A decade under the influence

Ashes
  • 4.9 (9)
  • TV & Film

We watch 70's movies and do two things: 1: We give commentary along with the movie that may or may not correspond with whats going on (we're the people that talk through the whole f***ing movie) 2: We give a short review of the film and give our observations, some context, and how it lines up with other films of the era. We really enjoy 70's cinema and want to expose you to it as well:-)

  1. Sep 28

    Movie Review # 64 - The 5 Easy Pieces 1970 - Man in the Wilderness 1971 - Black Girl 1972 - Man on a Swing 1974 - Which Way is Up 1977 - Meetings with Anna 1978

    Feelin all bare bones business today, so let’s see.
Movie reviews #64. We review 6 today and they listed in order of their release.
1 (The 5 easy pieces 1970) I loved Catcher in the Rye when I was 17, and I was stuck in a boarding school when I read it first. It was pointed out later when I lived in a rad house full of lesbian activists, that it is pretty darn Male! Well this movie is like that though it’s super not as good. Our witty star is a bit of a shit. As we’ve said many times, they asking questions and having the dialogue but it’s 1970 and it’s rough. *It keeps gettin listed in 100 best films of the 70’s and I would just never put it there, it pushes too many others out of the way.
2 (Man in the Wilderness 1971) PG rated, oh my, I could be wrong but if memory serves this ain’t PG. It ain’t The Revenant but… Also obviously The Revenant is this movie with more gore and minus the early 70’s LSD of it all. I feel that I liked it, but I’m not sure I got it, or that anyone did. Scotty from Star Trek makes an appearance here, but it’s hard to see him under all the dirt and hair. John Huston and Richard Harris are here too.
3 (Black Girl 1972) See I didn’t even love this, but it is way better and more important than the 5 easy pieces. Again that is the flipping answer to all of this,,,,, 100 best films of 70’s, ok but what were you given to see!!!! So many films are still buried or harder to find, and,,,, why do you think that is. I dug this very much and so happy it’s out there now (un buried) it is a very important watch, it’s just a bit harsh at times. Brock Peters rules as a bit of a shit! Ossie Davis (Da Mayor from Do the Right Thing) directs here and he totally rules, as does Ruby Dee who played Mother sister in Do the Right Thing, ya see Spike Lee knew what he was doing. 4 (Man on a Swing 1974) Let me just say that I am a huge Joel Grey fan, and a Huge Elizabeth Wilson fan. You may not know Elizabeth by name but you have seen her rad work in 9 to 5, Quiz Show, Little Murders, Regarding Henry, Day of the Dolphin and many many more. Great Director too that we have been going through the films of, Frank Perry. I personally liked it, but collectively we agreed it’s a bit of a miss. Maybe for fans only hmmm. Joel Grey says he’s the best psychic and helps the fuzz fight some very icky crimes, question mark.
5 (Which Way is Up 1977) Ok, this one! Which way is up indeed, this for us was both flipping awesome and flipping s****y at times, the film could have used some more time to cook in some ways. I can see brilliance in it, and Pryor’s Genius, buuuuuut we also saw some other stuff. It was a WOW what the f**k was all that. For me, could be another one that’s just for fans, but also with some warnings I think. We will definitely tell you all about it in the episode.
6 (Meetings with Anna 1978) A director is on her way to a speaking engagement and meets folks along the way. Sadly for us the 2 other films of influential French director Chantal Ackerman have not knocked our flipping socks off like Jeanne Dielman 23. This one here looks way more awesome than it was however maybe with another watch that will increase, and this one is better than the way too arty News from home where Chantel just set a camera up, filmed people walking by in 70’s New York and reads letters from her mother. Here she is trying to capture loneliness say many, and maybe she succeeds, I suppose that can make a hard watch. What do you think.
Thank you for listening fam.

