In 1986, the space shuttle Challenger exploded. "Iron" Mike Tyson became the youngest Heavyweight champion ever. Mad Cow Disease was first identified. The Soviet Union launched the MIR space station. The Nicotene patch was invented. IBM unveiled the PC Convertible, the first laptop computer. Madonna hit it big with "Papa Don't Preach" and the Bangles "Walk[ed] like an Egyptian."
In movie theaters, the prototypical "'80s movie" was being refined and reproduced on a weekly basis - movies like Back to School, Gung Ho, Lucas, Crocodile Dundee, The Money Pit, Pretty in Pink, The Golden Child, and Wildcats. Even the Star Trek franchise got in on the act with the highly successful, fish-out-of-water fourth installment: The Voyage Home. Paul Newman finally won his Oscar for The Hustler by repeating the role in the Martin Scorsese-directed The Color of Money. Kurt Russell and Kim Cattrall got into some big trouble. In China. Oh, and Peggy Sue got married. Unfortunately, none of these movies made the cut. But here's what did:
I can't believe I originally left this one off the list! I'm not a huge David Lynch fan, but I have to appreciate the gonzo, totally unique freak show that is Blue Velvet. From the first shot of the severed ear to Dennis Hopper's freakin' insane portrayal of the sociopathic, deeply disturbed Frank Booth, this movie sears its way into your memory. Oliver Stone's Oscar-winning movie is a powerful, emotionally realistic look at the Vietnam War. That probably has to do with the fact that Stone was working out some of his own demons, having fought in Vietnam himself. Less about the violence itself than the toll such violence takes on the characters. Rob Reiner's coming-of-age tale, based on a story by Stephen King, is sweetly simple. It perfectly captures the look and feel of 1959, and gracefully dramatizes the friendship between four pre-teen boys. Excellent soundtrack, and several memorable sequences, including the boys crossing the train tracks and the pie-eating puke-a-thon. Ultra-catchy songs plus nutty pitch-black comedy plus amazing puppetry work makes this one shop worth visiting. There are a ton of cool cameos (Bill Murray, Christopher Guest), and Steve Martin really makes the most of his small role as "The Dentist," wringing laughs out of every line he has. Even if you're not a fan of musicals, you ought to give this one a try. It's like no musical you've ever seen. Jim Henson's fantasy tale about one bratty girl's search for her baby brother, who's been stolen by goblins is weirdly wonderful. Totally unique and too scary for little kids, Labyrinth is one of those happy medium movies that aren't really made anymore. It's a kids movie in theory (there are puppets), but these puppets would never be found on Sesame Street. There is so much creativity in every inch of the screen that you almost don't notice David Bowie in there as the Goblin King. Oh, who am I kidding? Bowie rules. "And baby said..."
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The best sports movie of all time. There, I said it. Everybody has their favorites, and your opinion might differ from mine, but there's no arguing that Hoosiers nailed the underdog sports story. Gene Hackman is brilliant as Coach Norman Dale, and the score by Jerry Goldsmith, sythensizer-heavy as it is, really gets the adrenaline going. The trifecta of Steve Martin, Chevy Chase, and Martin Short sounds funny on paper, but it's even funnier on screen. With a script co-written by Martin, and all of the stars working at the top of their game, this is one of those idiotically brilliant comedies that's alternately smart and stupid, but always funny. Favorite line: "I'll pump you so full of lead you'll be using your dick as a pencil." "What does that mean?" "I. Don't. Know."The first Alien is a pretty tough movie to top. It is a work of art. A work of genius. Knowing what he was up against and easily rising to the challenge, James Cameron gave us a sequel that built upon the ideas of the first and then exploded them in a frenzy of eye-popping action sequences, made memorable by Sigourney Weaver's totally kick-ass Ripley. It is an impressive achievement that split fans into two camps: Ridley or Cameron. I know Alien came first, but Cameron's Aliens really hits the sweet spot for me.Tom Cruise became a megastar as Maverick, the proverbial "top gun" pilot whose ego is writing checks his body can't cash. The flight sequences are spectacular, the camaderie between Mav and Goose is awesome, the rivalry between Mav and Ice Man (Val Kilmer) rocks, and the Righteous Brothers' sing-along ("You've Lost That Lovin' Feeling") is irresistable. Add in Meg Ryan and a crushing main character's death, and the result is an Essential movie. Few movies have captured teenagers' imagination and adults' admiration as John Hughes' now-classic, day-in-the-life flick. With Matthew Broderick commanding the screen as Ferris himself, and ably supported by Alan Ruck as Cameron and Jeffrey Jones as the outmatched principal, this is one Day Off that everybody wanted to have. The City of Chicago, a supporting character itself, shines on screen.
