Winner: Aliens: This is how it's supposed to work--young director proves himself on a low budget and is given the chance to play around with some bigger bucks. James Cameron's follow-up to Ridley Scott's Alien is a sci-fi action masterpiece that isn't so much a sequel as a roided out version of the original. Like the kid in high school who left in June looking like Yakov Smirnoff and came back looking like Ivan Drago. Timely 80s references--mint! Sigourney Weaver was even nominated for a Best Actress Oscar for kicking so much ass, which really should be its own category.
Back to School: I can't not watch this when it's on TV. Rodney Dangerfield is hilarious. Plus, there's a Kurt Vonnegut cameo!
Big Trouble in Little China: Director John Carpenter and Kurt Russell at the top of their games. Another movie that's just so much fun to watch.
Ferris Bueller's Day Off: Who didn't want to be Ferris? Actually, I think more people just wanted to hang out with him. Seeing Matthew Broderick now, it's almost hard to believe he was once the epitome of cool.
Hoosiers: In the running for best sports movie ever. Hackman and Hopper's powerful performances are just running up the score.
Pretty in Pink: More John Hughes! And this one may be his best overall film. Spader!
River's Edge / Sid and Nancy: Ah, the underbelly of the most superficial of decades. Gritty, indie films that presaged the coming darker, alterna-90s. At least the early 90s.
Stand By Me: Coming-of-age film that actually surpasses the Stephen King novella on which it was based. People tend to make fun of a lot of these 80s kid actors today because, well, people are dicks. But take Corey Feldman...please. Seriously, though, he's very good in this, and a lot of his other roles. It's a shame sometimes that we're all so cool.
Top Gun: Iceman would have crushed Maverick.
*Before Vin says anything, I'd like to point out that Blue Velvet is not mentioned. Honestly, I haven't seen it in some time and don't really feel comfortable judging it here. (And Vin, if you love David Lynch so much, why don't you marry him?)
Blue Velvet...you picked some great 80's films here...what a classic year 1986 was for this stuff...and you used the term mint...I love that...zubas, frosted hair sprayed hair, acid jeans, puffy shoulder pads and all
ReplyDelete