  2. Sep 7

    Movie Review #63 - Thief in the Night 1972 - Juggernaut 1974 - Who - The Sailor Who Fell From Grace with the Sea 1976 - Madame Rosa 1977 - Headin for Broadway 1979

    Hey Film fans, movie reviews #63 is here in the can. Six films today and it’s nice and tight-ish.
1 (Thief in the Night 1972)- Old school Christian Apocalypse film. Just like the late 90’s poop like Left Behind, Megiddo, and that one with Gary Busey, but with longer hair and sideburns. Patty has nothing but people talking to her about specifically saying that she accepts JC into her heart, she’s like”huh” and gets left behind then post rapture she runs……..a lot!
2 (Juggernaut 1974)e My two pod buddy’s and the rest of the world were beating off about towering inferno, and Poseidon adventure, but they are not my bag, I will say I liked this one better than those and so far I think it’s disaster film #1 next to the one with Shaft as a daredevil, the one with Sparks in it, and the 1 were Helen Hayes rules the disaster film wasteland. Omar Sharif and Richard Harris are BOTH in here, wow, can we take all that Shakespearan pomp! Ok Now add a little Ian Holm, and Sir Anthony Hopkins. Directed by Richard Lester of Hard days night and the Ritz fame.
3 (Who?) Let’s not get me started on this one. Let’s just say that for this sci fi nerd that WHO? Looks way cooler than it is. I also feel Elliot Gould is half asleep through the entirety of this poop. It does exist and I’m intrigued that it exists and got released so of course I own the blu-ray, with commentary!
4 (The Sailor who fell from Grace with the Sea 1976)
V did the amazing write up on this one so I forget the origin but will guess that it is based on a Russian parable about supply and demand, he he not at all. This is about weird one about weird people and one truly nasty fascist sociopath. Director Lewis John Carlino wrote and directed some really rad stuff,,,,,,,,,,Not this! Let’s see what you think after you watch it.
5 (Madame Rosa 1977) Omg this is what it’s all about folks. Finding something like this. Recommend this story of Holocaust survivor who is a Madame, I guess it’s a see for yourself kinda thing, also I feel it yielded a good discussion. This won best Foreign film for 1977, so yes there will be subtitles if ya don’t know French.
Final film today is 6 (Headin for Broadway 1979) Director here is Joseph Brooks and we reviewed his directing before in You Light up my Life (that movie where they over play the song You Light up my Life) but mostly he is listed a musical advisor and conductor on many movies, and that just makes sense. This is light and fun and should go on your shelf right next to Fame and A Chorus Line.
See ya next time fam, and thanks for reading and Listening!

  3. Jun 27

    Movie Review #62 - Traffic 1971 - The Front Page 1974 - A Very Natural Thing 1974 - Between the Lines 1977 - A Bridge Too Far 1977 - The Hobbit 1977 - The Special Olympics 1978 - Sooner or Later 1979

    Where were you, when we did our Movie Reviews #62?!
Right here apparently. Sorry that’s the tag line for American Graffiti in case everyone didn’t get it.
Movin on, 8 movies today 
 1.(Traffic 1971)
Here we have a film by the Famous French director Jacques Tati. I guess Jaques did some amazing and ground breaking films in the 40’s 50’s and 60’s, annnnd then there’s this one about people goin on a road trip to promote a vehicle that can do it all, I think, memory is foggy. 
 2.(The Front Page 1974) Walter Matthau, Jack Lemmon, Carol Burnett, and the guy who works for Doc Hopper in the muppet movie star in yet another movie based off of a play.
3.(A Very Natural Thing 1974) This is not a documentary about the early gay liberation front movement in the early 70’s, but it is close. Movie has real protest and Pride footage, and you can basically see the meetings and discussions that took place to create the narrative that we see on the screen. Amazing film unburied after all these years.
4. (Between the Lines 1977) Here Jeff Gollum is young and on speed or something. Film takes us through some time with a radical newspaper as it is about to be bought by a major label, can these rads keep their street credit, and will Jeff take a well needed nap.
5. (A Bridge too Far 1977) Oh Mylanta they chucked a lot of dough on the screen, it’s like 300 extras parachuting at the same time oh my. We all liked this war movie very much but this is NOT based off of a play, but based off of a war! Almost every male actor working at the time appears in this for at least 30 seconds.
6. (The Hobbit 1977) Don’t think you need 7 hours of a blurry cgi mess to tell us what this tells us all. Hobbits are the shit! Love your home, protect your home. Love your friends, protect your friends, AND that war is flipping Stupid and gross!
7. (The Special Olympics 1978) You tube copy of this is astoundingly unwatchable, listen and we’ll tell you all about it. It is a shame and should be fixed, because this film is quite worthy of being seen, and not just for Charles Durning fans like us.
8. (Sooner or later 1979) Terrible ending to what I thought was a very charming and campy coming of age film. Gross pervy studio executive strikes again I think. Michael Skye band though!
as always thanks film fans!

