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Weekender Thursday, February 7, 1900 'Apocalypse' tops of 1979 in Moore's movie ratings Paga 6 By TOM MOORE At the end of each year, for some odd reason, movie critics make lists of the 10 best films of the year. I have been reading and arguing with various movie critics' 10-best lists for God knows how long. And, as a film reviewer for the Tar Heel, I have my first chance to engage in the .trivial task. Cinema 1979 was a smorgasbord for film-goers; easily the best year for films in the past decade. It would be easy to list the 20 best films of the year, but that would be against the rules of the game. My 10-best list reflects my prejudices. There are no foreign films on my list. I like American films more than I do those foreign jobs (I'm not overly fond of having to read when I go to the movies). Also, most of the films on my list deal with male-oriented topics. I'm not sure whether this is because of my malenessor because there still are few good films about women. One final note before we get to our feature attraction: Some people may quarrel that a few of the films on my list were released in 1978. Well, that's true they were released in 1978 in New York and Los Angeles and a few other big cities, but they didn't make it down to little ol' North Carolina until 1979. And now, without further delay Tom Moore's 10 Best Films Of 1979: 1. Apocalypse Now. Francis Coppola's Vietnam epic manages to convey the ambivalence of war the glory and the horror at the same time. Apocalypse is one of the greatest American films ever made. Visually dazzling and with a perfect cast: Robert Duvall, Martin Sheen, Frederic Forrest, Dennis Hopper and Marlon Brando were all amazing in their performances. But Apocalypse was surprisingly unappreciated by ' audiences. It even became chic to degrade the film for such things as its huge budget and because Brando was a bit overweight when it was made. 2. Manhattan. Woody Allen's complex masterpiece combines hilarious comedy, a scathing critique of our decadent times and a love song to New York City. Amazingly, Allen was able to combine all this and more in one film without faltering. The question is whether Allen is a better director, actor or writer. 3. Days of Heaven. Terence Malick displays several weaknesses as a filmmaker in this film. The story in Days of Heaven is rather simple-minded and the characters are one-dimensional. Yet the haunting visual style and music overcome the film's weaknesses and make Days of Heaven unforgettable. 4. The Deer Hunter. The f irst part of the f ilm set in the small steel-mill town was the most realistic portrayal I've ever seen on the screen of what "boys" do when they're out together. From there the film went downhill quite a bit, becoming fantasy. The much-criticized Russian roulette sequences, however, seem the perfect metaphor for the insanity of war and Vietnam. 5. Breaking Away. A fine little film about people whose lives are going nowhere. Breaking Away had the most O IT-? FIXE FEATHERS W mut ( arir Iff -,t k From the Paris collection . . . another "Must" The Cartier " Shopping Bag" . . . handbag and tote combined. CM the most luxurious, smooth burgundy calf, highlighted with brass hardware, signed with the interlocking Cartier "C". Immense practicality . . . immeasurable cachet. U x 12 " x 3 ". $420 ERNOIAS212 FINE FEATHERS l nivcrsity Square 14tt West Franklin Street. Chanel Hill 42-3151 Durham 544-2794 X;.. '-..: ; ' . ( ' iSR. .ttu Mini ' S' A x 4i Some of the best Brando and Duvall in Coppola's Vietnam epic Apocalypse Now; Hoffman and Henry in heartwarming Kramer vs. Kramer; Field as country girl in Norma Rae. appealing characters of any of the 1979 films. Paul Dooley as the father gave the funniest performance of the year. If he doesn't get an Oscar, there is no justice in this world. 6. Kramer vs. Kramer. A tear-jerker that never becomes sappily sentimental. Brilliant work by Dustin Hoffman, Meryl Streep and writer-director Robert Benton manages to create a touching horror story of modern times that has no villains. What I like most about Kramer is the kid, Justin Henry. He is cute and funny and also a little brat a definite twist on the repulsively sweet youngsters that Hollywood usually gives us. 7. Escape From Alcatraz. Director Don Siegel is the master of suspense. He keeps you on the edge of your seat all through this one though you know exactly what is goint to happen. Clint Eastwood, who has the reputation of turning in tree-like performances, was amazingly good in this prison yar. 8. Haoween. Director John Carpenter takes the most over-used cliche in horror moves the escaped psychopath on a killing rampage and made the scariest film of the decade. 9. Norma Rae. The movie seems out of place in the '70s. Norma Rae has the innocent type of liberal plot that was popular 30 years ago in pre-McCarthy Hollywood. What makes Norma Rae great !is Sally Field's incredible performance. Field plays the part of hick Norma Rae with incredible precision. She is able to get the Southern accent exactly right, a feat few actors can accomplish without coming off as hammily overdone. This alone should earn her the Academy Award for best actress. 10. 70. It has the best slapstick of any film the decade except Animal House. And it has a few nice points to make about life. Unfortunately, 10 doesn't fuse its humor and its poignancy with complete success. But who cares, when you can look at Bo Derek for two hours? 0 Tom Moore is a sta ff writer for The Daily Tar HeeL Special: Only 6.50- Just right for Spring, A slimline eye glossary Compact with seven extravagant eyemakers Great for Travel or That Special Valentine .-a, w si I The Place for the Custom Face jam nil i I II LJ Li B 2 locations UNIVERSITY MALL SOUTH SQUARE 929-8385 489-0385 Cliajel Hill. North Carolina 27514 10 to 5 Monday Saturday r
Daily Tar Heel (Chapel Hill, N.C.)
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Feb. 7, 1980, edition 1
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