A day or two ago World Of Reel‘s Jordan Ruimy posted results of his own “best of the ’70s” poll, fortified by the opinions of 150 critics, filmmakers and historians.
Francis Coppola’s The Godfather was #1, of course, but one of HE’s ’70s favorites — John Carpenter‘s Assault of Precinct 13 — was ignored by this crowd. And two legendary Hal Ashby films — Shampoo and Being There — were ranked below Dawn of the Dead….c’mon!
Jaws is not the fifth greatest motion picture of the ’70s…obviously crafty and impactful but it’s a popcorn film. And get Nashville out of the #7 slot (Larry Karaszewski disagrees!) and install The Long Goodbye in its place.
Four Coppola films cracked Ruimy’s top 10: The Godfather. The Godfather, Part II (#4), Apocalypse Now (#6) and The Conversation (#10).
Here’s my top 15 (previously posted):
1. The Godfather (’72), 2. The Godfather, Part II (’74). 3. The French Connection (’71), 4. All The Presidents Men (’76), 5. Assault on Precinct 13 (’76), 6. Network (’76), 7. Serpico (’73), 8. The Last Detail (’73), 9. Chinatown (’74), 10. The Hospital (’71), 11. McCabe and Mrs. Miller (’71), 12. The Friends of Eddie Coyle (’73), 13. Mean Streets (’73), 14. Days of Heaven (’78), 15. Annie Hall (’77).
“Best & Slightly Blemished ’70s Films“, posted on 2.18.22.