I am going to do be doing a top ten movie countdown of the last three decades. The 70s was the easiest for me to do because I havent seen that many movies from the 70s and all of these are really good movies.
Honorable Mention- Jaws (75') Alien (79'): Two movies that just barely missed my list but I believe started a genre for scary movies. A suspenseful scary movie that has some sort of beast was done before these two movies but not nearly as well. They are two of the most recognizable movies of all time.
#10 Taxi Driver(76') This movie often gets put in the best movie of all time list and I just dont see it. However Robert De Niro performance alone puts it as one of my top films in this decade. People just dont understand how good of an actor this guy is.
#9 Monty Python and the Holy Grail (75') A teacher I had in 6th grade first showed me this film and I thought it was kind of funny. I watched it again when I was in college and absolutely loved it. I am not a huge fan of other Monty Python movies but this along with Blazing Saddles made satire movies an actual movie genre.
#8 Little Big Man(70') I know a lot of younger people that may read this will think Dustin Hoffman and think Rain Man well i believe his best performance came well before that in this movie. I absolutely love him in this movie. Although not uttered by him "Today is a good day to die," is one of my favorite quotes of all time.
#7 Rocky (76') I know I often joke about Rocky V being my favorite Rocky and it could be for a totally different reason this was a great inspirational story. How many movies about the underdog were made because of this movie. The answer too many but Stallone delivers a really good movie that just about everyone can enjoy.
#6 Deer Hunter(78') If you rent this movie DO NOT TURN IT OFF AFTER THE FIRST HOUR. Yes it starts off painfully slow but the well developed characters make this Vietnam movie one of the best. Walken and De Niro on screen together how could it be bad.
#5 The Godfather (72') A realistic look at what it meant to be the head of a family. Marlon Brando is amazing a Vito Corleone and we get our first look at a young Al Pacino. Even then he had a presence on film matched by few.
#4 Star Wars (77') Okay I am a big Nerd but the first time I saw this movie I was completely mesmerized. It is safe to say that Lucas is top 5 influential film makers of all-time and this film proves it. We can thank special effects as we know them today to this man.
#3 One Flew Over the Cuckoos Nest (75') A lot of people will say Jack Nicholson's best role is with out a doubt The Shining. I would completely disagree. I think this is one of the most underrated films ever and would is real close to my top 10 of all time. Nicholson and Devito are wonderful in this movie and there also is a wonderful villain. RENT THIS!!!
#2 Apocalypse Now (79') I didn't like this movie at all the first time I watched and I only sort of liked it the second time. What I am saying it took me a while to realize how wonderful this movie is. It is still hard for me to explain what I like so much about it. Brando and Sheen are wonderful and Duvall plays one of my favorite characters ever. "I love the smell of napalm in the morning. You know, one time we had a hill bombed, for 12 hours. When it was all over, I walked up. We didn't find one of 'em, not one stinkin' dink body. The smell, you know that gasoline smell, the whole hill. Smelled like... victory. "
#1 Godfather II (74') How do you make one of the best films ever better you add Robert De Niro. De Niro plays young Vito Corleone profiling his struggles as an Italian immigrant struggling to try and fit in American society. This part of the movie is shown as a flashback as Micheal Corleone, played by Al Pacino, is also having his own problems running the Corleone family. This movie is in my top 5 of all time and if you ha vent seen the trilogy yet, do yourself a huge favor and rent them. You will not be disappointed.
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2 comments:
Not a bad list for a kid who wasn't alive in the 70's. I won't argue with your list, but here's a few others that warrant a viewing and consideration:
A Clockwork Orange - There's nobody like Kubrick, you owe it to yourself.
French Connection - great performance by a young Gene Hackman and probably the first great car chase scene in movie history.
Deliverance - squeal like a pig!
Chinatown - Roman Polanski directing Jack Nicholson and Faye Dunaway. Great flick.
All the President's Men - Hoffman and Redford play Woodward and Bernstein, unraveling the crimes of Tricky Dick Nixon.
Kramer vs. Kramer - Great story about a divorce. Dustin Hoffman and Meryl Streep took both Oscars, and the actors playing their young son and neighbor / good friend both were nominated for supporting work. Robert Benton won Best Director for it as well. This may be my favorite movie of the 70's, and not just becuase your mom took me to it when I was 5 and it was the first time I saw boobies on screen.
Breaking Away - Probably on my top ten all time list. Some great performances, a great story, cycling and social stratification. Frat boys vs. townies and the townies win. God bless 'em. Was nominated in several areas, including best picture, but won where it really shined: best screenplay.
I am not a huge fan of Clockwork. I guess I just did not see the point in that movie. Deliverance just missed out but i do like that movie and some images of that will stick with me forever. French Connection and Chinatown have been mentioned by others and I must see these movies. I will look into the other ones as well.
Thanx
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