Kramer vs Kramer (1979) - 3 stars

One sentence plot summary: A woman abandons her husband and son and then returns one year later seeking custody of her child.

Starring: Dustin Hoffman, Meryl Streep, Justin Henry, Jane Alexander, Howard Duff, George Coe, JoBeth Williams

Best of: Dustin Hoffman is sincere, lovable and easy to root for. Streep plays her role just complex enough not to fully hate.

Worst of: Vivaldi's Mandolin Concerto was a bit too chipper to really work as the theme. The arc of the story is very predictable.

Notable: Meryl Streep was originally offered only a bit part in the film. She went on to win her first Oscar for this role.

The Deer Hunter (1978) - 2 stars

One Sentence Plot Summary: A tragedy that follows three vietnam soldiers from small town western Pennsylvania before, during and after their tour of duty.

Starring: Robert De Niro, John Cazale, John Savage, Meryl Streep, Christopher Walken, George Dzundza, Chuck Aspegren, Shirley Stoler, Rutanya Alda, Amy Wright

Best of: A stellar ensemble cast. One of the most intense war sequences I've ever seen.

Worst of: When it's not deeply disturbing, it is unwatchably slow-paced.

Notable: John Cazale died of lung cancer shortly after filming was completed. He only appeared in five films in his career, each considered an unqualified classic today.

Annie Hall (1977) - 3 stars

One Sentence Plot Summary: Tiny jewish dudes with glasses have no luck with the ladies.

Starring: Woody Allen, Diane Keaton, Tony Roberts, Carol Kane, Paul Simon, Shelley Duvall, Janet Margolin, Colleen Dewhurst, Christopher Walken, Jeff Goldblum, Sigourney Weaver, Beverly D'Angelo, Shelley Hack, John Glover

Best of: A rare comedy that makes you laugh out loud even when you are alone.

Worst of: Ultimately, I've just always wanted to punch Woody Allen right in the glasses.

Notable: Sigourney Weaver and Jeff Goldblum, neither famous yet, both appear in bit roles.

Also nominated: Star Wars

Rocky (1976) - 4 stars

One sentence plot summary: A nearly burnt out small time boxer gets a fluke chance to compete for the heavyweight title.

Starring: Sylvester Stallone, Talia Shire, Burt Young, Burgess Meredith, Carl Weathers, Thayer David, Joe Spinnell

Best of: A surprisingly nuanced performance by Sylvester Stallone. I always just thought of him as a dumb action star, but he really is tremendous in this.

Worst of: Watching Rocky go on training runs in Chuck Taylors hurts my feet.

Notable: Stallone wrote the original script in just 3 days.

Also nominated: All the President's Men, Taxi Driver, Network.

One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (1975) - 4 stars

One Sentence Plot Summary: Mental institutions are really fun!

Starring: Jack Nicholson, Louise Fletcher, William Redfield, Brad Dourif, Sydney Lassick, Will Sampson, Danny DeVito, Christopher Lloyd, William Duell, Vincent Schiavelli, Michael Berryman, Scatman Crothers

Best of: Jack Nicholson is a joy to watch. I love that the story leaves you with unanswered questions.

Worst of: All right, maybe I'd like some of those questions answered.

Notable: The first movie since It Happened One Night to win for Best Picture, Actor, Actress, Director and screenplay. Silence of the Lambs is the only other movie to achieve this.

Also nominated: Jaws, Dog Day Afternoon.

The Godfather: Part II (1974) - 4 stars

One Sentence Plot Summary: Both a sequel and a prequel to the original, it follows Michael Corleone as he takes over the family business and Vito Corleone years ealier as he starts that same business.

Starring: Al Pacino, Robert Duvall, Diane Keaton, Robert De Niro, Talia Shire, John Cazale, Michael V. Gazzo, Lee Strasberg, Morgana King, G. D. Spradlin, Richard Bright, Dominic Chianese, Bruno Kirby, Danny Aiello

Best of: A brutally intense fight between Michael and Kay. The introduction of Dinero as a young Vito. Some truly gorgeous cinemantography.

Worst of: Ultimately, it's just not quite as good as the first.

Notable: Robert Dinero and Marlon Brando are the only actors ever to win an Academy Award for playing the same character in two different films.

Also nominated: Chinatown

The Sting (1973) - 5 Stars

One sentence plot summary: A small time grifter recruits the help of an experienced con man to help him seek revenge on a mob leader.

Starring: Paul Newman, Robert Redford, Robert Shaw, Charles Durning, Ray Walston, Eileen Brennan, Harold Gould, Dana Elcar, James Sloyan, Larry D. Mann, Sally Kirkland

Best of: Extraordinary script, pitch perfect acting from Redford and Newman, classic score.

Worst of: It's nearly perfect, but I suppose the blood looks fake.

Notable: The diner set used for this film was later reused as the 50s diner in Back to the Future.

Also Nominated: American Graffiti, The Exorcist

The Godfather (1972) - 5 stars

One Sentence Plot Summary: Being in the mob is totally awesome.

Starring: Marlon Brando, Al Pacino, James Caan, Robert Duvall, Diane Keaton, Talia Shire, John Cazale, Richard S. Castellano, Abe Vigoda, Al Lettieri, Gianni Russo, Sterling Hayden, Morgana King, Simonetta Stefanelli, Richard Bright

Best of: Tremendous story, tremendous acting.

Worst of: Sonny and Carlo have a pretty fake looking fist fight at one point. Okay...really fake looking.

Notable: During rehearsals, a false horse's head was used for the bedroom scene. For the actual shot, a real horse's head was used, acquired from a dog-food factory.

The French Connection (1971) - 3 stars

One Sentence Plot Summary: Two detectives investigate a major drug operation in New York.

Starring: Gene Hackman, Fernando Rey, Roy Scheider, Tony Lo Bianco, Marcel Bozzuffi, Bill Hickman, Eddie Egan, Sonny Grosso

Best of: The single best car chase I've ever seen.

Worst of: The plot eventually begins to feel like just a repetitive series of stakeouts.

Notable: Popeye's Chicken is named after Gene Hackman's character in this film.

Also Nominated: Fiddler on the Roof, A Clockwork Orange.

Patton (1970) - 4 stars

One Sentence Plot Summary: A biopic following General George Patton through his WWII campaigns.

Starring: George C. Scott, Karl Malden, Stephen Young, Michael Strong, Michael Bates, Frank Latimore, Morgan Paull, Karl Michael Vogler, John Barrie, Siegfried Rauch, Richard Münch, John Doucette, Paul Stevens, Jack Gwillim

Best of: Wonderful performance by George C. Scott. The opening speech in front of the American Flag lives up to the legend.

Worst of: The language was apparently toned down to avoid an R rating, which takes away some of the sting at times.

Notable: George C. Scott turned down his Best Actor Oscar, citing a dislike for artistic competition.

Also Nominated: Five East Pieces