The French Connection will take you by surprise if you're expecting a police caper on the order of Dirty Harry or Bullitt. The focus of the film isn't on getting the badguys but on the obsessive downward spiral of Gene Hackman's character as he chases them down. Hackman's performance is brilliant, both subtle and outrageous at the same time. Director William Friedkin keeps things taut and gritty, simultaneously providing action thrills (including one of the most famous car chases in the movies) and discomfort about the inevitable consequences of violence.