#oscars 49

[theoscarsproject]

Logan's Run (1976). A police officer in the future uncovers the deadly secret behind a society that worships youth.

It's kind of insane to me that this movie came out only a year before the first ever Star Wars, purely because structurally it feels so much older. The style of the movie overall reminds me more of Journey to the Center of the Earth than anything else, and in that way, it almost feels like a marker for the end of an era of cinema and science fiction. Still, it's visually dynamic and has some pretty fun (albeit ridiculous) set-ups. Worth checking out, but not something that's going to change your world. 6.5/10.

[theoscarsproject]

Bugsy Malone (1976). The classic gangster story of Bugsy Malone told with an all-child cast. It feels impossible to review this movie, because it is just so bonkers I can barely believe it got made at all, haha. As someone who's watched a lot of musicals for this project though, I will say the dancing, costumes and set pieces were really inventive and fun, but the adult singing voices were probably the biggest hindrance for me overall. It's totally bizarre, but I enjoyed it more than I thought I would, haha. 6.5/10.

[theoscarsproject]

The Pink Panther Strikes Again (1976). Charles Dreyfus, who has finally cracked over Inspector Jacques Clouseau's antics, escapes from a mental institution and launches an elaborate plan to get rid of Clouseau once and for all.

It's pretty hard to hate these movies generally. They're extremely silly, relishing in their hijinks and have a fun, brisk pace to them that makes them easy to watch. This one's not quite as fast paced as the first, but it's still a nice, light time at the movies. 7/10.

[theoscarsproject]

Silver Streak (1976). On a long-distance train trip, a man finds romance but also finds himself in danger of being killed, or at least pushed off the train.

I feel like I'm just a tiny bit too young for Gene Wilder movies, which bums me out a bit, because I do think he's a wonderful actor and obviously was so pivotal to comedy. This movie is pretty fun on the one hand - full of hijinks and great set ups and chemistry throughout the cast - but on the other a woman gets hit and Gene Wilder's in blackface for a bizarre sequence, and it just feels really dated. What's good is good, but what's bad is pretty cringe worthy. 6/10.

[theoscarsproject]

The Last Tycoon (1976). F. Scott Fitzgerald's novel is brought to life in this story of a movie producer slowly working himself to death.

Oh man, it bums me out that this is as boring and bloated as it is because the source material, the actors - - hell, it’s Elia Kazan - - are all so great. Unfortunately, it just never finds it’s footing. Instead, it stumbles around plot points and never delivers the emotional punch that it should. It’s a real disappointment. Robert De Niro’s incredibly handsome in it though at least. 5/10.

[theoscarsproject]

The Outlaw Josey Wales (1976). Missouri farmer Josey Wales joins a Confederate guerrilla unit and winds up on the run from the Union soldiers who murdered his family.

Once again, I’m reminded that Westerns aren’t really my thing, haha. This one in particular has a lot of capital-i Issues with women too, and it plays out in some loaded characterisation that gets uncomfortable at points. There are some nice wide shots though, and the pacing is effective in terms of delivering the atmosphere that the movie is aiming for. 6/10.

[theoscarsproject]

The Shootist (1976). A dying gunfighter spends his last days looking for a way to die with a minimum of pain and a maximum of dignity.

The fun in this movie really does come from the aging stars in John Wayne, Lauren Bacall and James Stewart, all of whom really lend a sense of gravitas to their roles. Ron Howard plays pretty well opposite them for his part too, which is no small feat in and of itself. It's a bit different for a Western too, which always goes a long way with me, and while it's nothing to write home about, I've definitely watched worse. 6.5/10.

[theoscarsproject]

Two-Minute Warning (1976). A crazed sniper is set to kill spectators at an L.A. Coliseum football championship game and the police race against time to eliminate him.

This is kind of a fun premise, but it's realised in the dullest sort of way. You never get to know or like any of the characters which rob the film or any stakes or heft, and it really circles the same types of shots which makes it visually pretty dull too. It's a bummer, because the concept could make for a tight, fun action movie. This though is not that. 4/10.