Bullitt

I’ve been sat around the house for a few days with a terrible cold. Fed up with the dross being offered up by the broadcasters, I thought I’d have another look at Bullitt.

It’s been a few years since I’ve seen it, and during that time it’s lost none of its sparkle. The cinematography captures the essence of the late sixties, yet is not so over stated so as to make the film a caricature. It still works as a piece of entertainment and as a launch pad for Mr Cool. When people talk about Bullitt they always talk about how cool Steve McQueen is in the film and how great the car chase is. Those things are spot on of course, but for me the best part is the musical score. For large parts of the film, including most of the car chase, there is no music. Music is used only sparingly, which makes its impact that much greater. In fact, the sound track was nominated for both a Bafta and an Oscar.

The film also proves that an actor doesn’t need to say much at all to create a big impression. McQueen was a master in that respect.

It’s well worth a look – even if you’re not a petrol head – as it’s much more than just a car chase!