1980s List Discussion and Suggestions (Lists Project Vol. 2)

[domino harvey]

Should there be a distinction made when voting for Fanny & Alexander? I can see some people singling out the television version, some voting for the theatrical version and others not specifying.

I vote they should be just considered one film

[Yojimbo]

I don't think I've seen the following worthy contenders mentioned:

Angel (Neil Jordan)
Choose Me (Alan Rudolph)

although I've noticed other admirers of
Melvin and Howard (Jonathan Demme)
(love his 'Handle With Care'......and 'Caged Heat', of course!)

looking over the various lists, I reckon I could still make a very creditable list for this allegedly weak decade

[swo17]

I'll vouch for Sherman's March and They All Laughed. Both are quite hilarious and entertaining, in very different ways.

I've been hesitant to post many recommendations here myself, since I heard of several of them here in the first place, and many of my top picks seem to go without saying, but I do think it would be a damn shame if someone went without seeing these (lesser known?) films:

Come and See (Klimov)
Landscape in the Mist (Angelopoulos)--I haven't seen much else from the director, but this just blew me away. If anyone has other recommendations of his work, I'd welcome them.
Gregory's Girl (Forsyth)
Dimensions of Dialogue (Svankmajer)--truthfully, he's done many other noteworthy things, but this seems like the most likely one to rally around
Lost in America (Brooks)
A Fish Called Wanda--I guess most people have already seen this and made up their minds, but I would die a little inside if I made a list of recommendations that did not include it. I love this movie.

Which reminds me. . . I don't think I've said this 'above ground' yet, but my 'number one film' for the purpose of swapsies is Sherman's March (since my actual number one film is pretty much unavailable).

Why don't you tell us your number one, and then I'll decide if it's unavailable.

[Yojimbo]

some Foreign Film Recommendations
Clean Slate (Tavernier's marvellous reworking of Jim Thompson's Masterpiece, 'Pop.1280', with Phillipe Noiret on top form), and his Round Midnight (best jazz biopic?)
In The White City (not a lot happens in this Alain Tanner, but blame Bruno Ganz' character: I only saw this once about 25 years ago but have been waiting patiently for an affordable DVD release)
Jesus of Montreal (marvellous Arcand satire)
Monsieur Hire (one of the great Simenon adaptations)
Pauline a la Plage (and any Rohmer released in the period)
What Have I Done To Deserve This?; Law Of Desire (early peak Almodovars)
Chocolat (great early Denis)
Carmen (the Saura version; haven't seen the Rosi)
Fitzcarraldo (and its doc. 'Burden Of Dreams')

other US/English Language
Videodrome
Cat People
Southern Comfort; The Long Riders (when Walter Hill movies were events)
Barbarosa (marvellous mythic Western; Willie Nelson was born to play this role)
The Big Red One (the extended version is better)
Cutters Way (John Heard and Jeff Bridges on top form)
The Abyss (marvellous underwater sci-fi, better than any of Spielberg's sci-fi)
Nadine (marvellous comedy crime drama, with great ensemble playing:almost as good as 'The Late Show')
The Kill-Off (great low-key Jim Thompson adaptation)
To Live And Die In LA (great tough thriller, with great cast)

[zedz]

Dimensions of Dialogue (Svankmajer)--truthfully, he's done many other noteworthy things, but this seems like the most likely one to rally around

My top Svankmajer at the moment is Darkness Light Darkness - so funny and so bleak - but in my opinion Alice is unavoidable. I still think it's his best feature and it's one of my favourite adaptations too - completely in the spirit of Carroll even when it's wandering far from the letter. It's also possibly the best film I've seen at materialising how children's imaginations can transform their everyday world.

Why don't you tell us your number one, and then I'll decide if it's unavailable.

Right now it's The Terrorizer - good luck!

[swo17]

I quite like Alice as well, though I was under the impression that many people (not me) find the style of narration extremely annoying. I've only seen the shorts on the R1 Collected Shorts DVD, so Darkness Light Darkness has eluded me thus far...but ah, I see it is included on the Alice DVD--this must be a sign to watch one and rewatch the other.

As for your Yang film, I will track it down as though it were my own lost child, or else give up if it looks too hard.

[Cold Bishop]

Right now it's The Terrorizer - good luck!

It's find-able, and it definitely a top 10-er.

Which opens up the problem of the 80s. In retrospect, it was a some-what wonderful decade for film, but it was great outside of the usual suspects as far as countries and auteurs go. As a result, a lot of the great films aren't available on DVD. Even a film like The Horse Thief, despite being gushed over by every critic at the time, isn't out.

Domino, I'll take your They All Laughed challenge, but I don't know what to swap, since my top 15 is largely of the not-on-dvd variety. I'll throw out Come and See, which should be seen by any listmaker. If that one has been seen, I can think of another.

