Best Films Of 1976
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- DirectorMartin ScorseseStarsRobert De NiroJodie FosterCybill ShepherdA mentally unstable veteran works as a nighttime taxi driver in New York City, where the perceived decadence and sleaze fuels his urge for violent action.Sometimes I watch this film and I think, yeah, it's good. Then other times I really get into the feel of the film and I realize just how great it really is, it captures a mindset and that is its aim. It probably does this better than most films in history in fact. Take a journey into frustration, hatred and madness via Travis Bickle, it's a journey you won't soon forget. 9/10
"What would you like to see done Travis?"
"Take it and just flush it all down the f'n toilet." - DirectorJohn G. AvildsenStarsSylvester StalloneTalia ShireBurt YoungA small-time Philadelphia boxer gets a supremely rare chance to fight the world heavyweight champion in a bout in which he strives to go the distance for his self-respect.1976 was a great year for film in my view. Among the films I've seen from this year, 6 of them stand out to me as near masterpieces. Including the Oscar winning Best Picture, Rocky. It really may be the best boxing film out there, along with Scorsese's Raging Bull. To me Rocky is much more than a boxing film however, it's a love story at its heart. In fact the love story in the film may have been just as much of an underdog as Rocky was as a boxer. This is one of the better underdog stories in film history in my estimation, and it is the love story that holds it all together. The love story helps to provide some humor, and to keep the film as down to earth as possible with its awkwardness, all amidst its very extravagant once in a lifetime shot at career glory theme. The balance works wonders here. 9/10
- DirectorClint EastwoodStarsClint EastwoodSondra LockeChief Dan GeorgeMissouri farmer Josey Wales joins a Confederate guerrilla unit and winds up on the run from the Union soldiers who murdered his family.Among the very finest westerns ever made. To me there is one weakly executed scene early in the film. Apart from that, the film is awesome. 8.5/10
- DirectorHarry KümelStarsHugo MetsersCox HabbemaWilleke van AmmelrooyFreek and Simone's lives are taken over by the bizarre character Joachim Stiller.Apparently this is fairly hard to find for whatever reason, especially the only version worth watching, the full version of course. If you somehow come across the full TV version of this, which runs just over 2 and a half hours. Watch it! For any real film lover, this is a must see. This is sort of like a David Lynch film, before there ever was a David Lynch feature film. It's very unique, very mysterious, and yet entirely engaging. A gem to be sure!
Personally, I wouldn't bother with the heavily cut 2 hour version.
8.5/10 - DirectorPeter CliftonJoe MassotStarsRobert PlantJimmy PageJohn Paul JonesThe line forms here for the world's greatest and possibly most influential band--Led Zeppelin. This mesmerizing movie built around Zep's famed 1973 concerts at New York's Madison Square Garden is convincing proof why.Still one of the greatest concert films ever, mixed in with a little wizardry and other miscellaneous happenings. One thing you will know for sure after watching this is that that Madison Square Garden crowd got there asses kicked that night. Bonham and Page together onstage were magic. Jones just made them that much more insane, as in, insanely great. They blew the roof off the dump! 8.5/10
- DirectorArthur PennStarsMarlon BrandoJack NicholsonRandy QuaidTom Logan is a horse thief. Rancher David Braxton has horses, and a daughter, worth stealing. But Braxton has just hired Lee Clayton, an infamous "regulator", to hunt down the horse thieves; one at a time.This is a unique film with two of histories greatest actors. The offbeat aspect and the humor always make it a delight for me to watch. It's easily re-watchable as there are just so many interesting things going on, including the acting itself. 8.5/10
- DirectorLino BrockaStarsHilda KoronelMona LisaRez CortezThe life of a young girl living with her mother in the slums of Manila becomes unbearable when her mother's young boyfriend moves in with them.A strong, raw and challenging drama from Manila. 8/10
- DirectorAlfred HitchcockStarsKaren BlackBruce DernBarbara HarrisA phony psychic/con artist and her taxi driver/actor boyfriend encounter a pair of serial kidnappers while trailing a missing heir in California.A fun Hitchcock film. 8/10
- DirectorBruce BeresfordStarsJohn HargreavesPat BishopGraham KennedyOn the night of the 1969 Australian election, Don holds a party in his suburban Sydney house, where his raucous, rude, embarrassing, extrovert friends discuss sex, politics, and their lives, and seduce each others wives.An amazing little Aussie film that captures a real authentic late 60's feel. 7.5/10
- DirectorLamont JohnsonStarsMargaux HemingwayChris SarandonPerry KingA top fashion model seeks justice after she is brutally raped by her teenage sister's music teacher.A very underrated 1970's psychological thriller, in the rape revenge tradition no less. I'm not sure why this is so under the radar and not given it's proper due. Sure, it's no masterpiece, but it definitely is creepy, chilling, and overall a pretty sexy film in many ways. I think the main reason why it doesn't have a bigger following is because the film is presented in a pretty mainstream way, with really beautiful cinematography, and a decent budget, so it doesn't really fit in with most of the other more gritty thrillers, exploitation or rape revenge films of the era. Nonetheless this is somewhat of a mainstream sexploitation film, and I feel it's a must see if you like 70's thrillers, and don't mind films with some truly uncomfortable moments. 7/10
- DirectorMichael MillerStarsYvette MimieuxTommy Lee JonesLisa CopelandA wrongfully imprisoned young woman accused of murdering the guard who assaulted her escapes from jail and becomes a fugitive.A pretty uncompromising film with some very tense and well created scenes. 7/10
- DirectorWilliam DearThomas Van DykeStarsDavid HyryJ. Craig CollicutCarson JacksonMayhem starts when a gang of bikers is accused of a sadistic rape in a small town.Unfortunately I've only been able to watch the highly cut version. The uncut version would in my estimation be at least this high on the list.
