Critics Club III: Film of the Year 1970

[Neon Ignition]

Yes, the third and final Critics Club is here. Having cast our eye across the body of work for 100 of the most well known Directors and then evaluated the work of 60 of the most successful actors and actresses in Hollywood history we cast our judgment onto the films themselves.

This really is no more complicated than the annual polls done from each year. We begin nearly 50 years ago and will be looking at each year as a moment in time, stacking the most notable big releases of each year and voting for the one we think was the best film released at that time. The first being:

1970




What was your Film of 1970 and what are your thoughts on the year in film in general?

[Finsbury Girl]

Kelly's Heroes by a country mile. MASH was also good but not hippy Donald Sutherland good.

[Neon Ignition]

It's interesting to begin with 1970 as well because the line up of films clearly shows just how dramatic a shift in cinema there was that was about to take place before the 80's arrived and the real dawn of modern era pop culture. I've seen little on this list and more clearly recall Scrooge over M.A.S.H but I'm doubtful from foggy history that the former was the better film, it just made more of an impression on a young mind.

[QualityChimp]

It's an interesting list.
Hercules in New York - nuts to think Arnie's been in movies that long.

Beyond the Valley of the Dolls is, erm, interesting.
Beneath the Planet of the Apes is a sequel too far, IMHO, and Heston's barely in it.
I guess it has a fairly brave, if depressing end.

[wakka]

Performance is flawed but interesting.

[Atticus]

Was 1970 really this poor?

Um, not sure what to go for ... can we add Five Easy Pieces to the poll?

[wakka]

Ah, OK, if that was 1970 it’s a clear winner for me.

Googling it, The Conformist and Zabriskie Point were 1970 too. Of course I know this isn’t intended to be a comprehensive list as that would be nuts! But they’re good films - not as good as Five Easy Pieces though.