Jaws (1975)

Jaws (1975)

[10] Steven Spielberg's adaptation of Peter Benchley's shark thriller is extraordinarily well made and far more sophisticated than your average monster movie. The first half is a solid scare-fest that unwinds beautifully, from the first vicious attack on a late…
The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974)

The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974)

[10] Oh, Texas Chain Saw Massacre, how do I love thee?  Let me count the ways... I love that you're an unrelenting free fall into madness. I love that your first half is mysterious and suspenseful, and that your second…
Chinatown (1974)

Chinatown (1974)

[9] Chinatown is the name of the movie, but only a short final scene takes place there. One could argue the film is a journey to its namesake, but even that's not enough to explain the title. In a rare…
Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore (1974)

Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore (1974)

[8] Ellen Burstyn stars as a widowed mother who suddenly finds herself having to start a new life in this engaging comedy/drama from Martin Scorsese. Burstyn plays Alice Hyatt, and if that name sounds familiar it's because the TV show "Alice"…
The Wicker Man (1973)

The Wicker Man (1973)

[9] Edward Woodward (TV's The Equalizer) stars as a Christian police officer investigating the disappearance of a child on a remote island in the Scottish isles. Attempts to solve the case are complicated by the locals, all pagan practitioners who…
Paper Moon (1973)

Paper Moon (1973)

[10] In the Depression-era Dust Bowl, a traveling con man strikes up an unlikely relationship with an orphan girl who may or may not be his daughter. Director Peter Bogdanovich (The Last Picture Show) coaxes magnificent performances from real-life father…
Badlands (1973)

Badlands (1973)

[8]

What an odd, beguiling vigilante road-trip romance this is. Martin Sheen and Sissy Spacek star as two oddly unaffected youths who casually pair up and embark on what turns out to be a killing spree through South Dakota. This was director Terrence Malick’s (Days of Heaven, The Thin Red Line) first feature film, and much of his trademark style is here — the beautiful scenery, cutaways to flora, fauna, and natural phenomena (including the most beautiful house burning put to film), as well as voice-over narration that begs a more poetic interpretation of the material.

American Graffiti (1973)

American Graffiti (1973)

[9] A close-knit group of teenagers relish their last night of summer vacation before their paths diverge, changing their lives forever, in George Lucas's American Graffiti. Most of the cast succeed in creating wholly believable characters with compelling dilemmas, and…
The Exorcist (1973)

The Exorcist (1973)

[9] Director William Friedkin (The French Connection) approached William Peter Blatty's tale of demonic possession with seriousness and realism, striking fear in the hearts of moviegoers worldwide. Often feeling more like a documentary than a sensational horror film, The Exorcist…
The Godfather (1972)

The Godfather (1972)

[9] The Godfather balances the private lives of its characters with their sensational 'occupation', and that's why I like it more than other 'tough-guy' movies. If I didn't care about the family members, no amount of horse beheadings or car…