The contrast between the acting styles of and characters portrayed by Steve McQueen and Dustin Hoffman is stark and fascinating. Both of them are survivors, but while McQueen's character, Papillon, is fiercely individualistic and rebellious, Hoffman's character is, in the words of the actor himself, an "establishment man." This film raises the question: Is true strength the ability to adapt to and master one's environment, or does personal strength come from an uncompromising stance to oppression that can lead to…

Joe and Ratso begin the film as excessive caricatures (a Cowboy/Prostitute and a crippled Con-man) rather than relatable characters, but they are humanized as the plot progresses, and are more sympathetic for being larger than life. They seem almost archetypal--like epic heroes from some legend. And I suppose in some ways they can be see as the tragic heroes of their age.

Although not a literal 1970s film, Midnight Cowboy is often considered the first film to be told in…

Probably the most beautiful stop motion film ever created with the exception of Coraline. However, the characters were pretty flat, and I didn't like how the plot centered around the Dodo. I'm sick of Dodos in animated films. Nonetheless, Darwin's character was fun, Number 2 was sympathetic (although not the lead character), and the Queen was crazy awesome crazy. Each of the character designs were also great. Unfortunately, the soundtrack didn't always match up with the them/tone/genre of the film.…

The story of Jesus through the eyes of Judas. This Rock Opera's score isn't just beautiful for a musical, the soundtrack contains some of the best rock music made this decade. The campy, low-budget sets in the Israeli desert, the blind casting, and the pure energy seen in every shot makes Jesus Christ Superstar both one of my favorite films, and my favorite musical. Superstar is more than just a commentary on religion. Through watching a troupe of hippie thespians…