The Parallax View

“Parallax View, one of the three Pakula masterpieces from the ’70s. One of my favorite conspiracy thrillers. This has one of the best sequences ever, which is the brainwashing, subliminal-messaging video. Just incredible editing, and funny and scary, and a great ending.”

“Okay, one of my all-time favorite directors, Alan J. Pakula, The Parallax View. This film was made in 1974, the year I was born. Alan J. Pakula had three incredible films in a row: Klute, this, and one of my top ten of all time, All the President’s Men. All shot with Gordon Willis. And just incredible compositions, incredible lighting. I have no notes. This is a great paranoid thriller and one of my favorites.”

“This is a really great film, Parallax View. This has some amazing Pacific Northwest locales with Warren Beatty and political intrigue and assassination. Definitely great film.”

“My hands are shaking because I think that spirit of anxiety passes along. You're holding up The Parallax View. I got the title in that time. It's the Pakula film that to me feels the least studied. You sort of feel a kind of control of the camera in a lot of his films and this one feels like he's really trying to bring the filmmaking of someone like Fred Wiseman or D. A. Pennebaker. You want us to feel the anxiety in each frame.”