In the Nineteen Sixties, American cinema started a creative renaissance often known as the American New Wave, the place filmmakers outlined their work reasonably than the studios. Not solely did the motion proceed by means of the Seventies, it realized its full potential, with the last decade outlined by a brand new technology of writers and administrators. These artists realized their craft exterior the ‘established’ studio system, which had been in decline for years and noticed modifications in management. The grittier movies of the early Seventies mirrored the cynicism of the time, however the rise of blockbusters on the finish of the last decade signaled one other seismic shift in movie as America took to the flicks like by no means earlier than.
Leonard Maltin has written about movie for over 50 years and is greatest identified for his many books on the topic and for the three a long time he spent as a movie critic for Entertainment tonight. As a critic, movie historian, and professor on the University of Southern California Film School, Maltin’s view of movie carries extra weight than most.
His picks for the very best movies of the Seventies, as listed in Maltin’s Movie and Video Guide, replicate the impression of the youthful technology of administrators within the American New Wave, as most of his picks embrace movies by Coppola, Scorsese, Lucas, and Spielberg . .
What follows are Maltin’s picks for the very best films of the Seventies, listed alphabetically and weighed towards their Rotten Tomatoes scores.
Annie Hal (1977)
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 97%
Annie Hall is not fairly as well-liked because the film it beat out for Best Picture (an area opera by a sure George Lucas), however Woody Allen’s romantic comedy-drama isn’t any much less a traditional. Allen is on excessive neurotic mode as Alvy, a slapstick comedian lamenting his breakup with Annie (Diane Keaton), a singer/photographer who responds to his gloomy outlook with effervescent pleasure.
Sure, their relationship is doomed, and but it is extra enjoyable watching Allen analyze the breakup whereas talking on to the digital camera than blowing up a Death Star. Keaton received a well-deserved Oscar for Best Actress and Allen received Best Director and Best Original Screenplay.
Apocalypse Now (1979)
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 98%
So way more than a film in regards to the Vietnam War, Francis Ford Coppola’s Apocalypse now follows Captain Willard (Martin Sheen), who is shipped on a covert mission to Cambodia to “relieve” rogue Army Colonel Walter Kurtz (Marlon Brando) of command, as he has reportedly gone mad. During Willard’s journey upriver to seek out Kurtz, he crosses paths with a napalm-loving lieutenant colonel (Robert Duvall) and questions his orders, whereas descending into insanity himself.
The movie’s notoriously troubled manufacturing included Sheen having a coronary heart assault, Coppola having a breakdown, a tough Brando, and a capturing schedule that stretched from six weeks to 16 months. Regardless, the movie earned eight Academy Award nominations, together with Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Supporting Actor (Duvall). It received for Best Cinematography (Vittorio Storaro) and Best Sound. There are literally three variations of it Apocalypse now: the theatrical model (153 minutes lengthy), the 2001 redux model (which lasts 197 minutes), and the 2019 Last lower, a mixture of the primary two that lasts 183 minutes. Take your choose - they’re all unbelievable.
Burning Saddles (1974)
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 89%
To get pleasure from Flaming Saddles While you possibly can. Mel Brooks’ spoof of American Westerns is consistently criticized by some for its politically incorrect humor, who name it racially insensitive. However, these critics missed the purpose of the irreverent humor as a critique of the absurdity of hate, and even Whoopi Goldberg has defended the movie towards accusations of racism.
Controversy or not, the film is a worthy traditional, due to the hilarious double barrel chemistry of Cleavon Little and Gene Wilder. It was nominated for 3 Oscars, together with Best Supporting Actress for Madeline Kahn, however received none.
The Conversation (1974)
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 97%
Director Francis Ford Coppola (understandably) has no fewer than 4 movies on Maltin’s listing The dialog essentially the most understated of the group. As a surveillance knowledgeable whose curiosity entangles him in a homicide plot, Gene Hackman offers maybe his greatest efficiency but in a movie that was nominated for 3 Oscars, together with Best Picture and Best Original Screenplay. It’s superb to assume that Coppola made such a slow-boiling paranoia film between the primary two Godfather films.
The Deer Hunter (1978)
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 86%
The winner of 5 Academy Awards, together with Best Picture and Best Director, The deer hunter follows three buddies, all steelworkers from Pennsylvania, who serve within the Vietnam War. The emotionally draining movie is led by highly effective performances from Robert De Niro, Christopher Walken and Meryl Streep, every of whom was nominated for Oscars, however solely Walken received, for Best Supporting Actor.
