As a moviegoer for
more than 70 years, I’ve seen some great movies, some not so great, some really
bad ones, some trying but failing to be deep and meaningful, some reveling in
their shallowness. I was born the year The Wizard of Oz and Gone with the Wind
were released. My mother started taking me to the movies shortly after that. I
saw some movies that were definitely not PG rated. I can still remember being
afraid of The Thing and delighting in An American in Paris.
Many times I disagree
with the critics. I don’t call them and tell him what I think of their reviews,
so now that there is an internet for anyone to babble on, I add my voice. I’m
sure there are many of you who will disagree with my assessments. Some of you
will agree. I hope to hear from all of
you.
The golden age continues with some classics most of you will
have seen or, at least, heard about. I enjoy revisiting these winners, and
seeing the one or two I missed—usually with good reason.
1968: Oliver – I’m not sure how Dickens
would feel about a musical version of his sad tale. But Oscar loved it by
handing out six awards. Oliver Reed makes a good villain as does Ron Moody as
Fagin. Some catchy tunes make this bleak story palatable.
1969: Midnight Cowboy – I haven’t seen the
entire film, just bits and pieces. It doesn’t look like a film I would enjoy,
so I have resisted it. Dustin Hoffman and Jon Voight star.
1970: Patton – Loved this film. Great
character study of a man obsessed with war. We were fortunate to have him
available for WWII. George C. Scott refused the Oscar for Best Actor.
1971: The French Connection – Gene Hackman
is a delight as “Popeye” Doyle. Good chase scenes. Lots of action. Roy Scheider
and Tony Lo Bianco costar.
1972: The Godfather – What can I say? I
doubt if any of you have not seen or heard about this film. Lots of blood and
betrayal. Good acting and lovely music. Only negative I can find is that it
glorifies a way of life that shouldn’t be glorified.
1973: The Sting – Any movie with Paul
Newman and Robert Redford is a movie I will see. This one is just about perfect
from beginning to end. Robert Shaw stars as the “mark.” The music is great.
This film won seven Oscars, deservedly so.
1975: One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest – This
film won the top five Oscars: picture, director (Milos Forman), screenplay,
actor and actress. It is a powerful film that played on all my emotions.
1976: Rocky – This is a film I did not
like. The story is trite, it is full of cheap sentimentality, and it is boring.
I find it hard to believe that so many more films with the same characters were
made.
1977: Annie Hall – Woody Allen and Diane
Keaton in a romantic comedy. He’s--surprise--a neurotic writer; she’s an
aspiring singer. But it all works to produce an entertaining romp.
Tony Roberts and Paul Simon costar. The film won four Oscars.
1978: The Deer Hunter – Here’s another
film I didn’t like. I know I’m supposed to, but alas it wasn’t to be. It was
properly dark considering that it was about the Viet Nam war, but it failed to
engage me. Ho Hum. Robert De Niro, John Cazale and Meryl Streep costar.
1979: Kramer vs. Kramer – This was an era
of women trying to find themselves. The film is timely in that regard. I
thought Dustin Hoffman should have won the lawsuit, but Meryl Streep prevailed.
1980: Ordinary People – Robert Redford’s
first attempt at directing won him an Oscar for this intense film. Mary Tyler
Moore’s favorite son has died. She is left with a son, Timothy Hutton, she
doesn’t like. Donald Sutherland as the father is caught in the middle. I found
myself hardly breathing during most of this film.
1981: Chariots of Fire – This is a really
good feel-good film. Ben Cross and Ian Charleson portray runners competing for
the British team for the 1924 Olympics. Who can forget the haunting music?
1982: Gandhi – Here’s another blockbuster
with a terrific cast: Ben Kingsley in the title role, Candice Bergen, Edward
Fox, John Gielgud, Trevor Howard and John Mills. The only problem with this
version of Gandhi is that other versions portray him as not quite so heroic.
Who to believe?
1983: Terms of Endearment – From blockbuster
to tearjerker. Shirley MacLaine and Debra Winger star as mother and daughter
who through their years together experience many emotions, but none as heartbreaking
as the final one. Not a dry eye in the theater or in front of the television.
Jack Nicholson stars as Shirley MacLaine’s love interest.
1984: Amadeus – Dry your eyes and get
ready to smile. Who knew that Mozart, the megastar of music, was so appealing?
Tom Hulce is adorable as the great composer. F. Murray Abraham plays a sort of
villain.
1985: Out of Africa – Robert Redford and
Meryl Streep shine in this golden film. Streep, as the author Karen Blixen,
marries Klaus Maria Brandauer to get out of town. He moves them to Kenya.
Having no love for her husband, she falls in love with big game hunter,
Redford. Then the unthinkable happens. The film won seven Oscars.
1986: Platoon – Oliver Stone’s
autobiographical film about Viet Nam. An idealistic soldier loses his stomach
for war when he witnesses his comrades commit rape and murder. Tom Berenger,
Willam Defoe and Charlie Sheen star.
1987: The
Last Emperor – This is a magnificent film with scope and good acting.
John Lone is the emperor in the last years of the Ching Dynasty. Peter O’Toole
plays his tutor. Joan Chen costars.
