To me this was the hardest decade to do, I feel the 70’s was the most outstanding decade when it came to quality movies.
Woodstock- Thank god someone decided to make a film about one of the seminal events of the century. This documentary takes you inside the event without any pretense or political commentary. Few documentaries can do that, especially about a politically motivated event and that is what makes it so brilliant.
MASH- Director Robert Altman’s irreverent look at war. Set during the Korean War, but made during the wildly unpopular Vietnam War this look at Army surgeons and how they used humor in order to deal with the war around them. A strong cast (Elliot Gould, Tom Skerritt, Sally Kellerman, Donald Sutherland and Robert Duvall) help make this movie entertaining and it spawned the most award winning sitcom of all time which cant be understated.
The Godfather I & II- Widely regarded as the best movie(s) ever made, Francis Fords Coppola’s look at mob boss and his family. Once again the cast helps make this movie what it was, Marlon Brando in his virtuoso performance as Don Vito Corleone. The second Godfather is easily the greatest sequel in movie history. Only Robert DeNiro could pull off the young Vito Corleone and match the performance of Brando.
Dog Day Afternoon- During this decade of gritty dramatic films set in big cities, based on a true story Sidney Lumet’s tale of a bank robbery gone wrong is a masterpiece. I still think to this day it is Al Pacino’s best performance as the confused bi-sexual bank robber who needs money for his boyfriends sex change operation. John Cazale lends heart and warmth to the movie as Pacino’s inept partner.
Rocky- The true underdog story, and while this concept has been explored in many movies, especially sports movies none did so as well as Rocky. Written by Stallone himself after witnessing the Chuck Wepner/Muhammed Ali fight and directed by John G. Alvidsen the movie brings you into the world of a down on his luck boxer turned small time thug. His million to one shot becomes a chance for him to prove himself, that chance the resonates in all of us.
Star Wars- As for the story and some of the acting this movie doesn’t really stand up, especially compared to Empire, but for what it did for film making it has to be on any list. George Lucas completely remade cinema with the amount of work and detail he spent on set design, sound, special effects and merchandising; the last of which he was a complete visionary in when he negotiated to have the sole merchandising rights for the movie.
Halloween- One of the great original slasher films. It has everything: a diabolical madman, a scream queen, little kids being spooked and a maniac chasing the killer. Halloween still to this day scares the pants off of me and many others. The eerie music and that slow methodical pace that Michael Myers walks with make the movie so creepy.
Jaws- Mistakenly this turned into one of the scariest movies ever made. Many people still get spooked about swimming in the ocean because of this movie. Steven Spielberg had to use all his cinematic tricks to make you a believe a man eating shark was there, even though the mechanical shark on set barely worked. The trick of not showing the shark but using the music to represent him was brilliant. Combine that with a legendary performance from the great Robert Shaw and you have the invention of the summer blockbuster, a staple in the movie industry now.
Animal House- The classic comedy. One of the original movies from the people of National Lampoon it still stand today as the start of the gonzo typr comedies. The biggest comedic star of the decade along with a cast and crew that would all go on to become highly successful in television and movies including guys like Kevin Baco, Tim Matheson, Bruce McGill and John Landis.
One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest- In my opinion Jack Nicholson’s best performance, and that is saying something. I think this film really epitomizes the entire decade and the real gritty film making and story telling that made this the best decade for movies. The interaction between all the inmates and the Nicholson and Nurse Ratchet’s tension make this one of my favorite movies to watch over and over.
Other Considerations- Midnight Express, The Buddy Holly Story, Saturday Night Fever, Blazing Saddles, Young Frankenstien, Murder on the Orient Express, Save the Tiger, The Sting, Deliverance, Apocoplypse Now, Breaking Away, The Deer Hunter, Annie Hall, All the Presidents Men, The Outlaw Josey Wales, Taxi Driver, Nashville, Mean Streets, Chinatown, The Exorcist, American Graffiti, Last Tango in Paris, The French Connection, The Last picture Show, Five Easy Pieces, Dirty Harry, High Plains Drifter, Patton.
Wow, what a fucking decade
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