Published by Michael Cohen
A look back at the films that defined cinema's greatest era - the 1970s!
Listen on Apple PodcastsSend us Fan Mail This week on "That '70s Movie Podcast," Jonathan and Michael are on the prowl for the 1971 action-thriller "Dirty Harry." We had mixed feelings about this film, with Jonathan offering qualified praise for its first 71 minutes and Michael unequivocally labeling it a fascist movie. In fairness, Jonathan called the third act a "catastrophic train wreck," but he liked the night-for-night shooting and thought the first two-thirds of the movie was an extremely effective police thriller. Michael praised Lalo Schifrin's evocative score and found elements of the movie attractive, but neither of us could get away from the fact that "Dirty Harry" is fundamentally reactionary and exploits fears about rising crime rates in the early 1970s. So grab your gun, don't lose count, and join us for this week's episode of "That 70s Movie Podcast." Please take a moment to follow us, rate the podcast, leave a comment, subscribe , or even buy us a cup of coffee. Support the show
Send us Fan Mail This week on That '70s Movie Podcast, Michael and Jonathan play cat and mouse with the 1973 political thriller, "The Day of the Jackal." After several weeks of character-driven movies that led us to conclude plot-shmot, we both agreed that this movie leans into the plot and declares quite assuredly—character-schmaracter. We loved how the process in the film—both the assassination plan and the police investigation—is the payoff, and what a payoff it is! Even though we know what happens in the end (before the movie even begins), this film does a fantastic job of creating tension and suspense, even in the most mundane details. So grab your passport, check your watch, and come join us for the latest episode of That '70s Movie Podcast! Please take a moment to give us a thumbs up, leave a note, become a subscriber , or buy us a cup of coffee ! Support the show
Send us Fan Mail This week on "That '70s Movie Podcast," Jonathan and Michael dive into the water for the 1975 neo-noir thriller, "Night Moves." This is one of Jonathan's favorite movies, and it shows! He talked with great passion about the enigma of Harry Moseby (played by Gene Hackman), his complicated relationship with Ellen, and Harry's consistent ability to connect the dots but miss the bigger picture. Michael enjoyed the movie as well, and while he particularly loved Alan Sharp's dialogue, he was a bit more critical of the film's plot holes, occasional contrivances, and somewhat bizarre ending (which we tried to unpack). But this was nothing if not a spirited conversation about a movie that contains multitudes! So pack up your chessboard, fix your engine, and join us for the latest episode of "That '70s Movie Podcast." Please take a moment to leave a review, become a subscriber, or buy us a cup of coffee ! Support the show
Send us Fan Mail This week on That '70s Movie Podcast, Michael and Jonathan jump in the ocean for the 1975 thriller, "Jaws." Though we usually see eye to eye (or at least close to it), it was "disagreement" week on the podcast. Michael argued that Jaws is peak joyride filmmaking, with great character development, director Steven Spielberg's masterful ratcheting up of suspense and tension, and the film's bravura set-pieces. Jonathan praised the editing and cinematography, but found the movie a bit bloated and unrealistic. Both agreed, however, that Jaws forever changed 70s filmmaking -- and not necessarily for the better. So grab two bottles of wine, check your scars for authenticity, and give this week's episode a listen! Please take a moment to subscribe, leave a comment, or buy us a cup of coffee (or even do all three). Support the show
Send us Fan Mail This week on "That 70s Movie Podcast," Jonathan and Michael hit the frontlines for Woody Allen's 1975 comedy classic "Love and Death" and also his four other "early funny ones" - "Take the Money and Run," "Bananas", "Everything You Always Wanted To Know About Sex (*But Were Afraid to Ask)," and "Sleeper." It's not often we talk about five different films in one sitting, but tackling Allen's early comedy movies gave us a chance to chart his evolution as a filmmaker, chronicle the early part of his career, and examine what has changed and what has stayed consistent in his filmmaking. We also talked about the brilliance of Diane Keaton as his comedic co-star, Allen's embrace of the New Hollywood ethos throughout his career, and above all, our favorite jokes from these hilarious early movies. So grab your gub and your catcher mitt, watch out for snakebites, don't slip on the banana peels, and join us for this week's episode of "That 70s Movie Podcast." Also, check out our guest appearance on The Thinking Mind Podcast , as we discussed the 1988 Woody Allen drama "Another Woman." Please also take a moment to subscribe to the podcast, leave a review, and buy us a cup of coffee ! Support the show