Key first point MANHUNTER! Agree with you on Ferris Buehler, Top Gun, Hoosiers, Stand by Me (one of my all-time favorites), and Platoon. But then you lose me on this list. There are three critical absences. First, as mentioned at the top, Manhunter. That movie is Michael Mann's masterpiece and one of the greatest suspense films around. The production is tremendous and this needs to be in any essentials list for the year. Second, Blue Velvet -- Hopper just died and we owe it to him to have this movie in the list. Plus, it's a really good (though very odd) movie. Makes me yearn for a PNR right now. Third, Back to School. I've seen that movie several dozen times and there are parts that never fail to make me laugh. Those movies clearly displace Three Amigos, Labyrinth and Short Circuit (which, but for the robot, is really not all that good of a movie and far more a kitsch call than anything else). I'd also add Highlander and One Crazy Summer to the list. Highlander for its critical role in dorky, dungeon & dragons playing referential comedy bit for decades thereafter. "There can be only one!" On One Crazy Summer, I'm willing to admit I may be a bit of a Cusack-o-phile and have been going to the Cusack well perhaps a bit too often, but its a great comedy. Hard to overlook Pretty in Pink and About Last Night too. Other honorable mention goes to Down and Out in Beverly Hills, Armed and Dangerous, Big Trouble in Little China, Sid and Nancy, Howard the Duck (that Lea Thompson was quite something), and 9 1/2 Weeks (if nothing more, for its innovative use of foodstuffs in a "love" scene).
I know this controversial for someone of my generation, but I'm not a Labyrinth fan. I think that one passed me by in childhood. I definitely agree, Dave, that Blue Velvet should be on this list.
Having just seen 9 1/2 Weeks a few years ago, I have to say that is one of the more overrated films out there. And really depressingly unsexy. The food scene with that wretched "I like bread and butter" song playing over it has to go down in history as one of the unsexiest (and inadvertently hilarious) supposedly sexy scenes ever to find its way into a film. Great. Now I kind of want to watch it again.
Well done sir. I can't believe I didn't have Blue Velvet in this list. I must have just glossed it over. Not anymore. Bye bye Short Circuit. Hello Blue Velvet. I like Manhunter, but don't find it "essential" enough, especially with Silence of the Lambs coming up down the road. Back to School - well that one may just be your "Three Amigos." For my money, Three Amigos is far funnier.
I'm a Chicago native, former Latin teacher, sometime singer, sometime cook, most of the time parent, not enough time writer, and too-much-time TV watcher.
Wherefore art thou, Rick Moranis?
Key first point MANHUNTER! Agree with you on Ferris Buehler, Top Gun, Hoosiers, Stand by Me (one of my all-time favorites), and Platoon. But then you lose me on this list. There are three critical absences. First, as mentioned at the top, Manhunter. That movie is Michael Mann's masterpiece and one of the greatest suspense films around. The production is tremendous and this needs to be in any essentials list for the year. Second, Blue Velvet -- Hopper just died and we owe it to him to have this movie in the list. Plus, it's a really good (though very odd) movie. Makes me yearn for a PNR right now. Third, Back to School. I've seen that movie several dozen times and there are parts that never fail to make me laugh. Those movies clearly displace Three Amigos, Labyrinth and Short Circuit (which, but for the robot, is really not all that good of a movie and far more a kitsch call than anything else). I'd also add Highlander and One Crazy Summer to the list. Highlander for its critical role in dorky, dungeon & dragons playing referential comedy bit for decades thereafter. "There can be only one!" On One Crazy Summer, I'm willing to admit I may be a bit of a Cusack-o-phile and have been going to the Cusack well perhaps a bit too often, but its a great comedy. Hard to overlook Pretty in Pink and About Last Night too. Other honorable mention goes to Down and Out in Beverly Hills, Armed and Dangerous, Big Trouble in Little China, Sid and Nancy, Howard the Duck (that Lea Thompson was quite something), and 9 1/2 Weeks (if nothing more, for its innovative use of foodstuffs in a "love" scene).
I know this controversial for someone of my generation, but I'm not a Labyrinth fan. I think that one passed me by in childhood. I definitely agree, Dave, that Blue Velvet should be on this list.
Having just seen 9 1/2 Weeks a few years ago, I have to say that is one of the more overrated films out there. And really depressingly unsexy. The food scene with that wretched "I like bread and butter" song playing over it has to go down in history as one of the unsexiest (and inadvertently hilarious) supposedly sexy scenes ever to find its way into a film. Great. Now I kind of want to watch it again.
Well done sir. I can't believe I didn't have Blue Velvet in this list. I must have just glossed it over. Not anymore. Bye bye Short Circuit. Hello Blue Velvet. I like Manhunter, but don't find it "essential" enough, especially with Silence of the Lambs coming up down the road. Back to School - well that one may just be your "Three Amigos." For my money, Three Amigos is far funnier.
I've never been a Highlander guy either.