Best Picture Winner – Steve James

Classic Film Review: The French Connection (1971)

And the Oscar Goes to: The French Connection, 1971 Directed by: William Friedkin Starring: Gene Hackman, Fernando Rey, Roy Scheider, Tony Lo Bianco, Marcel Bozzuffi Two detectives, Det. Jimmy ‘Popeye’ Doyle (Gene Hackman, Unforgiven) and Buddy ‘Cloudy’ Russo (Roy Scheider), begin an undercover investigation into a suspected narcotics deal organised by Salvatore ‘Sal’ BocaContinue reading “Classic Film Review: The French Connection (1971)”

Classic Film Review: The Godfather Part II (1974)

And the Oscar Goes to: The Godfather Part II, 1974 Directed by: Francis Ford Coppola Starring: Al Pacino, Robert Duvall, Diane Keaton, Robert De Niro, Talia Shire, Morgana King, John Cazale, Marianna Hill, Lee Strasberg One of only two sequels to win the Best Picture Oscar (the other being The Lord of the Rings:Continue reading “Classic Film Review: The Godfather Part II (1974)”

Classic Film Review: The Godfather (1972)

And the Oscar Goes to: The Godfather, 1972 Directed by: Francis Ford Coppola Starring: Marlon Brando, Al Pacino, James Caan, Richard Castellano, Robert Duvall, Sterling Hayden, John Marley, Richard Conte, Diane Keaton If you ask any respectable film reviewing company about their list of top films, sooner or later you’ll come across Francis FordContinue reading “Classic Film Review: The Godfather (1972)”

Classic Film Review: Annie Hall (1977)

And the Oscar Goes to: Annie Hall, 1977 Directed by: Woody Allen Starring: Woody Allen, Diane Keaton, Tony Roberts, Carol Kane, Paul Simon, Janet Margolin, Shelley Duvall, Christopher Walken, Colleen Dewhurst Written by, directed by and starring Woody Allen, Annie Hall is about a relationship between two people, comedian Alvy Singer (Woody Allen) andContinue reading “Classic Film Review: Annie Hall (1977)”

Classic Film Review: The Deer Hunter (1978)

And the Oscar Goes to: The Deer Hunter, 1978 Directed by: Michael Cimino Starring: Robert De Niro, Meryl Streep, John Savage, John Cazale, Christopher Walken, George Dzundza Little did Meryl Streep (Kramer vs. Kramer) know after her Oscar nomination (for Best Supporting Actress) in The Deer Hunter that she’d go on to receive 20Continue reading “Classic Film Review: The Deer Hunter (1978)”

Classic Film Review: Chariots of Fire (1981)

And the Oscar Goes to: Chariots of Fire, 1981 Directed by: Hugh Hudson Starring: Ben Cross, Ian Charleson, Nigel Havers, Cheryl Campbell, Alice Krige, Lindsay Anderson, Dennis Christopher, Nigel Davenport, Brad Davis, Peter Egan, John Gielgud, Ian Holm, Patrick Magee Chariots of Fire is a British sports drama about two Olympic runners during theContinue reading “Classic Film Review: Chariots of Fire (1981)”

Classic Film Review: Gandhi (1982)

And the Oscar Goes to: Gandhi, 1982 Directed by: Richard Attenborough Starring: Candice Bergen, Edward Fox, John Gielgud, Trevor Howard, John Mills, Martin Sheen, Ben Kingsley The third Best-Picture winner of the 1980’s to be focused on the real life of one man (after Mozart in Amadeus (although told through the eyes of another)Continue reading “Classic Film Review: Gandhi (1982)”

Classic Film Review: Amadeus (1984)

And the Oscar Goes to: Amadeus, 1984 Directed by: Milos Forman Starring: F. Murray Abraham, Tom Hulce, Elizabeth Berridge, Simon Callow, Roy Dotrice, Christine Ebersole, Jeffrey Jones, Charles Kay Amadeus looks at the life of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (Tom Hulce) and a fellow composer, who is incredibly envious of him and his work, AntonioContinue reading “Classic Film Review: Amadeus (1984)”

Classic Film Review: Forrest Gump (1994)

And the Oscar Goes to: Forrest Gump, 1994 Directed by: Robert Zemeckis Starring: Tom Hanks, Robin Wright, Gary Sinise, Mykelti Williamson, Sally Field One day Forrest Gump, a slow-witted but king-hearted man, sits down on a bench, waits for a bus and begins to tell a woman, who is also waiting for a bus,Continue reading “Classic Film Review: Forrest Gump (1994)”

Classic Film Review: Braveheart (1995)

And the Oscar Goes to: Braveheart, 1995 Directed by: Mel Gibson Starring: Mel Gibson, Sophie Marceau, Patrick McGoohan, Catherine McCormack, Brendan Gleeson Directed by an American, mainly starring American (Mel Gibson & Patrick McGoohan), English (Catherine McCormack), Irish (Brendan Gleeson) and French (Sophie Marceau) actors, produced by two Americans (Mel Gibson & Alan Ladd,Continue reading “Classic Film Review: Braveheart (1995)”