Send us Fan Mail This week on That '70s Movie Podcast, Jonathan and Michael are jumping in the phone booth for the 1976 crime drama, "The Killing of a Chinese Bookie." We loved the moral ambiguity at the heart of the movie, the focus on character over plot, the night-for-night shooting, and above all the extraordinary performance by Ben Gazzara as LA club owner -- and degenerate gambler -- Cosmo Vitelli. This movie is an underappreciated gem of '70s filmmaking -- and one of John Cassavetes' best-directed films -- with one scene in particular that is arguably the pinnacle of New Hollywood filmmaking. So grab a dozen burgers (no wrappers, please), put on your corsage, draw on some face paint, and remember, we can't give you anything but love for this week's episode of "That '70s Movie Podcast." Please take a moment to give the podcast a thumbs up, leave a note, and buy us a cup of coffee ! Support the show
Send us Fan Mail This week on That '70s Movie Podcast, Jonathan and Michael climb the gate for the 1976 classic "Mikey and Nicky." We were thrilled to finally discuss a film directed by the legendary Elaine May -- one of the few female directors who cracked this glass ceiling in the male-dominated New Hollywood. We loved May's directorial choices and her razor-sharp script. We were wowed by the astonishing, emotionally wrought performances from co-leads John Cassavetes and Peter Falk, the beautiful night-time filming, and the thematic richness of this movie. There's so much to discuss with "Mikey and Nicky," and Jonathan and I did our best to hit it all! So grab 15 bottles of cream, listen to the latest news on Indochina, recite the Kaddish, and check out this week's edition of "That '70s Movie Podcast." If you can, please take a moment to subscribe, leave a comment, or buy us a cup of coffee! buymeacoffee.com/70smovies Support the show
Send us Fan Mail This week on That '70s Movie Podcast, Jonathan and Michael check under the hood for the 1971 cult classic "Two Lane Blacktop." We were joined this week by film critic extraordinaire and author of "Sofia Coppola: The Complete Unofficial Guide," Christina Newland. We talked with Christina about director Monte Hellman's existential approach to filmmaking, Mr. Warren Oates' wonderful performance, the more "wooden" acting from James Taylor and Dennis Wilson, and, most of all, the film's exploration of masculinity, aimlessness, searching for the next high, and the uniquely American phenomenon of the road movie. This was a great discussion with a fantastic guest! So peel some hard-boiled eggs, grab your mechanic, and come join us for the latest episode of That '70s Movie Podcast. If you're enjoying the show, don't forget to subscribe, leave a review, or even buy us a cup of coffee! https://buymeacoffee.com/70smovies Support the show
Send us Fan Mail This week on that '70s Movie Podcast, Jonathan and Michael get brutally honest about the 1989 indie classic, "Sex, Lies and Videotape." One of the credos of the podcast is that not every '70s film was made in the 1970s, and "Sex, Lies and Videotape," written and directed by Steven Soderbergh, is the kind of small, personal, character-driven film that reflects the ethos of the New Hollywood. Plus, it's a fantastic movie and in a storied filmmaking career, Soderbergh's masterpiece. We loved all the acting performances, particularly Andie McDowell, who is simply astonishing. We talked at length about the naturalistic dialogue, Soderbergh's subtle yet effective directorial and editing choices that belie his inexperience as a filmmaker, and the deeper themes of intimacy and sexuality at the heart of this movie. So turn on the camera, pour yourself a glass of iced tea (no lemon), cancel all your meetings, and join us for this week's episode of That '70s Movie Podcast. If you haven't already, please take a moment to subscribe to the podcast and if you're enjoying it, consider buying us a cup of coffee! https://buymeacoffee.com/70smovies Support the show
