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Martin Scorsese, Francis Ford Coppola, Robert Altman, Peter Bogdanovich, Ellen Burstyn ... see more see more... , Julie Christie , Dennis Hopper , Sidney Lumet , Milos Forman , Robert Towne , Sydney Pollack , Paul Schrader , Pam Grier , William Friedkin , Bruce Dern , Roger Corman , Mike Medavoy , Polly Platt , Jerry Schatzberg , Roy Scheider , Jon Voight , Paul Mazursky , John Calley , John G. Avildsen , Marshall Brickman , Richard LaGravenese , Ted Demme , Alexander Payne , Neil LaBute , Scott Frank , Steven Soderbergh , Michael De Luca , Mark Riley , Stephen Schiff , Jim V. Hart , Robert Mark Kamen , Steven Schiff , Jack Nicholson , Paul Thomas Anderson

In the late '60s, American culture experienced a period of change as the youth movement challenged conventional attitudes about politics, sex, drugs, and gender issues, while the advancement of the Vi... read more read more...etnam War found many citizens questioning the actions and wisdom of their government for the first time. As American attitudes continued to evolve, so did the American film industry; as costly big-budget blockbusters nearly brought the major studios to the brink of collapse, smaller and more personal films such as Bonnie and Clyde, Easy Rider, and Five Easy Pieces demonstrated there was a ready audience for bold and challenging entertainment. As the '60s faded into the 1970s, American cinema moved into an exciting period of creativity and stylistic innovation, which led to such landmark films as The Godfather, MASH, The Last Picture Show, Shampoo, One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, Chinatown, and Taxi Driver, and new freedom for directors and screenwriters. Ironically, however, it was another pair of big-budget blockbusters directed by students of the new wave of filmmaking -- Jaws and Star Wars -- which brought the studios back to power and put an end to Hollywood's flirtation with offbeat creativity. A Decade Under the Influence is a documentary which explores the rise and fall of new American filmmaking in the 1970s, and features interviews with many of the key directors, screenwriters, and actors whose work typified the movement, including Francis Ford Coppola, Robert Altman, Martin Scorsese, Paul Schrader, Roger Corman, Dennis Hopper, Jon Voight, and Julie Christie. A Decade Under the Influence received its world premier at the 2003 Sundance Film Festival, and an expanded version of the film was later shown on the premium cable outlet The Independent Film Channel; the documentary was the final work of co-director Ted Demme, who died shortly before the film was completed. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

Flixster Users

79% liked it

3,289 ratings

Critics

77% liked it

30 critics

R, 1 hr. 48 min.

Directed by: Richard LaGravenese, Ted Demme

Release Date: January 19, 2003

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DVD Release Date: January 1, 1998

Stats: 155 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (155)

  • FilmFanatik
    February 11, 2010
    FilmFanatik
    Excellent documentary.
  • rubystevens
    May 31, 2008
    rubystevens
    a fantastic doc about the young filmmakers who stormed hollywood in the seventies, producing a huge number of startlingly original films. directors like altman, hal ashby, scorsese and coppola along with so many others changed the way we watch movies forever in a decade when for... read more once art ruled over commerce; a happy consequence of the breakup of the studio system, the meltdown of the sixties, and the influence of a generation of foreign filmmakers. it's sad we seem to be stuck in a decade of endless remakes and sequels that's all about the box office...
  • jrmcm
    January 7, 2008
    jrmcm
    Wildly fascinating historical exploration with some very interesting thoughts from the American directors and actors that created a cinematic revolution.
  • SonnyLighstrome
    November 21, 2007
    SonnyLighstrome
    A great overview of the films of the 70s...why they came about...and why the movement ended. MUST watch.
  • mpghoul1973
    September 27, 2007
    mpghoul1973
    This is a great documentary about the rise of the new hollywood filmmakers. Loaded with great insight and ancedotes from the star players of the new Hollwood movment. Staring with their foreign inspirations and finishing with the "block bustetr movment' A Decade Under the Influe... read morence essential veiwing!
  • harryhanzo138
    July 16, 2007
    harryhanzo138
    Highly informative and enjoyable documentary on the rabble rousing filmmakers of the last golden age in Hollywood.
  • futsin
    July 9, 2007
    futsin
    One of the best documentaries ever. Definitely worth seeing for moviefans and people who like watching movies. :D
  • criterionmaster1
    June 5, 2007
    criterionmaster1
    I have been reading a lot about the 70s American film. This film just told me a lot of stuff I alredy knew, but it was still very interesting and fun watch.
  • nanoqna
    January 18, 2007
    nanoqna
    i have so many movies 2 watch! there r all sorts of famous ppl in this movie. its about ppl who make movies. i didnt like it its so show it doesnt show enuf. its good tho. i give 3 and a half stars!
  • CinemaslaveJoe
    November 25, 2006
    CinemaslaveJoe
    This epic (three-hour) documentary on the history of '70s filmmaking relies almost exclusively on talking head interviews and movie clips, but that's enough to paint a fascinating portrait of one of the movie industry's most turbulent decades. While another recent documentary, "... read moreEasy Riders, Raging Bulls," explores the same topic in much the same style, this film nonetheless has much to offer the devout cinema junkie. Interviewees include Martin Scorsese, Ellen Burstyn, Dennis Hopper, Roger Corman, Peter Bogdonovich, Robert Altman, Sydney Pollack, Sissy Spacek, and Francis Ford Coppola.

View All A Decade Under the Influence Reviews

Critic Reviews

Robert K. Elder
June 5, 2003
Robert K. Elder, Chicago Tribune

It's as if we're watching the equivalent of a VH1 special edited for an in-flight movie. Full Review

Mick LaSalle
May 30, 2003
Mick LaSalle, San Francisco Chronicle

Unlike many documentaries about movies, it's neither underfunded nor perfunctory, but thoughtful and bracing. Full Review

Kevin Thomas
May 29, 2003
Kevin Thomas, Los Angeles Times

Leaves us to wonder whether ever again will so many creative free spirits move into the mainstream in such numbers and with such success. Full Review

Wesley Morris
May 23, 2003
Wesley Morris, Boston Globe

It's gratifying and exhilarating enough -- the movie's a foolproof greatest-hits clips package. But Christie is its major coup. Full Review

Peter Travers
May 8, 2003
Peter Travers, Rolling Stone

Here's a fireball documentary about the 1970s, when filmmakers were stoked by sex, drugs, rock and, oh, yeah, social conscience.

Frank Scheck
May 5, 2003
Frank Scheck, Hollywood Reporter

Should be required viewing not only for all film students but also for everyone working on an executive level in the current studio system. Full Review

Owen Gleiberman
April 30, 2003
Owen Gleiberman, Entertainment Weekly

Savvy, detailed, altogether yeasty piece of nostalgia. Full Review

Gene Seymour
April 25, 2003
Gene Seymour, Newsday

Christie speaks with passionate insight, Bogdanovich, Friedkin and Dennis Hopper say things you may not have heard before, and Dern is an unrelenting delight. Full Review

Jack Mathews
April 25, 2003
Jack Mathews, New York Daily News

An almost sublimely perfect summary of a golden era. Full Review

Dave Kehr
April 25, 2003
Dave Kehr, New York Times

It does little but reinforce the romantic notions about 70's filmmaking that seem to have taken root among the current generation of Hollywood's young Turks. Full Review

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