Movie of the Year

• 1971 - Klute

  Movie of the Year: 1971KluteWhy Klute Still Captivates AudiencesIn this episode of Movie of the Year, Ryan, Greg, and Mike examine Klute, Alan J. Pakula’s groundbreaking 1971 thriller that fused noir, feminist character study, and political paranoia into a single atmospheric masterpiece. From its haunting portrayal of loneliness to its razor-sharp critique of power and control, Klute remains one of the most influential films of the 1970s — a tense, stylish, and unsettling work anchored by unforgettable performances.The Taste Buds explore how Klute uses mood, silence, and perspective to reimagine what a thriller can be, and why its themes still resonate decades later.Pakula and Willis: Crafting the Look and Fear of KluteAlan J. Pakula, working with cinematographer Gordon Willis, created in Klute what would become the visual and tonal blueprint for 1970s paranoia cinema. The Taste Buds discuss how the Pakula/Willis partnership shaped not only this film, but future classics as well.Pakula’s direction emphasizes psychological distance, moral ambiguity, and bureaucratic dread.Willis — the legendary “Prince of Darkness” — saturates the film with deep shadows, cold light, and voyeuristic framing that makes the audience feel watched.The collaboration results in a thriller where silence is suspense, space is threat, and every frame hints at danger you can’t quite see.This visual strategy becomes the DNA of Pakula’s later films, but Klute is where the paranoia begins.Bree Daniels: Jane Fonda’s Defining PerformanceNo element of Klute is more celebrated than Jane Fonda’s performance as Bree Daniels, a character whose complexity transformed the possibilities for female roles in crime and thriller cinema.Ryan, Greg, and Mike explore how Bree’s character:serves as the emotional center of Klutenavigates trauma, agency, sexuality, and survivalresists the stereotypes typically imposed on sex workersexpresses her inner life most vividly in her therapy scenes, where the film slows down and lets Bree define herself in her own wordsFonda delivers a portrait of a woman who is both vulnerable and fiercely self-aware — a character fighting for autonomy in a world designed to control her.John Klute: Donald Sutherland’s Quiet DetectiveWhile Bree is the heart of the film, Donald Sutherland’s John Klute is the unstable axis around which the mystery turns. His restrained, almost withdrawn performance contrasts sharply with Bree’s vivid emotional life.The Taste Buds discuss how John Klute:subverts noir detective tropes by being passive rather than dominantreflects the unease and disillusionment of early 1970s masculinitybecomes both protector and threat, comfort and menaceheightens the film’s tension simply by what he doesn’t sayHis quietness becomes the film’s most unsettling element — the fear that danger might come not from action, but from inaction.Klute's Themes: Power, Paranoia, and the Performance of IdentityThe Taste Buds analyze the movie as a story deeply invested in the forces that shape who we become and how we behave:Power — who has it, who wants it, who is crushed by itParanoia — the constant hum of surveillance that defines the film’s worldIdentity and performance — especially in Bree’s...

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• Movie of the Year: 1971 Mixtape

  Movie of the Year: 1971MixtapeThe Mixtape Reaches Its Final FormIn the second and final installment of the Movie of the Year: Mixtape 1971, Mike, Greg, Ryan, and special guest Taylor reunite to complete the ultimate playlist of songs released in 1971. What began as a nostalgic, free-wheeling journey through one of the greatest years in music now becomes a decisive act of curation. Each Taste Bud must make their final selections, shaping the last pieces of a mixtape that captures the sound, soul, and spirit of 1971.This isn’t a draft. This isn’t a competition. It’s a collaborative act of musical archaeology—a mission to create a playlist worthy of an era that changed everything.Finishing the Playlist: Drama, Dissent, and DedicationThe tension rises as the Taste Buds fill the final open slots on the mixtape. The stakes aren’t about winning—they’re about getting it right. Which tracks deserve early placement? Which songs have earned the privilege of closing out the mix? And which hidden gems from 1971 demand to be heard?With every selection, the Mixtape becomes more defined and more surprising, balancing iconic hits with deep cuts, genre-spanning favorites, and songs that shaped both cinema and culture.This episode leans into the drama: passionate defenses, sudden reversals, and the kind of decisive playlist-building energy that only the Taste Buds can bring.The Themes That Emerged from 1971As the Mixtape locks into place, the Taste Buds uncover the unexpected themes that emerged from their selections.Rebellion and protest—echoes of a generation reckoning with war, justice, and identity.Introspection and vulnerability—songwriters unearthing new emotional territory.Genre expansion—rock, soul, folk, funk, and country all exploding in new directions.Together, these tracks tell a story of a year that didn’t just produce great music—it reshaped the cultural landscape.Guest Spotlight: Taylor Returns for the FinaleSpecial guest Taylor returns for Part Two, bringing strong musical instincts and a fearless approach to finishing the playlist. Her choices add emotional depth, tonal variety, and bold color to the final tracklist—helping shape Mixtape 1971 into something that feels alive, resonant, and unmistakably right.Conclusion: The Definitive 1971 MixtapeWith the final songs selected and the playlist complete, Mixtape 1971 stands as a testament to the sound of the era—rebellious, soulful, experimental, and unforgettable. Whether you lived through it or discovered it decades later, these tracks offer a time capsule of a world changing in real time.🎧 Listen now to the dramatic conclusion of Mixtape 1971 and experience the playlist as it comes together moment by moment.📬 Email your own 1971 song selections—or your personal Mixtape 1971—to [email protected].🔔 And don’t forget to subscribe to Movie of the Year for more 1971 episodes, deep dives, and debates.

