, Chuck Waters, Alma Beltran, Richard Bull
Director: Alan J. Pakula
Studio: Paramount
Product Type: DVD

Amazon.com essential video

Directed by Alan J. Pakula (All the President's Men, Sophie's Choice), this is an excellent, paranoid thriller and a benchmark for films of this type from the 1970s. Warren Beatty (Bonnie and Clyde) plays Joseph Frady, an arrogant investigative reporter who witnesses the assassination of a United States senator and then discovers that other reporters who were on the scene are dying under mysterious circumstances. With the help of his editor (Hume Cronyn), Frady goes underground to infiltrate the Parallax Corporation, which uses mind control to train assassins. And Frady might be the next one in line to take a fall. Featuring a classic brainwashing sequence and laced with intensity from start to finish, The Parallax View is essential viewing for fans of the political thriller genre. --Robert Lane

Customer Reviews:

This review has been censored for your safety.......2007-05-10

I recall walking from the theater when this film was first released, determining that I would actively seek out every subsequent film the director Alan Pakula would make. From the understated fear generated from atop the Seattle Space Needle in the opening to the beautifully evocative shot of the investigatory panel (which still looks eerily like a burnished coffin to me before the camera dollies in slowly--the heads of the panel members morphing from ornamental coffin handles to authoritative stone-wallers), the show is a visual treat. Watch the propagandizing "recruitment" film at the film's centerpiece, and try not to think of Kubrick's "A Clockwork Orange" psychic realignment scene. Personally, I'm not a big Warren Beatty fan, but unquestionably I enjoyed his turn in this film as the man driven to uncover Truth, whatever the cost. Try this film backed up against Copolla's "The Conversation" for a great paranoid double-hitter. Then close out your evening with "Marathon Man" and you might start seeing secret signals in stop signs.

Deep and psychological.......2007-01-06

I liked this film and re-watch it from time to time; however, it's like watching two short films put together. The first half, for me, is definitely a best. I think that is due to the great cinematography in that segment moreso than any attribution to the storyline. I will just say that if you are into psychological thrillers, this is probably a big film for you. For me, it's a little too much suspense but I do tend to gravitate to older films with a more straightforward story. The big objective here is some dark company's (CIA???) effort to recruit and train trouble-making losers into political assasins. This film is well-done and you can count on the superbly superior cast to support the story, making a "slightly goofy" story idea just a little more plausible.

Looks great.......2006-10-24

Other reviewers have noted the excellent cinematography of this movie. Many of the shots are static and artistic - not so static as Lynch or Kubrick, but static enough to allow action to occur within the frame. It's also amazing to witness the depth of field, where characters enter or exit a scene by walking toward or away from the camera. Perhaps this is meant on some level to evoke the titular "parallax." Regardless, it's impressive.

It's a 70s movie, so there are action scenes. One jawdropping scene involves a fight on top of the Space Needle, which looks like it was actually shot on top of the Space Needle and not in front of a backdrop. I am still wondering how they did that. Of course, you take the good with the bad, where the bad includes a 70s style car chase complete with the obligatory hillbilly music to start it off.

Beatty turns in a fine performance, and the script delivers some surprises. All in all, a decent movie with some amazing cinematography that shows well on DVD. So why just three stars? It's not a spoiler to say that the ending leaves you wanting some additional explanation. Perhaps I'm just dense when it comes to this kind of film, though.

At a minimum, it's worth a rent, particularly if you liked "Three Days of the Condor."

Conspiracy theorists ahoy.......2006-08-09

If you like films which are about this then this is a winner.
If you like films from this era then buy it.

I would have liked some extras

Good film and a good price

The Not So Lone Gunman is Revealed.......2006-05-21

After the Warren Commission report came out, Hollywood decided to make films on their theory of the Kennedy assassination. This is disguised version of that. Joe Brady (Warren Beatty) is a second rate reporter for a third rate Seattle newspaper. A prominent Senator is making his bid for President at the Seattle Spaceneedle but is murdered by a pair of gunmen. One by one everyone at the event dies. The deaths are reasonable but the coincidence is not. When a friend of Joe's comes up dead, Joe decides to look into her conspiracy theory.

Joe goes to a remote fishing village where a Judge drowned. It was obvious that there was something more to the drowning than meets the eye. When the Sheriff tries to kill Joe, it becomes evident that he killed the judge. Joe goes to the sheriff's home and discovers documents lead him to the Parallax Corporation.

Next Joe goes to find one of the few living witnesses to the assassination, Austin Tucker (William Daniels). Austin takes Joe out on his yacht. During the trip a bomb explodes and kills all on board. Well that's what everyone thinks. Joe was blown off the boat and survived.

Joe now focuses on the Parallax Corp. He figures out that they are recruiting assassins and tries to get recruited by them. While out at their offices he sees a familiar face and follows him to the airport. The only thing is that the man does not get on the plane but another political candidate is on the plane. Joe realizes that the man planted a bomb on the plane.

Upon Joe's return, he is given his first Parallax mission. Joe sabotages his mission and goes back to the Parallax Corp where he sees the man again and follows him to the convention center. Another political figure is holding a rehearsal for his fundraiser. Joe sees a rifle. He realizes that another assassination is going to happen but it is too late.

This is an interesting film but fairly unrealistic. The interesting thing about the film is how to interpret what happens with Joe. Is he a good reporter or was he set up from the beginning? This and other questions are deliberately not answered.

This is the first of Alan J Pakula's political films that include Three Days of the Condor and the Oscar winning All the President's Men. The cast is top rate mostly up and coming or established character actors. Hume Cronyn gives a great performance as Joe's editor.

This is a good watch and would recommend either of Pakula's other two films mentioned to make it a double feature or another film that looks at the Kennedy assassination, Executive Action.

DVD EXTRAS: None

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