1975: O Ano Do Colapso

I see great promise here, but the filmmakers kept fudging dates to make their thesis (e.g., Godfather Part II is 1974). The next step for Hollywood filmmakers is to get out and get some fresh air. I have written a book about 1975, which was volatile because of the final end of Vietnam (April 30, 1975; 30 years to the day after Hitler's death). This was not only volatile to Hollywood films. Philip Glass broke from his modernist past to write a sort of rock opera (Einstein on the Beach); the Sex Pistols became know in America; the original SNL cast started their thing; and the notion of Post-Modernism had solidified mixing music styles and art, not to mention philosophy and law. Read my book: High and Low Culture since 1975.

Looking at it from a movie-buff's point of view it was pretty good. I had seen most of the movies represented, some were pretty good but most were just OK. It was strange having Seth Rogen and Patton Oswald commenting on this. It just reminded me of how long ago this was, my first year of college. If someone is going to pick a pivotal year in the 70's I would think that 1975 would be it. Jack Nicholson was certainly at the top of his game!

At the end during the Bad News Bears scene, the documentary omitted the words, "under God," from the Pledge of Allegiance quotation. And this program was to be historically accurate? Why would they butcher the Pledge, thereby ruining the credibility of the documentary? I just don't understand.

Other than that, the program moved slowly, and I told myself just to hang in there and stick with it, but it never moved at a healthy pace. Also, it seemed to be selectively opinionated, more so than necessary. I was rooting for it to get better, but it never did. And that omission at the end was the final nail in the coffin.

This is a combination of actual American history and films and TV made in 1975. Some of the examples are not 1975, like All in the Family from a 1971 episode, to including movies not made in 75 in the narrative. It attempts to tie everything together, with guest talking heads from all across Hollywood and media. Is it history, or is it about movies made in 1975? I failed to see the ultimate connection between the 2 themes that flicker back and forth for 90 minutes. The filmmakers seem to be trying to make 1975 as an unique turning point in American history. I guess that could be true, but so could plenty of other years in the 60's and 70's. I felt to me that it was made via reverse engineering after they created a concept they wanted to convey.

Incredible insights into a pivot of American culture, including a few preceding years. Includes cultural context of films and reactions/reception.

Exposed is the massive censorship establishment has always imposed on America, and a well crafted fabric providing insight on why hippies never ruled the world.

This would seem like a strange film/documentary project (as opposed to a miniseries), but I understood it after watching, and feel it was done right.