  4. Jun 10

    Movie Review #61 - Wanda 1970 - See the Man Run 1971 - Man on a String 1972 - Play it as it Lays 1972 - The Man who could Talk to Kids 1973 - Watched 1974 - News from Home 1976 - Cotton Candy 1979

    Movie Reviews #61 8 movies to review today so Autobots rollout. 1 (Wanda 1970) here we have a Writer, director, and actor with no money kicking ass. Her name is Barbara Loden, and we had all never seen this movie before, a buried early feminist film finally unearthed, and by Criterion who has been quick to resurrect  some crud like that Nazi porn film, and leave a lot of the women, people of color and other marginalized groups films still on my list buried. So, more like this Criterion and thank you. 2 (See the man Run 1971) I did the write up for this and I now have no memory of this film, lemme grab my notes. Oh yeah I dug this one, it’s just got one of those dumb vague titles. Here is a plot for me that is NOT Freebox. Angie Dickenson, Robert Culp and Eddie Albert star in this, and you can and should watch it right now on the youtubes. It refreshingly has a plot and also has some odd acting choices and 70’s insanity that this cat craves. 3 (Man on a String 1972) Joseph Sargent directed this. He directed many 70’s movies that we love annnnnnd this. Kitty Winn, Jack Warden and a bunch of white guys that look alarmingly alike are here in this movie where this sharp shooter makes an impossible shot because he is impossibly, that good. 4 (Play it as it Lays 1972) Here we have another film by director Frank Perry that for me, knocks my socks off, I had no idea it was gonna go where it goes. Film is based on Joan Didion’s book, great, I have been so behind on books I need to read since I got my first iPhone, damn! 5 (The Man who could Talk to Kids 1973) Oh my Mr. Brady and the doctor from Jaws 2 are parents that are struggling with what the film calls, their emotionally disturbed Son, so they find a guy who can “talk to kids”. Important subject that we liked save the fact that the “guy” is just a guy that they let take their son and go wherever.  When I get my Time Machine, it will be on my list to find the writer and add at least one degree to this “guy” who talks to kids and NOT have him say, it’s just a hobby. 6 (Watched 1974) Not as good as the bootleg dvd box says it is, but for me it was worth a watch. Stacy Keach and his mates seem to have a lil time, some film equipment, and maybe some drugs, let’s make a movie. Why not?! 7 (News from Home 1976) Here we have a Rad Feminist writer and director Chantell Ackerman, who’s Belgian film Quai Du Commerce, 1080 Bruxelles we really liked and were moved by. Here, let’s just say this is mollases ass slow. She films New York doin nothing and reads an occasional letter from her Mother. 8 (Cotton Candy 1979) Here is a made for tv movie I saw when it aired at 8 years old. It’s about friends forming a band. Even then I knew it was corny, but that I also wanted to someday be in a band. When I meet  Clint Howard I want him to sign his poster from this. Hey as always, thanks for listening friends. Maybe give us all the stars and write a review, thank you.