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• 1971 - Mixtape

  Movie of the Year: 1971MixtapeThe Sound of 1971The Taste Buds are trading film reels for vinyl grooves in this week’s episode of Movie of the Year, as Mike, Greg, Ryan, and special guest Taylor create the ultimate 1971 Mixtape. It’s the year of protest songs, psychedelic experimentation, soul anthems, and singer-songwriter confessionals—and the Taste Buds are here to decide which tracks define it all.Each host takes turns drafting their favorite songs from 1971 and placing them into the perfect playlist order. What emerges is not just a collection of hits, but a sonic time capsule—capturing the emotion, rebellion, and rhythm of a year when music and culture collided in unforgettable ways.The Rules of the MixtapeHere’s how it works:Only songs released in 1971 are eligible.Each participant takes a turn selecting a song. The chooser not only selects the song but also decides where it goes in the lineup, although the choosers of the opener and closer are pre-determined. The result? A carefully chaotic playlist that reflects the Taste Buds’ unique blend of passion, humor, and deep-cut expertise.The Music of 1971: A Revolution on Record1971 wasn’t just another year in music—it was a creative explosion. From the poetic introspection of the singer-songwriter era to the gritty pulse of funk and soul, 1971 became a soundtrack to a generation in transition.As the Taste Buds debate their picks, they uncover how the sounds of this year—across rock, R&B, country, and beyond—captured the cultural aftershocks of the 1960s and set the stage for the music that defined the decade to come.Whether it’s an anthem of rebellion or a quiet moment of heartbreak, every song chosen for the 1971 Mixtape tells part of the story of who we were, and who we were becoming.Guest Spotlight: Taylor Joins the MixtapeThis episode features special guest Taylor, who brings his own distinctive taste and flair to the playlist. A longtime friend of the show and a sharp musical mind, Taylor adds energy, insight, and a few unexpected curveballs to the draft. His picks remind the crew—and listeners—why music isn’t just heard, it’s felt.Conclusion: Press Play on the PastBy the end of the episode, the Taste Buds have built something more than a playlist—they’ve created a living archive of sound, heart, and memory. The 1971 Mixtape is a reminder of why this era of music still resonates, decades later: it was honest, fearless, and timeless.🎧 Listen now to hear Mike, Greg, Ryan, and Taylor craft the ultimate 1971 Mixtape. Subscribe to Movie of the Year, and email your own playlist picks to [email protected]—because your favorite 1971 song deserves a spot on the record.