Send us Fan Mail This week on That '70s Movie Podcast, Jonathan and Michael wave the white flag for the 1975 classic "Dog Day Afternoon." This is 70s, New York filmmaking at its absolute peak. Phenomenal acting performances from Al Pacino, John Cazale, Charles Durning, and Chris Sarandon, inspired direction from the underappreciated master Sidney Lumet, Dede Allen's brilliantly paced editing, a razor-sharp screenplay by Frank Pierson, and wonderful cinematography from Victor Kemper. It doesn't get much better than this stone-cold classic. So grab your guns, book your flight to Wyoming, and step out on the sidewalk for the latest episode of "That '70s Movie Podcast." If you're enjoying the show, please subscribe and also buy us a cup of coffee! https://buymeacoffee.com/70smovies Support the show
Send us Fan Mail This week on That '70s Movie Podcast, Jonathan and Michael go the extra mile for the 1976 thriller "Marathon Man." While we enjoyed many of the stylistic elements of this film, we had a blast discussing the many glaring plot holes (we came up with 12), including poorly placed carriage bombs, bad tonsorial choices, inexplicable post-stabbing decision-making, strangely bouncing soccer balls, and oddly timed baths. This was a fun one with laughs aplenty, so stick your stopwatch in your pants, chew down a few carats, and let us know if the latest episode of That '70s Movie Podcast is safe! As always, leave a review and let us know what you think. And, if you're enjoying the show, please buy us a cup of coffee! https://buymeacoffee.com/70smovies Support the show
Send us Fan Mail Buy Us A Coffee ! This week on That '70s Movie Podcast, Jonathan and Michael pour a tall one for the 1966 classic "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?" In this episode, we marveled at the GOAT-level performances from Elizabeth Taylor (Martha) and Richard Burton (George), praised Mike Nichols' highly cinematic take on a classic American play, and debated what this layered movie is trying to tell us. We also delved into the mystery of George and Martha's marriage, questioned the motives of George Segal (Nick) and Sandy Dennis (Honey), and explained why a movie made in 1966 is featured in a podcast devoted to '70s cinema. So take the fried chicken out of the fridge, grab the bergin from the bar, and settle in for the latest episode of That '70s Movie Podcast! If you're enjoying the podcast, please subscribe and also take a moment to leave a review and let us know which film you'd like us to discuss next. Also, support the podcast by buying us a cup of coffee ! Support the show
Send us Fan Mail This week on "That '70s Movie Podcast, Jonathan and Michael go up the river for the 1978 crime drama "Straight Time." We loved this nuanced and thematically rich late '70s cult classic, particularly for Dustin Hoffman's grounded and bravura =performance as Max Dembo, an ex-convict trying to follow the straight and narrow ... and failing miserably. But we also had tons of praise for the supporting cast, including Gary Busey, Theresa Russell, and Mr. M. Emmet Walsh, as well as Ulu Grossbard's efficient and effective direction. So pull up your pants, don't dawdle, and give this episode a listen! If you're enjoying the podcast, please consider buying us a cup of coffee , and don't forget to subscribe and leave a comment. We love to hear from you! Support the show
Send us Fan Mail This week on That '70s Movie Podcast, Jonathan and Michael hit the gas for Steven Spielberg's 1971 chase movie, "Duel." We talked at length about Steven Spielberg's legacy as a director and how "Duel" showcases his abundant skills but also shows a very un-Spielbergian edge. We praised the masterful ways Spielberg creates tension and suspense in the film, the numerous bad choices made by the main character, played by Dennis Weaver, and why the movie works best as an allegory. So fix yourself a cheese sandwich (on rye), make sure your radiator hose is working, and give this week's episode a listen. If you're enjoying the podcast, show your support by buying us a cup of coffee! Or just leave a review and tell us what you think! https://buymeacoffee.com/70smovies Support the show
Send us Fan Mail This week on That '70s Movie Podcast, Jonathan and Michael press play for the 1971 psychological thriller, "Klute." We loved everything about this movie -- from Jane Fonda's unflinching portrayal of Bree Daniels, a Manhattan call girl caught up in a murder investigation led by Detective John Klute (played by Donald Sutherland), to Alan J. Pakula's inspired direction and Gordon Willis's magnificent cinematography. We discussed whether Klute is a feminist movie or if it's even much of a thriller. But overall, we had nothing but praise for a film that is truly a landmark of the New Hollywood cinema of the 1970s. So grab yourself a nice ripe peach, leave your inhibitions at the door, and join us for the latest episode of That '70s Movie Podcast! Support the show
