*** ILE Best Films of the 1970s REVEALED ***

*Albeit from the standpoint of "We're not making art, but that's better than making nothing at all."

California Split: My #1. I can't believe Murphy can hardly remember a single scene. Nearly ever sequence is classic in one way or another. OTM about it being hypnotic. Why #1? I just liked it better than the other 19.

Pat Garrett:I've only seen the short version, which is more like a sketch for a great movie than actually being a great movie. Still, Coburn's fucking awesome in it, as is Kris.

I think I agree, too. It's in Ebert's top 10 of all time, which I've never understood.

Have I mentioned that I knew Orsen Welles?

*Albeit from the standpoint of "We're not making art, but that's better than making nothing at all."

Agreed! This was in my top 10. It's as madcap as Soapdish (remember that one?), but also very reflective, and kind of inspiring.

Ah... I remember when I wanted to direct.

http://images.amazon.com/images/P/B00004Z1FM.01._SCLZZZZZZZ_.jpg

75a. The Discreet Charm Of The Bourgeoisie
Luis Buñuel, 1972

Points: 36
Total Votes: 5
First Place Votes: 0

Comments?

http://images.amazon.com/images/P/B0009X766Y.01._SCLZZZZZZZ_.jpg

75b. The Sting
George Roy Hill, 1973

Points: 36
Total Votes: 5
First Place Votes: 0

Comments?

http://images.amazon.com/images/P/B000AABCU2.01._SCLZZZZZZZ_.jpg

73a. The Deer Hunter
Michael Cimino, 1978

Points: 37
Total Votes: 3
First Place Votes: 0

Comments?

http://www.1worldfilms.com/France/celine10.jpg

73b. Celine and Julie Go Boating
Jacques Rivette, 1974

Points: 37
Total Votes: 3
First Place Votes: 0

Comments?

http://images.amazon.com/images/P/0790731487.01._SCLZZZZZZZ_.jpg

71. Blazing Saddles
Mel Brooks, 1974

Points: 37
Total Votes: 5
First Place Votes: 0

Stew: Blazing Saddles is comedy gold. Of course it's scattershot, but the vast majority of gags hit. It's sublimely silly, but nevertheless is one of the best films about racism ever made, thanks, in part to Pryor's briliant gags, such as Cleavon Little taunting the Klansmen, "Where the white women at?". Lily Von Stup is great too. The schnitzengruber! Hedley Lamarr and his linguistic flights!

Andrew L: 'Blazing Saddles' was the first film I went to see at the cinema where I was underage (it was a UK 'AA' - you had to be at least 14, and I was 13, not much diff, I know, but still quite exciting.) This was in 1979 (oh god) - a revival double bill w/ 'Monty Python and the Holy Grail' at our local fleapit - just before the home video market killed off such things. I'd never seen anything as outrageous as the classic campfire/farting scene before...

It's basically a farce about the misbehaviour of the more respected class. This has been done badly so many times that no one would bother based on this description, and yet it's more than that -- it's Bunuel. Ebert is fond of saying that a movie is not about what it's about, but about how it's about it, and this is a prime example. This movie does not date, not because the lampooned people here still exist in any meaningful way, but because Bunuel makes it about more than them. It's a brilliant fucking film.

http://images.amazon.com/images/P/6305049378.01._SCLZZZZZZZ_.jpg

70. In the Realm of the Senses

Nagisa Oshima, 1977

Points: 38
Total Votes: 6
First Place Votes: 0

James Blount: the first time I saw In The Realm of the Senses it was in the library when I was 16; I kept looking over my shoulder.

