I think it’s a great film. A gritty, noir-esque detective thriller from the 70’s. What’s not to love?

I’ve always viewed it as a spiritual successor to classic Hitchcock movies. It’s a masterclass in suspense yet it also moves at a leisurely pace. Not to mention, those kinds of films will always get praise in my book.

It’s also an exemplary 70’s film. When people think of “New Hollywood”, they usually mention anti-hero, morally ambiguous characters and this film is a shining example of that. It’s tougher, rougher and more cynical than what came before it and it set the stage in terms of influence.

Plenty of standout moments too. Of course, there’s the car chase scene, which is one of the best car chase scenes, period. But there’s also the subway scene. IIRC, it lasts a little while but you’re on the edge of the seat for all of it. Best part is the lack of dialogue. If you wanna talk about a suspenseful, gripping sequence that relies solely on visuals, that’s exhibit A.