• It’s the middle film in the paranoia trilogy Pakula did from 1971-1976— all 3 films (klute, all the president’s men) are superb
  • Rightly so- this films comes up often when critics talk about the best political or paranoia films of all-time
  • After the breathtaking prologue- the forward dolly “warren commission”-like statement shot and finishing free-frame is wonderful
  • The eerie score certainly adds to the atmosphere
  • There’s a long brainwashing video sequence that certainly made me think of a clockwork orange
  • There is just one wonderful set piece after another ( space needle, gorge damn, the yacht, the parallax corporation building (the architecture here looks like it’s from Tati’s playtime))
  • Long silent chase sequence, followed by a Manchurian candidate and JFK inspired finale amongst yet another beautiful set piece… it’s a stunning ending with the long shot of the tables at the convention
  • Reverse-dolly warren commission finale shot is a wonderful bookend to the opening and a massive middle finger to the establishment
  • One of warren beatty’s best films as an actor in the lead
  • A masterpiece