- DirectorRuss MeyerStarsEdward SchaafRobert McLaneElaine CollinsIt begins with the murder of one Adolf Schwartz--who bears a striking resemblance to another famous Adolf--via a ravenous piranha fish in his bathtub.One of the better films Russ Meyer ever made in my view. 7/10
- DirectorMichael RitchieStarsWalter MatthauTatum O'NealVic MorrowAn aging, down-on-his-luck ex-minor leaguer coaches a team of misfits in an ultra-competitive California little league.
- DirectorRoberto MitrottiStarsJody RayMary MendumPhil BendoneVirginia, the appropriately named maiden daughter of a wealthy businessman, is kidnapped by a two men and a woman. Sixteen-year-old Virginia loses her maidenhead when she is viciously raped by the ignorant muscle-man of the outfit. She is then comforted by the woman, whom she has sex with. Losing her innocence, Virginia decides she likes it and seduces the boss of the outfit. She falls in love with the three and does not want to be given back to her Daddy after she is ransomed.A very strange blend of erotic, crime and exploitation cinema. A Patty Hearst inspired story that is actually far more effective than I ever would've expected. It's by no means a great film in any real sense. However it does have enough good aspects in my view, all things considered to give it this rating... 7/10
- DirectorJames FargoStarsClint EastwoodTyne DalyHarry GuardinoInspector "Dirty" Harry Callahan reluctantly teams up with rookie Inspector Kate Moore to foil a terrorist organization made up of disgruntled Vietnam veterans.I'm not nearly as big on the Dirty Harry films as some people are, however I do love Clint and I do love the character. This one is pretty good, definitely worth a watch. 6.5/10
- DirectorRene DaalderStarsDerrel MauryAndrew StevensRobert CarradineA high-school transfer student pushed to the edge by a trio of brutal bullies resorts to murder to reclaim the school from oppression, and later turns against the students wanting to fill the vacuum of their oppressors.A fairly good and little known cult classic. Many have claimed that the 80's film Heathers ripped this film off. I'm not so sure I'd go quite that far, watch it and judge for yourself. 6.5/10
- DirectorAlfred SoleStarsLinda MillerMildred ClintonPaula E. SheppardIn 1961, a divorced Catholic couple's life is turned upside-down when one of their two adolescent daughters is suspected of her younger sister's brutal murder during her First Holy Communion and a series of subsequent stabbings.A decent horror film for its time. 6/10
- DirectorJohn CarpenterStarsAustin StokerDarwin JostonLaurie ZimmerA Highway Patrol Officer, two criminals and a station secretary defend a defunct Los Angeles precinct office against a siege by a bloodthirsty street gang.Some good aspects to this early John Carpenter cult film, but it's mostly just silliness I'd say. Honestly, I'd rather watch the more modern remake again over this one, and I don't say things like that often. I'm a pretty big Carpenter fan actually, but this is not among his best stuff, and certainly nothing close to his masterpiece - The Thing. 5.5/10
- DirectorCharles B. PierceStarsBen JohnsonAndrew PrineDawn WellsThe story of a hooded, berserk killer who terrorized the border town of Texarkana, Arkansas in 1946--leaving no fewer than five murder victims in his wake. He was never caught. Based on one of America's most baffling murder cases.In many ways the film is not so great. At the same time however it is somewhat amusing. 5.5/10
- DirectorEriprando ViscontiStarsMichele PlacidoRena NiehausFlavio BucciA teenage girl is kidnapped by 3 guys and taken to an abandoned house in the country, and make her write her own ransom letter. She soon discovers that one of her captors is infatuated with her and she will use those feelings to stay alive.A partially raunchy cult film that really isn't anything too special in my view. The one sex/masturbation scene between the victim and one of the kidnappers is certainly a little risque for any time period in a non-pornographic film, but it's nothing to write home about either. Overall the film is alright, but also fairly lame at the same time. 5.5/10
- DirectorBrian De PalmaStarsCliff RobertsonGeneviève BujoldJohn LithgowA wealthy New Orleans businessman becomes obsessed with a young woman who resembles his wife.An overrated early De Palma film in my view. I do really enjoy a few De Palma films, just not this one so much. 5/10