Warren Beatty plays an old-school investigative reporter in this conspiracy thriller that is as poignant today as it was in 1974.
Following the assignation of a political candidate, Joe Frady (Beatty) goes undercover to investigate the mysterious Parallax Corporation, which seems to be employing people with psychopathic tendencies.
Based on the novel by Loren Singer and directed by Alan J. Pakula, who would make the real-life conspiracy drama All the Presidents Men (about the Watergate scandal) a year later, The Parallax View is full of tension and reflects the mood of the world at the time. The Kennedy assignation was still fresh in the public’s mind and the Nixon scandal even fresher. The film is bookended with an enquiry statement that wouldn’t be out of place today too.
A major element of the movie stands out above all others: Gordon Willis’ cinematography. Each frame is used fantastically, adding to the anxiety of the situation. Particularly memorable is the scene in which Frady is searching a sheriff’s office on the left of the screen while the deputy enters stage right. It’s the kind of shot Alfred Hitchcock would compose. Geometry is key to the look of the film and it’s often spellbinding.
Imprint’s Blu-ray has the usual array of interesting extras. A pair of commentaries and insight from Kim Newman and Matthew Sweet are worth a watch as their passion for the film and the conspiracy genre is infectious.
