I haven't read the book on which this documentary is based but for all of it's flaws and omissions I found this a riveting watch being a movie geek and in particular a fan of movies made in the 1970's.
Following the collapse of the studio system in the mid 60's a group of younger, more visionary and more European influenced American filmmakers emerged to rewrite the landscape of film and American cinema, filmmakers like Francis Ford Coppolla, George Lucas, Steven Spielberg, Martin Scorsese, Brian De Palma and others would go on to produce some of the most defining moments in modern cinema and influence many generations that followed.
Beginning with Roger Corman's involvement in giving future talented filmmakers their big break, like discovering Francis Ford Coppolla and producing his first feature Dementia 13, the documentary spends a lot of time in the late 60's with the likes of Sam Peckinpah, Dennis Hopper, Warren Beatty and Peter Bogdonavich before diving into the iconic titles of the 70's such as The Godfather, French Connection, Taxi Driver, The Exorcist, Jaws, Star Wars and ending with Raging Bull that was released in 1980.
The most glaring omission of course is the non-participation of George Lucas and Steven Spielberg in this documentary and not enough time is dedicated to their influence on movies which is still resonating today.
So not a perfect documentary by any means as it's a broad sweep on 10 years or so of changes, from the studio system to independent cinema, and how this changed and saved Hollywood but there's enough stories, tit bits and information here that will satisfy most film fans.
Following the collapse of the studio system in the mid 60's a group of younger, more visionary and more European influenced American filmmakers emerged to rewrite the landscape of film and American cinema, filmmakers like Francis Ford Coppolla, George Lucas, Steven Spielberg, Martin Scorsese, Brian De Palma and others would go on to produce some of the most defining moments in modern cinema and influence many generations that followed.
Beginning with Roger Corman's involvement in giving future talented filmmakers their big break, like discovering Francis Ford Coppolla and producing his first feature Dementia 13, the documentary spends a lot of time in the late 60's with the likes of Sam Peckinpah, Dennis Hopper, Warren Beatty and Peter Bogdonavich before diving into the iconic titles of the 70's such as The Godfather, French Connection, Taxi Driver, The Exorcist, Jaws, Star Wars and ending with Raging Bull that was released in 1980.
The most glaring omission of course is the non-participation of George Lucas and Steven Spielberg in this documentary and not enough time is dedicated to their influence on movies which is still resonating today.
So not a perfect documentary by any means as it's a broad sweep on 10 years or so of changes, from the studio system to independent cinema, and how this changed and saved Hollywood but there's enough stories, tit bits and information here that will satisfy most film fans.