The Conversation

When struggling director Francis Ford Coppola hit it big with the success of The Godfather, he had the clout to make pretty much whatever he wanted for his next project. The result was not another mafia potboiler, but 1974’s unlikely The Conversation. It follows the story of Harry Caul (Gene Hackman, in one of his best performances) as a meek surveillance expert who, hired to follow an unfaithful wife and tape her conversations, is drawn into a larger, more sinister murder plot.

Not a success upon its release, the film has since gained great cinematic cachet, and is usually put up with The Parallax View and Three Days of the Condor as fine examples of early ‘70s conspiracy/-paranoia-based thrillers. Of course, given what has happened in the real world since then with the development of micro-cameras and various changes in the law that allow increased government wiretapping…maybe Harry wasn’t so paranoid after all. 8:30 p.m. Domy, 1709 Westheimer. For information, call 713-523-3669 or visit www.domystore.com. Free.
Wed., Sept. 3, 8:30 p.m., 2008