Patton (1970)

Directed by Franklin J. Schaffner

Starring George C. Scott, Karl Malden, Michael Strong, Karl Michael Vogler, Richard Munch, Michael Bates, Gerald Flood, Jack Gwillim, and Ed Binns

Like most recent Best Actor winners, the lead performance in Patton overshadows the film as a whole. Scott is magnificent as the eccentric American general during World War II. However, the film tends to be overlong and too reverent of its subject. It seems to excuse the negative things he did, writing them off to his strange nature. I would have liked to see a more critical look at the controversial leader. That being said, Scott does better than well with the material, giving one of the best performances of his stellar career. Take a look at it for a great performance, but don't expect too much more.

Other nominees: Airport (George Seaton and Henry Hathaway), Five Easy Pieces (Bob Rafelson), Love Story (Arthur Hiller), and M*A*S*H (Robert Altman)