Enter your search terms Web curledupdvd Submit search form	3 DAYS OF THE CONDOR Featuring: Robert Redford, Faye Dunaway, Cliff Robertson, Max von Sydow, John Houseman Director: Sydney Pollack Distributor: Paramount DVD release: 19 May 2009 Runtime: 117 min. (1 disc) Format: AC-3, Color, Dolby, Dubbed, Subtitled, Widescreen, Blu-ray DVD features: 1080p High Definition, Aspect ratio 2.35:1, Audio tracks (English - Dolby TrueHD 5.1 Surround; French Dolby Digital 1.0 Mono), Subtitles (English, Spanish, French), Theatrical trailer Though there are some dated elements in this 1975 thriller, 3 Days of the Condor's basic premise holds up remarkably well - almost too well, as it reflects much of the political mess the U.S. found itself in during most of this decade. Indeed, a prominent location in the film is sadly and eerily prescient of our times (more on this later). The plot: Robert Redford plays Joe Turner, aka Condor. Though he works for the CIA, he isn't a spy. His job instead is to read and interpret books for possible hidden codes. He believes he has stumbled onto something in a book so far translated into only Dutch and Arabic but has been informed by his superiors that it looks like a dead end. Through a simple twist of fate (it's his turn to get lunch for the office, and he takes a back door to avoid some of the rain), he escapes a massacre of his entire office. Condor reports the murders to his superiors, who seemingly want to take him in - but someone wants to take him out first. Not knowing who to trust, Condor finds himself on the run from both his enemies and his superiors. For the remainder of the film, Condor desperately tries to solve the puzzle as to why his office was hit before those who want him dead find him. Obviously some elements of the plot strain believability. In desperate need of escape, he abducts a beautiful woman (Faye Dunaway) at gunpoint and has her take him to her apartment. Within a few hours after the kidnapping, not only is she in bed with him but helping him search for the truth. Naturally, looking like a young Robert Redford is a great asset in getting women to help you, but still, this part is a bit of a stretch. This is still a very suspenseful, well-made political thriller that I'm surprised Hollywood hasn't remade yet (note: though rated R in 1975, it would easily be PG-13 today with only a few minor tweaks), perhaps with Matt Damon and Kate Beckinsale in the lead roles. The prescient point: without giving it away, a key aspect of the mystery involves political dealings with the Middle East - and the base headquarters for Condor's bosses is the World Trade Center. They could not have possibly known it at the time, but seeing the Towers featured prominently in a plot such as this one adds a sad, poignant and eerie tone to the entire movie. If they only had known. Blu-Ray extras: The disc is disappointing for a Blu-ray. The picture quality is very good for an old movie, but not great. More disappointing is the lack of features, as the trailer is the only extra that is included.
		reviewed by Trent Daniel
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