This is a fairly absurd hypothetical, but let’s imagine that somehow the raw, abrasive verite cop genre (Serpico, Report to the Commissioner, Busting, Prince of the City) never manifested in force during in the ’70s and ’80s, and that The French Connection was an explosive new film in 2023. Same style, same story, younger cast. Would it have a chance of winning the Best Picture Oscar, or would it be dismissed as impossibly racist and coarse and insensitive, etc.?
I know it’s a ridiculous supposition but kick it around anyway.
Note to 87 year-old director William Friedkin: I’ve scolded others about this before, but if you’re an over-70 celebrity interview subject you should never wear gray comfort sneakers or any kind of footwear that says “worn by an old guy because his feet would hurt otherwise.” Even if it hurts you should always wear uptown, expensive-looking, Italian-crafted leather footwear. And you should never wear baggy pants or dad jeans or anything in that realm — stick to fairly tight slacks, the kind that Thierry Fremaux always wears.
Two other things: Friedkin would also look a bit younger if he would wear his usual tinted distance glasses. And he should use a little hair thickener (Crew).
