MovieChat Forums > Sunday Bloody Sunday (1971) Discussion > The Best Decade of Films

The Best Decade of Films

posted 11 years ago by EJverh
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I miss films like this and I don't think we'll ever get it back. They had so much to say and that was the film! Excluded were the vehicles for stars. Instead the monumental cinema efforts were reserved for great actors, regardless of their fan base or, especially, looks. And the best thing about the 70s and such gems is that people actually went to see them! That WAS entertaining! It was about intellectual, social and artistic effort and people responded greatly! Nowadays, we'll get one of such films a year, if we're lucky, and even then it's usually an independent and limited release. Why? Because, the young audiences are by now used to `great film ` being all about the visuals (special effect, cgi fest). Back then even an action flick had something to say. What went wrong, one might ponder ?

[–] ronfirv 11 years ago

Couldn't agree more.

Cause is simply the studios pandering to the lowest common denominator, I regret, as these action movies make the most bucks. Asking a young audience to THINK? Ok as you said, one a year released for the rest of us!

May I suggest you seek out a French film, Come Undone, made in 2000 by Sebastian Lifhsitz. (It's subtitled). A splendid little film and it will exercise your grey cells, and hopefully, like me you will enjoy it. The 2 leads, Jeremie Elkaim and Stephane Rideau did great work in it.

[–] EJverh 11 years ago

Will do, ronfirv. I had heard about it but didn't hear enough to take it seriously. Now I shall.

[–] ronfirv 11 years ago

Also under the French title, Presque Rien.

It will certainly make your grey cells work! :)

If you will have appreciated this gem (imo) do get back onto this thread sometime with your impressions.

[–] EJverh 11 years ago

Didn't get to it just yet, Ron. But, wanted to ask what are some of your all time favorite films? Something I could have heard of (keep in mind that I'm quite a movie buff of any decade!:)

[–] 11 years ago

[deleted]

[–] ronfirv 11 years ago

Not so easy to think of them all, off the cuff but a few are :

Downfall ; Cat on a Hot Tin Roof ; The Lion in Winter ; Khartoum ; Ladies in Lavender ; The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie ; Top Gun ; Beautiful Thing ; Shooter ;
The Ipcress File ; Last of the Mohicans ; Valkyrie ; Legends of the Fall ; Fall of the Roman Empire ; Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy (Alec Guinness version).
I'd probably add The Birdcage (hilarious), On the Waterfront ; On Golden Pond ; Rendition ; The Recruit ; Full Metal Jacket.
There are a few others but the titles, for this evening, escape me!

[–] I_Love_Hutch 9 years ago

Yes, I absolutely agree with what you say. I would even go further and say that 1971 was the best YEAR for films. Look at what 1971 gave us.

1. Sunday, Bloody Sunday
2. A Clockwork Orange
3. Klute
4. Dirty Harry
5. The French Connection
6. The Conformist
7. McCabe and Mrs. Miller
8. The Garden of the Finzi-Continis
9. Deep End
10. X, Y and Zee (grossly under-rated movie... Edna O'Brien's screenplay is
so good that it's exciting, and it contains the best performance Elizabeth
Taylor ever gave. She is HILARIOUS! A personal favorite)
11. Play Misty For Me
12. The Abominable Dr. Phibes (some might think the genre questionable, but for what it IS, it IS very original, well-made and entertaining)
13. Death in Venice
14. Carnal Knowledge
15. Desperate Characters (little known, but Shirley MacLaine has never been
better)
16. Bananas (often regarded as Woody Allen's funniest movie)
17. Harold and Maude
18. Fiddler on the Roof
19. The Last Picture Show
20. Panic in Needle Park
21. Murmur of the Heart
22. Macbeth (Polanski)
23. Shaft (just about the best example of its genre, and certainly the most
influential)
24. Straw Dogs
25. THX 1138 (George Lucas' first feature length film)
26. Duel (Steven Spielberg's first feature length film)
27. Twitch of the Death Nerve (considered the first "body count" slasher film
and was well-received by the critics), this movie was also directed by my
all-time favorite director, Mario Bava
28. Two English Girls (one of Truffaut's all-time best)
29. Vanishing Point
30. Walkabout
31. The Beguiled
32. The Emigrants

IMO, with maybe one or two possible exceptions (re: personal favorites that I consider to be under-rated), these are all top-notch movies. And I can't think of a better year for movies.