Director Michael Cimino’s triumph on the Oscars was short-lived, as his subsequent movie, Heaven’s gatewas one of many greatest flops in film historical past and his profession by no means recovered.
The Godfather (1972)
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 97%
Francis Ford Coppola’s adaptation of Mario Puzo’s bestseller, The godfather, has misplaced none of its luster greater than 5 a long time after its launch. The epic story of the Corleone Mafia household is ideal in virtually each side, together with the forged efficiency, although solely Marlon Brando took house an Academy Award (for Best Actor).
James Caan, Robert Duvall and Al Pacino have been all nominated for Best Supporting Actor for the movie, however Joel Gray inexplicably received for Cabaret, with the trio seemingly splitting the vote. The Paramount+ collection The provide is a should look ahead to Godfather followers, because the backstory of the making of the movie is simply as attention-grabbing (although clearly not as suave) because the movie itself.
The Godfather, Part II (1974)
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 96%
The godfather, half II continues the story of Michael Corleone’s rise to the pinnacle of his household’s legal empire, whereas telling the backstory of Vito Corleone (Robert De Niro) and his early days in America. The movie excels regardless of the absence of Marlon Brando, with Robert De Niro’s riveting efficiency being matched by Pacino’s Michael, whose descent into darkness is full by the movie’s finish.
Undoubtedly a greater movie than its predecessor, The godfather half II received six Academy Awards, together with Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Supporting Actor (De Niro), although Pacino’s stellar efficiency was as soon as once more rejected for Best Actor this time.
Jaws (1975)
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 97%
Jaws Not solely did Steven put Spielberg on the A-list of Hollywood administrators, it ushered within the period of the trendy blockbuster. The trio of Roy Scheider, Richard Dreyfuss and Robert Shaw is pure magic collectively, and the movie’s legendary manufacturing issues labored to its benefit. Jaws is the final word less-is-more film, although Spielberg’s genius at constructing the suspense with out truly exhibiting the shark is obvious. John Williams’ iconic rating received one of many movie’s three Oscars. Do your self a favor and keep away from the sequels.
Mean Streets (1973)
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Rotten Tomatoes Score: 96%
The least celebrated movie of director Martin Scorsese’s early profession is arguably considered one of his greatest. Mean streets lacks the polish of his later movies, however the fashion and dramatic urgency that characterizes his movies is definitely there. Harvey Keitel performs Charlie, a low hood in New York City’s Little Italy whose private life undercuts his work.
His uncle disapproves of his girlfriend, and his inept pal Johnny (Robert De Niro), a fellow mobster, incurs the wrath of their boss together with his reckless, virtually psychotic conduct. De Niro’s efficiency particularly is brilliantly irritating, and it’s totally completely different from the no-nonsense gangster roles that might comply with.
Nashville (1975)
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 91%
The lives of no fewer than two dozen characters intersect throughout a political rally in Robert Altman’s documentary-style have a look at Central America. Nashville. The metropolis’s provincial music scene gives the framework through which all of those people are introduced, and there’s some caustic social commentary in regards to the music business and Southern tradition.
Altman’s fashion could have been an acquired style for a lot of, however his genius was plain. The movie scored 5 Oscar nominations, together with Best Picture and two Best Supporting Actress nominations (Lily Tomlin and Ronee Blakley), however walked away with a single win, as Keith Carradine took house Best Original Song.
Star Wars (1977)
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 93%
The king of blockbusters has not suffered in recent times from Disney watering down the model. If something, the appreciation for it Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope has solely grown over time. George Lucas’ tribute to Flash Gordon house operas nonetheless maintain their very own as an ideal mixture of particular results, snappy dialogue and lean pacing.
The forged, particularly a feisty Carrie Fisher, a smug Harrison Ford and the statuesque Alec Guinness, are good. Alan Ladd Jr., president of twentieth Century Fox, took an enormous threat with a younger Lucas to ship a sci-fi film that would flip a revenue, and the remainder was film historical past. The movie went on to win the Oscars for Best Picture, Best Director and Best Supporting Actor (Alec Guinness), however received six in different classes, together with Best Score for John Williams. A seventh, Special Achievement Oscar was awarded to Ben Burtt for his groundbreaking sound results.
