Marathon Man (1976) - Director John Schlesinger, screenplay William Goldman, starring Dustin Hoffman, Laurence Olivier
Throws you into events while telling you very little, and takes its time developing its characters, turning into a memorable thriller that ratchets tension consistently. '70s NYC with striking cinematography, strong cast. Enjoyed this one a lot. Best to go in without knowing much (and let the wacky opening scene slide).
A Bridge Too Far (1977) - Director Richard Attenborough, screenplay William Goldman, starring literally everyone in Hollywood
Been meaning to watch this one for a long time, but it was a struggle to get through. Dry, dull, aloof telling of Operation Market Garden. Attenborough shoots the action scenes like he's recording a military reenactment event or trying to replicate newsreel WW2 footage (doubly so with the score, straight out of a Pathe video). While it's impressive given the scale of events, it's all so unengaging. We don't really follow anyone, no storytelling, it's more like a series of vignettes, each with some Hollywood superstar. The film tries to get its money's worth with each one so the camera lingers and they have some boisterous hero moment where James Caan or Robert Redford or Sean Connery save the day, then onto the next one. Very much at odds with how the rest is presented. Watch a war documentary instead. Thumbs down.