Joe Panther (1976)

 

A young Seminole Tribe member comes of age outside the Florida Everglades by trying to enter the establishment ( white man's world 

From memory: Thoughtful, interesting coming-of-age story follows the traits of its Native American hero trying to find his way through a tough and not so friendly world; adequate performances and some good (underwater) cinematography make this film quite watchable.

Halliwell (no star): "Pleasant rites-of-passage drama about an adolescent and his dog that takes in alligator wrestling along the way, though it may now seem too tame for its intended youthful audience." 

Maltin***: "Good family film..."

Looking for Mr. Goodbar (1977)

 

 

A dedicated schoolteacher spends her nights cruising bars, looking for abusive men with whom she can engage in progressively violent sexual encounters.

 

Well-made movie with a male chauvinist message about promiscuous women, but worth the watch for Diane Keaton's outstanding performance.

Halliwell (no star): "Exploitative and very boring sex melodrama which doesn't even make one believe in its central character."

Maltin*1/2: "Sordid rewrite (by director Brooks) of Judith Rossner's novel begins as intelligent study of repressed young girl, then wallows endlessly in her new "liberated" lifestyle. Keaton's performance outclasses this pointless movie."