Most Popular Film The Year You Were Born! (1972-2021)
Through the Cold War and the rise of incredible technology; through global warming and endless wars; through trips toward the farthest limits of the solar system and the deepest chasms of the human mind… from 1972 onward immense changes in the world provided a new and vibrant landscape for storytelling to unfold. The mainstream cinema, competing with television’s meteoric rise, turned out ever-greater spectacles, while indie producers and directors perfected new forms of visual commentary on the changing landscape of a brave new world and the infinite complexity of the human mind.
Before I set out to become a writer, I lived in the world of cinematography. I attended film history and theory classes and even worked on a few simple student films. A huge part of my life revolved around the film world, and I collected a massive library of favorites from across the decades, but soon found that I adored early films beyond most any others.
I’ve set out to capture the best films from 1931 to 2021 in these two massive articles, thereby chronicling life from the so-called “Silent Generation”, through the “Baby Boomers”, on to Generation X and the Millennials, and finally into the future of “iGen” and “Generation Alpha”. Cinema is a remarkable medium for exploring what mattered to people at a specific time, and for understanding the state of the world in an intimate, visceral way. It’s also an important vehicle for change, capable of enriching minds and shifting public discourse away from, or toward, vital topics not otherwise yet within the mainstream.
One thing you’ll notice is that I don’t always go with the big production hits now that we’re closer to the modern era. I hope to draw out some of the great films that you might not have thought of, or might never have seen before. Check this out, dive on in, watch some of these amazing films… and when you’re done, check out part one for all the greatest films between 1931 and 1971 as well.