  5. Apr 29

    Movie Review #60 - Deadhead Miles 1972 - The Execution of private Slovik 1974 - My Father’s house 1975 - The Grateful Dead Movie 1977 - Spectre 1977 - Players 1979 - Sunburn 1979)

    Movie reviews number sixty. Seven films to review today so let’s get goin.
1. (Deadhead Miles1972)
Terrence Malick is the writer here and this is an early work of his. Alan Arkin is here in the starring role along with support from the butler from the Jeffersons, Doc Hopper from the Muppet movie, and Jaws from the Bond movies. The film cinematically answers the burning question, “Did they ever make a more ethereal stream of of consciousness Trucker movie?”
2. (The Execution of private Slovik 1974) This is a heavy made for tv based on the real story of Eddie getting executed for desertion 1945 by firing squad. 49 others were sentenced to death for desertion in that war but all were commuted except for Slovik, apparently to send a message, but then they covered it up. Martin Sheen, Mariclare Costello, and about a baker’s dozen of recognizable characters from the time appear in this one. What else to say except maybe strap in fam.
3. (My Father’s house 1975)
Spiderman’s Uncle, the rad guy from the Music Man, Mrs Peacock from Clue, and Rosemary Forsyth star in this thoughtful made for tv movie about a dad recovering from a heart attack who is thinking about life and his dad.
4. (The Grateful Dead Movie 1977) I think I liked this more than the others here. We all don’t dig the Grateful Dead much but Agree that the story is very interesting. It could have been more coherent but as Jerry himself said “We just keep trying to describe the Indescribable.”
5. (Spectre 1977) Here we have another Gene Roddenberry tv movie starring Robert Culp and Gig Young. The lil promo film we saw about this says that it’s trying to cash in on the Exorcist dollar, but this is waaaaaaay more bizarre, is it good though?
6. (Players 1979) Got a bootleg of this and for a 70’s movie completionist, it is fun for me to see Ali MacGraw, Maximilan Schell, Steve Guttenberg, and Melissa Prophet in this rather bad massive flop of a movie about Tennis, kinda.
7. (Sunburn 1979) The Plastic Surgeon’s assistant from Logan’s Run, The guy who made the worst writing studio for Carol Burnett in their garage in The grass is always greener over the Septic tank, the guy who gives grandpa Wookie space porn in the Star Wars holiday special, Edith Keeler from Star Trek, the Boss of Magnum P.I., and the Baroness from the Sound of Music, are all here in this, so it’s just got to be the best thing ever, we’ll see. Thanks film friends for listening, please consider writing a review, it helps a lot.

  6. Apr 8

    Movie Review #59 - Tell me that you love me, Junie Moon - The Neon Ceiling - Sleuth - Day for Night - Rafferty and the Gold dust Twins - Abba the movie - Long Journey Back

    Movie reviews number fifty nine!
Diving in with the heavy today we have Otto Preminger’s (Tell me that you love me, Junie Moon 1970)
Starring Liza Minnelli and Pete Seeger. A very brave and early film with Queer content, and like Boys in the Band, it can get a bit rough.
next is (The Neon Ceiling 1971) “Your Turning Violet, Violet!” Denise Nickerson, Lee Grant, and Gig Young star in this hot mess of a made for tv film. 
On to (Sleuth 1972) Two extremely British men talk and meanly prank each other for 2 hours and twenty minutes.
Next up is (Day for Night 1973) Here is a film we are told by all film connoisseurs on the planet that we must love, and fine I guess I do just leave me alone about it. This film reminds me of Opening Night 1977 and I am then reminded how much more I liked that film.
Oh look what’s next (Rafferty and the Gold dust Twins 1975) Spoiler alert, if you want a free meal at a fine restaurant, just eat all ya want, walk to another table and gently set it on fire. 
Two more left in this batch and here’s (Abba the movie 1977) another concert film that got a theatrical release, this one had some big money put into it, annnnnd an actual plot, though it is of the “Freebox” variety.
Finally today we review (Long Journey Back 1978)
Train versus school bus and one students long journey back. So it’s obviously light and fun. Cloris mother f’n Leachman is in this films Haus!!!!
thanks for listening friends and if yer new
please write us a review, why not?

