A Decade Under the Influence (2003)

Intended for those with vast amounts of time on their hands

This was well done but quite long as it was originally a mini-series of sorts for television. It was fascinating but at the same time, not quite engaging enough for something so long. July 9, 2007

Great for the younger crowd!

As someone who didn't live through the 70's and doesn't know all too much about 70's filmmaking, this was a great little insight.

I can understand how some people may be greatly disappointed by this film...

If you experienced the 70's during a time in your life when movies really made an impact or you just simply know a lot about films from this era, there might be quite a bit left to be desired.

But for me, someone who's greatest and most thorough knowledge of films only spans from the late 80's on - A Decade Under the Influence is great!

You get to hear about how filmmakers dealt with the studio's, how the studio's dealt with the filmmakers, how the face of the leading man changed from someone very attractive to the guy next door, how actresses approached their jobs during that time, and how directors and producers approached filmmaking like never before.

This is definitely for younger people or those who never really knew much about films from the 70's in the first place.

And luckily since I don't know what's missing from it that could make it better, I don't have anything to complain about...

Overall, I highly enjoyed this film!
March 24, 2007

If You're Born in the Eighties, and love the 70's!

This is the film for you to learn about all the independent spirit that seems both in it's height, and in it's originality, which has paved the road for our famous, our entertaining directors of today. This is not to say that there is not a better picture to be made of the seventies, but it's the best one that's out at this time. Get it if you have interest in Filmmaking History, and here how the independent movement really started. A time when art was more important than ignorant obedience for a film with a talking fish. Hear about how athe great films changed the way people saw movies. Hear about it, and love it. March 7, 2007

Too polite and puppyish

This is about the shallowest possible overview of American filmmaking in the 1970s, a decade of remarkable films ill-served by overly reverential interviews with key figures from the period, too-brief and often poorly chosen clips from their films, and lazy media clips (Nixon, Vietnam, and so forth). No subject is ever asked hard questions about his work, no unpleasant truths are aired, and all are treated as if they were fragile Icaruses who flew too close to the sun. Please. William Friedkin, for one, is a terrible director who's lucky to've had any success at all. I can't improve on what "El Kabong" said in his review: people didn't line up to see The Exorcist for its sensitive treatment of religious issues, but because of its sensational money shots of vomit and spinning heads. And Altman, may he RIP, had in the end a terrible batting average, making stinkers like Popeye and Quintet at least as often as he produced stunners like McCabe & Mrs. Miller or 3 Women. (Ah, 3 Women...why didn't we get a scene from *that*?) If ADUTI gets neophytes to view some of the mentioned movies, then OK, but on its own merits it is nothing special. However, I did greatly enjoy the (infra-red?) clip of 1975 audiences reacting to JAWS: very funny!

This documentary originally aired on cable in three 50-minute episodes, and that's how it's packaged on this DVD. Was it actually released in theaters in a different edit? February 19, 2007

Great for newbies, good for others, probably not for critics.

After reading the other reviews and after loving this documentary, because like most people from the United States, I didn't have much culture in film when I first saw this on TV, I must share that this documentary lists so many great films that most people have never seen. It also identifies a great period in U.S. cinema when many Hollywood studios made real and gritty movies like in independent film today. So if you want to educate yourself on Hollywood and U.S. film between the major changes of the old school glam and the new school blockbusters, this is a great place to start or continue your education. Keep a pen and paper handy to write down many great movies to watch!

I have not seen "Easy Riders Raging Bulls" nor "The Kid Stays in the Picture", but if you like documentaries about films, check them out too but "A Decade Under the Influence" is a great place to start. I also recommend "The Z Channel" for some of the best foreign films and many other obscure films to put on your list of movies to see. It also includes a dark and tragic story of a film lover who wanted everyone to see them.

If you've seen many of the movies from these times, you many not enjoy watching these documentaries. If you expect it to be a philosophical discussion of cinema and the change at the time, it probably will come up short. But if you're like me and you want to watch and learn about even a couple new movies you've never heard of, they're worth their weight in gold!!
December 21, 2006

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