Peter Scholtes: Fuck Young Frankenstein, this is Mel Brooks's best. Now would you like another schnitzengruben?

xpost: oooo, In the Realm of the Senses. I actually just saw this in time to put it on my ballot. What a sumptuously crazy movie. I happened to see it within a week or so of seeing The Piano Teacher, and I thought it was so much better because there was actually some kind of deeply felt love and desire driving the whole tortuous relationship, not just loathing. Even the big, um, coup de grace (or coup de groin) works as an act of love, both in the giving and the taking. Also, it helped me understand a little where Miike comes from.

http://images.amazon.com/images/P/B00003CX96.01._SCLZZZZZZZ_.jpg

69a. Breaking Away
Peter Yates, 1979

Points: 39
Total Votes: 4
First Place Votes: 0

Peter Scholtes: What I remember most are the dives into the quary lake, the quiet breeze of the earliest bike race, and Jackie Earle Haley taking his girl down to the judge to get married. That moment is so sweet, but so natural and offhanded. It's just like the movie's humor. (Watch it with the comparably arty and talky Spring Forward and you'll see similar class themes, too.) Maybe the camera seems too indifferent to be considered great "film," but sometimes art happens casually, and I think it does here.

xhuxk: *Breaking Away* was the John Cougar (without the Mellencamp) of movies.

http://images.amazon.com/images/P/0790750716.01._SCLZZZZZZZ_.jpg

69b. Get Carter
Mike Hodges, 1971

Points: 39
Total Votes: 4
First Place Votes: 0

Alex in NYC: Michael Caine is one cool motherfucker.

A lot of movies are punching above thier weight here, in various people's opinion. Who's the douche that put Pappillon in their top five? You know it was just one guy who got that crap on the list.

Then again, we're totally in that part of the list.

http://images.amazon.com/images/P/B00005NVDF.01._SCLZZZZZZZ_.jpg

67a. Play it Again Sam
Herbert Ross, 1972

Points: 42
Total Votes: 4
First Place Votes: 0

Jimmy the Mod: An oddity in the Woody Allen Cannon and a forgotten masterpiece. And odd, really, with Ross' trendy San Franciscoization of it all.

Jedidah: The most consistently, side-splittingly funny comedy of the last thirty years

http://images.amazon.com/images/P/B00007G1VB.01._SCLZZZZZZZ_.jpg

67b. Shampoo
Hal Ashby, 1975

Points: 42
Total Votes: 4
First Place Votes: 0

Comments?

http://images.amazon.com/images/P/B0000524CY.01._SCLZZZZZZZ_.jpg

67c. The Exorcist
William Friedkin, 1973

Points: 42
Total Votes: 4
First Place Votes: 0

Rat: I saw the Exorcist for the first time by myself alone on T.V. late at night. "Parental control" did not exist then. I was scarred for life. By far the scariest movie I've ever seen.

Joe: As a total film, though, I would say The Exorcist (the version WITHOUT all the extra scenes, that is; the 'Version You've Never Seen' ending is total crap) is still the best of the three. Jason Miller's performance as Father Karras is totally underrated...he really drives the film, along with Ellen Burstyn. And Lee J. Cobb (in his last high-profile movie) is always a pleasure to watch. Best scenes: "You're gonna die up there", the dream sequence with Karras' mother and the semi-subliminal cut of the demon face, and of course the actual exorcism.

That makes no sense. I think we all saw ONE herzog film. It's real high up. You'll see.

http://images.amazon.com/images/P/0780020693.01._SCLZZZZZZZ_.gif

64. Amacord

Federico Fellini, 1974

Points: 42
Total Votes: 4
First Place Votes: 1

Jedidiah - Fellini's last masterpiece, and my vote for the best overall film of the 70s

H: Amarcord does hold a special place in my heart though for the um, interpretive dance by (maddalena?) the kids go to witness.

http://images.amazon.com/images/P/0780020693.01._SCLZZZZZZZ_.gif

64. Amacord

Federico Fellini, 1974

Points: 42
Total Votes: 4
First Place Votes: 1

Jedidiah - Fellini's last masterpiece, and my vote for the best overall film of the 70s

H: Amarcord does hold a special place in my heart though for the um, interpretive dance by (maddalena?) the kids go to witness.