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• 1971 - The Conformist

  Movie of the Year: 1971The ConformistRevisiting The Conformist (1971) – Power and Identity in Italian CinemaIn this episode of Movie of the Year, Ryan, Greg, and Nate take on Bernardo Bertolucci’s The Conformist (1971), a visual and psychological masterpiece that defined the aesthetics of 1970s cinema. Through its haunting beauty and moral ambiguity, The Conformist examines how a man’s need to belong leads him down a path of destruction.As the Taste Buds explore, Bertolucci’s film is more than a political allegory—it’s an intimate portrait of repression, desire, and the fragile nature of identity.Bertolucci’s The Conformist and the Politics of StyleFew filmmakers balance ideology and artistry as masterfully as Bernardo Bertolucci. The Taste Buds discuss how his direction turns politics into visual poetry, using color, shadow, and architecture to mirror the internal lives of his characters.Cinematographer Vittorio Storaro creates a world of geometric perfection and emotional chaos, where fascist Italy becomes both stage and metaphor. Every shot in The Conformist (1971) is deliberate—an expression of control, guilt, and the terror of individual thought in a conformist world.(Learn more about Bertolucci’s visual approach on Criterion’s Bertolucci essay.)Marcello Clerici: The Psychology of FascismAt the center of The Conformist is Marcello Clerici, portrayed by Jean-Louis Trintignant with quiet dread. Marcello longs to fit in, to appear normal, to bury the parts of himself that don’t conform. His fear of difference drives him toward fascism—not out of conviction, but out of insecurity.Ryan, Greg, and Nate explore how Marcello’s repression and guilt become political acts. His story reveals how ordinary people become instruments of ideology—not through belief, but through cowardice and the seductive comfort of belonging.Anna and Giulia: Women, Desire, and RebellionThe women of The Conformist (1971)—Anna (Dominique Sanda) and Giulia (Stefania Sandrelli)—represent opposing forces in Marcello’s life and Italy’s cultural psyche. Anna is sharp, enigmatic, and politically aware—a woman whose defiance threatens to unravel Marcello’s carefully constructed identity. Giulia is complacent, beautiful, and submissive, embodying the illusion of safety and control.The Taste Buds analyze how Bertolucci frames both women as agents of desire and symbols of rebellion, showing that even within oppressive systems, resistance can take many forms—some loud, others quietly devastating.Guest Spotlight: Nate Ragolia from Debut BuddiesThis episode features special guest Nate Ragolia, co-host of the hit podcast Debut Buddies. Known for celebrating pop-culture firsts—from debut albums to first films—Nate brings his trademark blend of insight and humor to The Conformist (1971). His deep appreciation for cinema’s evolution adds a new dimension to the discussion, connecting Bertolucci’s exploration of identity and conformity to the creative risks artists still face today.🎧 Check out Debut Buddies wherever you get podcasts to hear Nate’s take on the beginnings of cultural phenomena.FAQ: The Conformist (1971) ExplainedWho directed The Conformist (1971)?Italian filmmaker Bernardo Bertolucci directed The Conformist, adapting it from Alberto Moravia’s novel of the same name.What is The Conformist...

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• 1971 - Wanda

  Movie of the Year: 1971WandaRediscovering Wanda (1971) – A Landmark of Feminist CinemaIn this episode of Movie of the Year, the Taste Buds—Mike, Ryan, and Greg—begin their deep dive into 1971 cinema with Barbara Loden’s raw, groundbreaking film, Wanda. Once dismissed and now celebrated as a cornerstone of feminist filmmaking, Wanda (1971) captures the alienation and quiet rebellion of a woman trying to survive in a world that refuses to see her.For movie lovers and film historians alike, this episode explores how Wanda transformed independent film, redefined the female gaze, and challenged the capitalist structures of both life and art.The Character of Wanda: Feminism and Alienation in 1971 CinemaAt the heart of Wanda (1971) lies a protagonist unlike any other. Wanda Goronski, portrayed by Barbara Loden herself, is a woman out of step with the world around her—drifting through Pennsylvania coal country with little purpose, no plan, and even less hope.The Taste Buds explore how Wanda’s detachment becomes a quiet act of resistance. She isn’t empowered in the conventional sense, but her refusal to conform to the expectations of wifehood, motherhood, and labor gives her a radical presence. Her story asks: is true freedom even possible for someone like Wanda in a capitalist, patriarchal society?Barbara Loden’s Direction and Legacy in WandaBarbara Loden—actor, writer, and director—crafted Wanda as an intensely personal response to the limitations placed on women in both Hollywood and everyday life. The Taste Buds examine how her minimalist style and vérité realism broke from the conventions of the era, situating Wanda as one of the earliest examples of American independent cinema’s feminist movement.Shot on a shoestring budget with nonprofessional actors, Wanda captures authenticity without sentimentality. Loden’s direction feels lived-in, intimate, and unsparing—her camera refuses to judge Wanda even as society does. The Taste Buds discuss how Loden’s work paved the way for later filmmakers exploring identity, alienation, and the female experience.Feminism vs. Capitalism: The Political Core of WandaWanda (1971) isn’t just a character study—it’s a political statement. The Taste Buds unpack how the film critiques the intersections of feminism and capitalism, showing how both liberation and exploitation exist within the same system.For Wanda, the American Dream is a nightmare: men exploit her, work dehumanizes her, and freedom always comes with a price. The Taste Buds discuss how Wanda’s raw honesty about poverty, gender, and survival resonates today, reflecting an America where independence remains conditional and fleeting.FAQ: Wanda (1971) on Movie of the YearWho directed Wanda (1971)?Barbara Loden wrote, directed, and starred in Wanda, making it a pioneering example of feminist independent cinema.Why is Wanda considered a feminist film?It rejects Hollywood’s idealized portrayals of women, instead depicting a complex, flawed woman navigating systemic oppression and limited choices.Where can I watch Wanda (1971)?Wanda is available through the Criterion Collection and select streaming platforms dedicated to classic and independent cinema.Conclusion: Why Wanda Still MattersMore than fifty years later, Wanda (1971) endures as a defining work of feminist and independent filmmaking. With Barbara Loden’s fearless direction and the haunting performance at its core,...

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