This happens to be a great film, yet also an action film, yet also with a deep, dark message. How? In the modern age, it’s sad that all of those are basically exclusive from one another. But, back in the early seventies, The French Connection was just about ready to revolutionise cinema...
This episode is also available as a blog post: https://overtheshoulder129848657.wordpress.com/2021/05/23/the-awesome-bleakness-of-the-french-connection/