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French Connection IIDirecting the sequel to a film that picked up five Oscars was a tough assignment, but Frankenheimer gave it his best shot, and although he didn't pick up an Academy Award like his predecessor Friedkin, parts of this are better than the original. Hackman is back in the role of New York Cop Doyle, here set in Marseilles and still on the trail of French drugs baron Rey. Because of his lack of knowledge of all things French (or "Frog" as he likes to put it) he manages to get his informers killed. He gets his come-uppance when he's force fed heroin and has to go cold turkey before hunting the bad guys again. There's one excellent chase scene and some nice touches looking at US xenophobia, but the drugs bit in the middle slows the rest of the movie down (in spite of Hackman's excellent portrayal of the pains of withdrawl) and Frankenheimer has to sweat to get the pace picked up.
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