The Moonlight Awards

What's the best year ever for a director? Victor Fleming co-directed Gone With The Wind and The Wizard of Oz in 1939; Ingmar Bergman released Wild Strawberries and The Seventh Seal in 1957; and Steven Spielberg dropped both Jurassic Park and Schindler's List in 1993. They're all contenders, but 1974 may have them all beat: not only is this the year Francis Ford Coppola finished Godfather II and The Conversation, it's also the year Mel Brooks wrapped up both Blazing Saddles and Young Frankenstein. Some folks are just overachievers.Join Rachel Schaevitz and Aaron Keck as they discuss the year in cinema, the greatest moments in comedy, mental illness, Germany's guestworker program, sisters, daughters, and the year's top headlines - and then we dig into the data and the numbers (and our expert panel votes) to identify the best film of 1974. (This time, we're also joined by historian Jennifer Miller - whose research focuses on that guestworker program, the backdrop of Fassbinder's "Ali: Fear Eats the Soul.") The nominees are Ali: Fear Eats the Soul, Chinatown, The Godfather: Part II, A Woman Under the Influence, and Young Frankenstein. Who wins the Moonlight? 

It's 1973, and it's a rough time in world and U.S. history. The Vietnam War is still raging, there's a massive oil shortage, and crime is rampant - even in the White House. So it's no surprise that our top films of '73 share a sort of unease about the present, channeled into horror (The Exorcist) or cynicism (Mean Streets) or nostalgia for the past (American Graffiti). They have that much in common - but which one film best stands the test of time? Join Rachel Schaevitz and Aaron Keck as they discuss the year in cinema, emerging directors, awkward fight scenes, rock soundtracks, cursed productions, and the hotness (or lack thereof) of Donald Sutherland - and then we dig into the data and the numbers (and our expert panel votes) to identify the best film of 1973. The nominees are American Graffiti, Badlands, Don't Look Now, The Exorcist, and Mean Streets. Who wins the Moonlight? 

Some years are easier than others. This time, we're tackling 1972, a year that has always been dominated by The Godfather. But while Brando and company are likely to take gold this time, it's still a fascinating battle for second - including a resurgence of European films, which had been lacking amidst the predominance of the New Hollywood movement. Join Rachel Schaevitz and Aaron Keck as they discuss the year in cinema, the greatest film scores, the craziest lead actors, the best musical numbers, and the ploddiest sci-fi flicks - and then we dig into the data and the numbers (and our expert panel votes) to identify the best film of 1972. The nominees are Aguirre, the Wrath of God, Cabaret, The Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie, The Godfather, and Solaris. Who wins the Moonlight? 

The New Hollywood movement has been on the rise for the last few years, and by 1971 it's dominant. From directors like Altman, Friedkin, and Bogdanovich to actors like Bridges, Beatty and Hackman, we're now encountering all the stars that will define the industry for the next generation. But the old guard is still very much around - and standing amidst them all is Stanley Kubrick, who's back again with yet another visually striking masterpiece. But which one film best stands the test of time? Join Rachel Schaevitz and Aaron Keck as they discuss the year in cinema, small-town tumbleweeds, decaying cities, fascism, and amoral antiheroes - this was a gritty year! - and then we dig into the data and the numbers (and our expert panel votes) to identify the best film of 1971. The nominees are A Clockwork Orange, Death in Venice, The French Connection, The Last Picture Show, and McCabe & Mrs. Miller. Who wins the Moonlight?