  7. Feb 21

    Movie Reveiw # 58 - Bed and Board - The City - The Season of the Witch - The Sting - Jeanne Dielman, 23 quasi du Commerce, 1080 Bruxelles - The Great Smokey Roadblock

    Movie reviews #58
 it’s happening now.
1 (Bed and Board 1970) AKA that Francis Truffaut film with the douche and the flowers in the courtyard.
 2 (The city 1971) AKA The first hispanic mayor tries to do his job, also he wants to bridge the generation gap, he doesn’t want to change his campaign poster, annnnnnnd he hates talking elevators.
 3 (The Season of the Witch 1972) AKA That one where Joan is an unhappy and mistreated housewife, who sees a real witch that is showcased at a dinner party and thinks, yes, absolutely YES. 4 (The Sting 1973) AKA that one where a grifter invokes the grifter community sighting grifter code 320 and they all go in on a long con against a ruthless crime boss. 
 5 (Jeanne Dielman, 23 quasi du Commerce, 1080 Bruxelles 1975) That one heavy French film with the slooooow intensity rising. 
 6 (The Great Smokey Roadblock 1977) That one where Henry Fonda will do anything for the love of his truck!
Folks, them the reviews and we are out. Please engage with us, won’t you, we do work hard and hope you enjoy our stuff.Movie reviews #58
it’s happening now.

  8. 12/28/2025

    Movie Reveiw # 57 - Pied Piper - Watch Out We're Mad - Murder by Death - Amityville Horror - Strangers, The Story of a Mother and Daughter - Brubaker

    Movie reviews #57- 1 (Pied Piper 1972) This be a rated G movie about the Black Death with an obviously stoned looking Donovan as the Pied Piper. surprising that Donovan never wrote a song called “get the cash up front”. 2 (Watch out we’re Mad 1974) Your decade under the influence crew has watched several Italian 70’s films that had some good political and even queer representation, but they all also had horrible sexual assault of women scenes. Enter this film that does not have horrid assault, just two guys spending all their time together being frenemies and wanting 2 dune buggy’s, that’s it, annnnd we found it quite refreshing.
 3 (Murder by death 1976) Peter Sellers and many other talented people star in this zany whodunnit, but Sellers plays an extremely racist character, soooooo just watch Clue!
 4 (Amityville Horror 1979) The older brother from Goonies, Dad has great hair in this movie, in the beginning. As his demonic possession marches on his hair care routine goes right out the window. Better reporter, and superman’s girlfriend is here too, and the whole thing would be fine if the damned priest she asked to cleanse their new house knew what he was doing.
 5 (Strangers, the story of a mother and daughter 1979) Bette Davis and Gena Rowlands star in this serious but also campy rad made for tv movie about A Mother who don wanna talk and a Daughter who does, who will win.
 6 (Brubaker 1980) Wow this has a great top four, Robert Redford, Yaphet Kotto, Jane Alexander, and the mighty Morgan Freeman in one of 2 movies he did that year where he is stuck in prison. This film is great and is about prison reform which it still desperately needs. Reform hmmmmm maybe revolution.
folks that’s this batch of films and we will see ya next time. Please drop us a review, and thanks for listening.

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We watch 70's movies and do two things: 1: We give commentary along with the movie that may or may not correspond with whats going on (we're the people that talk through the whole f***ing movie) 2: We give a short review of the film and give our observations, some context, and how it lines up with other films of the era. We really enjoy 70's cinema and want to expose you to it as well:-)

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