In The Parallax View, it is Independence Day in the US and Senator Charles Carroll is visiting the Seattle Space Needle as part of a press junket. However, in the midst of his speech, the Senator is assassinated in front of a room full of reporters.
Six months after the incident, an official investigation into the Senator’s death reaches its conclusion. The findings of the investigation suggest the death was carried out by a lone perpetrator, and any reports of a larger conspiracy are completely false.
Three years later, TV journalist Lee Carter approaches her ex-boyfriend, newspaper reporter Joe Frady, feeling stressed and extremely worried. Lee witnessed the assassination of Senator Carter, believes his death was not as clear cut as the investigation suggested, and is now concerned about her own safety.
Joe dismisses Lee’s concerns, but when she suddenly dies of a suspected drug overdose he starts to wonder if she was onto something. Is her death, as well as the death of multiple reporters, connected to the Senator’s abrupt demise and could he be next?
Based on the novel of the same name by Loren Singer, and released in 1974, The Parallax View is a tense political thriller. The movie – directed by Alan J. Pakula – stars Warren Beatty, Paula Prentiss, Hume Cronyn, and William Daniels, and this year celebrates its 50th anniversary.
If you’ve never watched The Parallax View before, but you’re a fan of political thrillers and/or conspiracy movies, then slap your eyeballs around this one. Warren Beatty’s performance alone is worth your time, but the movie’s story about assassinations and corrupt officials is filled with enough suspense and paranoia to keep things moving along nicely, and you’ll find it all rather compelling.
As with most political thrillers, The Parallax View is narrative driven rather than action-oriented, however there are some scenes of spectacle for those who want a touch of visual dynamism. The death of Senator Carroll during the opening sequence is handled very well, while the climax, which revolves around another assassination, is brilliantly staged and somewhat shocking.
And speaking of the climax to The Parallax View, the final ten minutes are superb. No spoilers here, but suffice to say the movie wraps up with an impactful ending, which finds a way to dovetail to a key moment from earlier in the film.
Originally released around the time of the Watergate Scandal, and just two months before US President Nixon resigned from office, The Parallax View was the right movie for the right time period. Its themes relating to conspiracies and distrust tapped into the public mood back in 1974, making it very much a film of its era.
However, all these years on it continues to deliver and the end result is an engaging picture which manages to push beyond its ‘70s trappings and still work today. Conspiracy theories are very much a hot topic, as is politics, and this means The Parallax View can still find an audience 50 years after its debut.
Should you wish to check out The Parallax View, the movie is currently available on digital download and DVD.
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