70's Film & Culture Overview

It has been a strange couple of months. There were ups, there were downs. I got to see good movies from a great time in history. Throughout the confusion and the turmoil, people found ways of shining through. Directors were emerging and showing how they felt about everything through their art. Everything from blaxploitation, gay rights, womens rights, anti-war sentiments, jobless, homeless, crime, gangs, drugs, sex, and rock and roll were expressed in film. Over the past few months a group of us were taken on a journey through all of it.

Although this class took place during an extremely busy time in my life, I still found ways to enjoy it. Even though at times I felt as though the movies were a little over thought, there was validity to the discussions. I feel as though the directors during the time put a lot into their movies because of their passion about certain topics, or maybe things just appeared to have meaning but during the time, that is just how people thought. Us being distanced from this era and somewhat desensitized might be looking back and analyzing things in a way that the directors did not intend. They may have wanted to say something in a subtle way, but not have their audience dwell on it.

Ambiguous endings have their place, but for me, I cannot stand them. We as artists are ultimately story tellers, for me, the story is just not complete without an ending or closure. Unfortunately, the 70's were a time of prominence with this set up.

Overall I loved the class and I feel as though I have learned something about this country's culture that should never be forgotten.

Assault on Precinct 13 (1975)

Assault on Precinct 13 was the story of a police officer who had to take over control of a station that was being relocated for one night. The station was in a bad neighborhood of Los Angeles and showcased the ruthlessness of the gangs there. During the stay, a prisoner transport has to relieve a sick man and another man rushes into the station unable to speak. Gangs had followed the man and commenced their assault on the station. The story was about their survival for one night with hopes of someone coming to their aid.

Although I was slightly confused about the movie, I thought it was good. The cheesy lines of one of the prisoners was welcome in this dark situation that the remaining staff of this station found themselves in. The gangs were depicted as evil beings with no humanity. In fact, I believe that only one gang member had a single line. I felt that this helped distance the audience away from attaching themselves to the gang in any way. And even though this movie was in all actuality a horror or thriller movie, it did have the slight feeling as that of a country movie.

I actually want to see the new rendition of this to see if the original flair is still there. I would enjoy seeing this again.

An Unmarried Woman (1978)

An Unmarried Woman was about the struggles and confusion of a woman who just lost her trust in her husband after finding out that he has been cheating on her. She realizes that she has to become independent and finding out how to do so is a strange concept to her. Along the way she meets a man whom she feels genuinely attached to and in love with but she has lost her faith and trust in men. Now she has to decide what is best for her.

I thought this movie was HORRIBLE. Hands down. The woman, even though confused snapped at every single thought of a man making a pass at her. She took everything the wrong way instead of thinking of the possibility that the man did not actually make a pass, but was being friendly and sincere in her time of need. I found myself annoyed throughout the the entire movie. Although there was one good thing that happened. Towards the end, her ex-husband revealed that his affair was over, and that he would like to get back on good standing with his ex-wife, she did not take him up on his offers, which, to me, is what should have happened. Unfortunately, this was not enough to even remotely redeem this movie.

I hope to never see this again.