[–] rascal67 9 years ago

I would even go further and say that 1971 was the best YEAR for films. Look at what 1971 gave us.
_________________

Do you mean 71' was the best decade of the 70's for film, or best EVER decade of film Mr. Hutch? I think of the 70's as an exceptional decade for film, however I have never thought to single out one single year from this decade, as being the best. I have not seen 10 of the films, you have listed. My choice for best film of this year, would be THE LAST PICTURE SHOW and if not that, then DIRTY HARRY. Not as sophisticated as 'FRENCH CONNECTION'; but much more enjoyable and just as gritty and raw, in it's own way. Love the style of DH and the way it captures and embraces San Francisco, circa early 70's. FC, I find a bit bleak and depressing.

As for SUNDAY BLOODY SUNDAY, I am not quite sure what I make of this film. Have seen twice. Too British bleak for my tastes and find no appeal whatsoever in Mr. Finch or Mr. Head. Glenda Jackson is the main reason to view. Would rather watch BOYS IN THE BAND-70'S

For the 80's, I often refer to 1986 as being a fantastic year for film releases and contains many films that I find enjoyable on different levels.

[–] I_Love_Hutch 9 years ago

Hey Rascal -- If I were to pick the year with the greatest number of movies that I love (and the early 70s were plum full, to be sure!), yes, I would have to go with 1971.

But that's pretty darn cool that your favorite movie from 1971 is also mine! Ahhh, "The Last Picture Show". I could see why some people might find it dull, but I find it completely absorbing. And almost in a way that I can't explain. It probably has to do mostly with the characters in the movie. Sweet adorable Timothy Bottoms is my favorite character. But I also love Cloris, Ben and Ellen (God, what a beauty she was) The ending scene where Ruth rips into Sonny (not without good reason), only to have him put her hand on his, then she realizes how alone (and tender) he really is and she forgives him... just rips my heart out. So quiet, yet so powerful. This movie is compulsively watchable, and I think if it were 8 hours long, I would find t just as enjoyable.

"Sunday, Bloody Sunday"... I agree when you described it as "British bleak", but for me that is curiously enough a big part of its appeal. It's so melancholy and delicate and I think the movie is lovely. I love the early 70s London feel as well. I LOVE the score (like the scene where Glenda Jackson is being sad and eating what looks like peanut butter fudge!), and even though Miss Jackson is the most exciting one to watch, I also like Mr. Finch. Murray Head is bland, but I have a feeling that his character is supposed to be. Bland and superficial. I also find all the sociological detail in this movie very interesting, i.e., the kids smoking pot, the funky modern pop art, Finch running into a cute trick on the street, etc. John Schlesinger directed this movie and "Midnight Cowboy" (definitely in my top ten movies), and I think the movies have some similarities regarding their outlook on society and people having a hard time connecting with each other.

That's very funny that you cite 1986 as a favorite movie year of yours. My best friend is a big movie buff as we are, and every time I mention 1971 as my favorite year for movies (and I have done that a few times in conversation), my friend says that his favorite year for movies is 1986!!! 

"How 'bout them apples?" - Diane Ladd, Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore, 1974: another AMAZING year for movies!

Catch you on the rebound!

[–] rascal67 9 years ago

Ahhh, "The Last Picture Show". I could see why some people might find it dull, but I find it completely absorbing. And almost in a way that I can't explain.
________________

Yes, but you are not a moron and don't need things spelt out for you in big, bold and simplistic term. The devil is in the details. The irony here is, those that find it "dull", wouldn't get it because they are DULL or DENSE. "The Last Picture Show", is a masterpiece of American cinema.