3 Days of Condor Blu-ray Review

Long before he was “The Natural”, or the antagonist in Indecent Proposal, Robert Redford was CIA researcher Joe Turner, code name Condor, in Sydney Pollack’s 1975 critically-acclaimed movie 3 Days of Condor. Thanks to Paramount Pictures Home Entertainment, you can now enjoy the Blu-ray release of the move as of May 19th.

When his entire office is massacred, Joe goes on the run from his enemies, without really knowing who they are, and who is on his side. He reports the murders to his superiors. His organization wants to bring him in, but others are trying to take him out. On the run, Joe runs into and abducts photographer Kathy Hale (an amazingly young looking Faye Dunaway), whom he eventually seduces into helping him.

Throughout the movie, the intelligent, and well-read researcher must stay one step ahead of the people trying to kill him, while also trying to uncover the secrets behind the murders. Ultimately, he learns that his battle has bigger consequences than just living to see tomorrow. There are global implications involved.

It is really great to see a young Redford movie enhanced with Blu-ray technology. You can certainly see how his acting progressed over the years. He gives a very solid performance in 3 Days of Condor, and you can see the beginnings of the suave, semi-arrogant persona he develops in later characters that make him a favorite. Though a bit dated, and a bit hard to follow from a plot perspective, this film is suspenseful, captivating, and entertaining.

• Actors: Robert Redford, Faye Dunaway, Cliff Robertson, Max von Sydow, John Houseman
• Director: Sydney Pollack
• Writers: David Rayfiel, James Grady, Lorenzo Semple Jr.
• Producers: Dino De Laurentiis, Stanley Schneider
• Format: AC-3, Color, Dolby, Dubbed, Subtitled, Widescreen
• Language: English
• Subtitles: English, French, Spanish
• Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Rating: R (Restricted)
• Studio: Paramount
• Blu-ray Release Date: May 19, 2009
• Run Time: 117 minutes

Blu-ray Review by Neil of Movie Room Reviews