Can anybody help me figure out what movie this is by these clues?

I've posted about this before but with less clues. Rather than update my old post I just made a new one.

The deal is, Odeon Cinemas (cinema branch in the UK) offer tickets to advance screenings of films once every month or so (the next being 1st December). The catch is you DON'T know what the movie is gonna be.

On their social media they offer clues to what the movie is. So far there have been 2 clues: 1. Look hard enough and you might find a connection to Gene Hackman's finest work.

2. What was garlanded in the shortest form is tipped for glory when fully grown?

3. Cats strain to snare greatness

4. A long way to go for a story

From the first clue my guess is that it has something to do with The French Connection. It's considered Gene Hackman's finest work and they actually use the word "connection" in the clue. I could be wrong however.

"Cats strain to snare greatness" gives me 2 ideas. The first is Birdman as cats try to snare (trap) birds. The second is Whiplash as they use the would "Snare" (as in snare drum). Also, with the French Connection clue, they say "listen" for a connection. So it might have something to do with music.

As the film is on December 1st, it will probably be a film that has a December release date.

Anybody got any ideas guys?

http://ift.tt/1wBe7Jf