1978's Oscar Nominees

that's the one Ashby I've never seen actually, it just doesn't sound appealing

I like Ashby a lot, but never really bothered with this for the same reason. Ditto Midnight Express. I may have seen bits of Heaven Can Wait on TV when I was a kid; I vaguely remember Warren Beatty jogging.

So, yeah, not surprised to hear this lot regarded as the weakest of the decade.

I haven't seen any of these nominees in the last decade, maybe only Midnight Express in the last 20.

Based on my memories I'd probably put AUW and Coming Home in the top two. I think Charles Grodin and Dyan Cannon stole Heaven Can Wait (with Elaine May ghostwriting a lot of their dialogue).

My fave commercial films of the year are probably Body Snatchers, Dawn of the Dead, Fedora, and Who'll Stop the Rain? And then there's Killer of Sheep (which really wasn't distributed then).

I have it on my 1977 list, not that it matters with KOS.

The moment in Coming Home that stands out for me is Fonda's odd acting choice when mid-conversation she freezes in paralysis with her arms reaching out for an awkward stretch.

The funny thing about An Unmarried Woman is that the title character doesn't struggle that much after her husband leaves. She keeps her art gallery job and posh apartment, has a large support group, and almost immediately finds a new boyfriend who's nice, funny, and rich (Alan Bates). The film seems to be about some more abstract dilemma than simply divorce problems.

Would take Big Wednesday, Grease, The End, and possibly Pretty Baby over these nominees although I do think Coming Home is impressive

Other films nominated for The Big Eight that year: Interiors, The Buddy Holly Story, The Boys From Brazil, Autumn Sonata, Same Time, Next Year, Comes a Horseman, California Suite, Bloodbrothers.

The Bergman(s) aside, how fondly remembered are any of these?

Interiors is more like the Insufferables

Same Time, Next Year is middlebrow crap, California Suite is a bitchy horror like a lot of Neil Simon (the Cosby section has to be seen to be believed). Gary Busey is legit terrific in The Buddy Holly Story.

I've always been curious about California Suite but can't haven't been able to bring myself to actually watch it

It amazes me that Maggie Smith won an Oscar for that part.

I caught a bit of California Suite on TCM a while back. The scene I saw had Jane Fonda and her male co-star Alan Alda bantering back and forth with the absolute worst dialogue that I ever heard spoken in the English language. I couldn't stand to watch any more.

(meant to put Alda's name in parentheses with a question mark, as I couldn't' remember who played her co-star in the scene, but Wiki insists it was Alda)

the absolute worst dialogue that I ever heard spoken in the English language.

ladies and gents, Neil Simon

otoh The Odd Couple, let's see you write that

Paypal the $100,000

An unmarried woman

that's me!

I remember enjoying The Chant of Jimmie Blacksmith when I saw it in the theater at the time, but have no idea what I would think about it today. Besides being mesmerized by the main performer Tommy Lewis, I remember being shocked by the violence.

I think right after that I saw Halloween, and the person I went to the movie with had to retire to the lobby periodically to take some deep breaths

and speaking of horror, I hate zombies and have no patience for George Romero movies

Just watched "In a Year with 13 Moons" again today. Originally saw it in a theater in the outer Sunset with my sister 30+ years ago. I think we were both speechless standing in the fog waiting for the N-Judah afterwards. I haven't seen/rewatched every Fassbinder film yet, and I know his movies are really out there, but is there any that's more extreme?

The answer is no, that’s as far as he went. And we’re all better for it

I loved the use of Roxy Music and Suicide in the soundtrack. I think for a movie in 1978 that was very forward thinking

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