Send us Fan Mail This week on That 70s Movie Podcast, Jonathan and Michael separated the wheat from the chaff on the 1978 film "Days of Heaven" ... and we also remembered the career of Robert Duvall, who passed away last month. Both of us praised Duvall's extraordinary career and his roles in some of the greatest films of the 1970s. But we focused most of our discussion on his stellar performance in 1983's "Tender Mercies," for which he won the Oscar for Best Actor. We had a bit less acclaim for "Days of Heaven" and Terence Malick, in general. We found this movie, like many of Malick's films, visually gorgeous but emotionally detached. We agreed that Malick's directorial eye is second to none, but feel his commitment to storytelling is wanting. But we'd love to hear what you think and why we're wrong (or right) about Malick and "Days of Heaven." So crank up the "Flight of the Valkyries," jump on the train, and give a listen to the latest episode of "That '70s Movie Podcast!" Support the show
Send us Fan Mail This week, Jonathan and Michael grabbed some popcorn and headed to the local movie theater to check out the 1971 coming-of-age story "The Last Picture Show." We talked at length about the uniformly extraordinary acting performances in this movie, from Cloris Leachman and Ben Johnson to Cybil Shepherd and Ellen Burstyn; praised Peter Bogdanovich's fantastic direction (but uneven filmography); debated who is the main character in the movie; and discussed how The Last Picture Show is, in many ways, an archetype of the New Hollywood filmmaking of the 1970s, while also an homage to an earlier golden age of movies. So jump on the diving board, chalk up your pool cue, and meet us at the Royal for another episode of That '70s Movie Podcast! If you're enjoying the podcast, please take a moment to leave a review and let us know which film you'd like us to discuss next. Support the show
Send us Fan Mail This week, Jonathan and Michael go high-speed on the 1971 classic "The French Connection." We talked at length about the film's multiple, bravura chase scenes and asked if the famous car-train sequence is even the best one in the movie! We debated whether Popeye Doyle, played by Gene Hackman, is a good cop, and questioned whether his character was too one-dimensional and, even more importantly, too amoral. We poked a few holes in the film's plot, but agreed that this is peak '70s action filmmaking and the high point of New Hollywood! So buckle up your seat belts, break out your walking stick, and check out this week's episode. But whatever you do ... don't pick your feet! ** If you're enjoying "That '70s Movie Podcast," please leave a review or send us a note and tell us how we're doing! Support the show
Send us Fan Mail This week on That '70s Movie Podcast, Jonathan and Michael tackle the 1979 sports drama, North Dallas Forty. We talked at length about the evolution of sports movies and how the '70s were a golden age for gridiron warriors, punching pugilists, and biking Italians. We heaped praise on Nick Nolte's performance as well as G.D. Spradlin, Charles Durning, and Mac Davis in his first acting performance. Though we agreed North Dallas Forty is far from perfect, it's a great example of how the New Hollywood of the 1970s tackled the sports movie and raised it to another level! So put on your helmet, strap on your shoulder pads, and get in the huddle for this week's episode. Support the show
Send us Fan Mail This week, Jonathan and Michael jumped into the ocean to discuss the Robert Altman neo-noir classic, "The Long Goodbye." We agreed that this is one of Altman's best-directed movies and a fantastic example of revisionist noir. We talked at length about Philip Marlowe's steadfast moral and ethical code, and how it ran headfirst into the changing social mores of the 1970s. We loved the acting performances in this movie, from Elliott Gould as Philip Marlowe and Nina van Pallandt to Sterling Hayden and Mark Rydell -- and the production design that beautifully captured the look of Los Angeles in the 1970s. So break out the cat food, take the Aquavit out of the freezer, and join us for our latest episode! As always, please leave a review and let us know what you think! Support the show