[domino harvey]

I haven't seen it but was already planning to watch it, so you can suggest another title if you'd like

[GringoTex]

I've redordered my Netflix Q around recs in this thread::

They All Laughed
Atlantic City
Three Crowns of the Sailor
Boy Meets Girl
The Thing
Repo Man
Something Wild
Come and See

Let me know if anybody has any other Netflixable recommendations.

[swo17]

Right now it's The Terrorizer - good luck!

It's find-able, and it definitely a top 10-er.

OK, I've checked my usual channels, and nothing. Any suggestions where to find this?

[Perkins Cobb]

The Horse Thief is available and endorsed by Jonathan Rosenbaum (although caveat emptor, because JR has plugged a lot of DVDs that look like crap over the years).

It really restores my faith in humanity that a lot of the recent lists are not crammed with Spielberg, Zemeckis, John Hughes, or other 80s-nostalgia crapola ... but, fair warning, if the final tally goes in that direction, you're all going to have to listen to me whine about it.

[GringoTex]

It really restores my faith in humanity that a lot of the recent lists are not crammed with Spielberg, Zemeckis, John Hughes, or other 80s-nostalgia crapola

I would like to add Distant Voices, Still Lives to the 80s-nostalgia crapola category.

[swo17]

It really restores my faith in humanity that a lot of the recent lists are not crammed with Spielberg, Zemeckis, John Hughes

Define "crammed." Can I have one of each?

[thebadsleepwell]

I realize that Spielberg is a pariah around these parts (deservedly so), I want to make a slightly impassioned plea for E.T. to at least be considered when one makes their lists. I certainly recognize that it is overly sentimental at times and his damn fool decision to mess with it in the 21st century. I know the music swoons and telegraphs to us what we are supposed to be feeling. And while my feelings may be more in the vein of nostalgia, I cannot help but note a few things that raises it above the run of the mill, science fiction "Mac and Me" swill.

1.) The performances run from pretty good to fantastic. Henry Thomas' performance is awfully good for an American child actor.

2.) The eeriness (noteworthy-the opening credits with the odd synthesized sounds and the forest shots) that pervades the film is particularly effective, especially for younger viewers.

3.) The choice to have all of the adults to be faceless. (Sans the mother and of course after the secret is discovered.)

4.) Shot in sequence, with an actual puppet (and not a computer generated blob), that adds a level of realism (also felt off camera by the cast) and emotional development that is palpable.

I know that Spielberg traded in his respectable chips a long time ago. (Especially when considering he messed with the movie a la Lucas.) I guess I wanted to start a short, pithy discussion about the merits and detractions from what I consider to be a very good 80's film.

[Yojimbo]

I realize that Spielberg is a pariah around these parts (deservedly so), I want to make a slightly impassioned plea for E.T. to at least be considered when one makes their lists. I certainly recognize that it is overly sentimental at times and his damn fool decision to mess with it in the 21st century. I know the music swoons and telegraphs to us what we are supposed to be feeling. And while my feelings may be more in the vein of nostalgia, I cannot help but note a few things that raises it above the run of the mill, science fiction "Mac and Me" swill.

1.) The performances run from pretty good to fantastic. Henry Thomas' performance is awfully good for an American child actor.

2.) The eeriness (noteworthy-the opening credits with the odd synthesized sounds and the forest shots) that pervades the film is particularly effective, especially for younger viewers.

3.) The choice to have all of the adults to be faceless. (Sans the mother and of course after the secret is discovered.)

4.) Shot in sequence, with an actual puppet (and not a computer generated blob), that adds a level of realism (also felt off camera by the cast) and emotional development that is palpable.

I know that Spielberg traded in his respectable chips a long time ago. (Especially when considering he messed with the movie a la Lucas.) I guess I wanted to start a short, pithy discussion about the merits and detractions from what I consider to be a very good 80's film.

I saw ET on its initial cinema release when there was a lot of buzz about it among the critics, hereabouts and in the UK.
I thought then it was just like a superior Disney movie, and wondered what all the fuss was about.

I liked a lot of A.I., though, and there was some brilliant stuff in 'Empire Of The Sun', but the only Spielbergs I even think of rewatching now are 'Duel', 'Sugarland Express', and, [ahem], 'The Color Purple'

[PillowRock]

the only Spielbergs I even think of rewatching now are 'Duel', 'Sugarland Express', and, [ahem], 'The Color Purple'

Aahh, the original Raiders of the Lost Ark was a fun action / adventure flick, sorta in the tradition of an Erroll Flynn swashbuckler.

[Yojimbo]

the only Spielbergs I even think of rewatching now are 'Duel', 'Sugarland Express', and, [ahem], 'The Color Purple'

Aahh, the original Raiders of the Lost Ark was a fun action / adventure flick, sorta in the tradition of an Erroll Flynn swashbuckler.

I much prefer 'Raiders Of The Lost Dub'

[domino harvey]

In a decade rife with brain-dead slasher films, I'd like to single out the terrific the Stepfather, which features a bravura performance by Terry O'Quinn-- and he's arguably even better in the silly sequel (which is also eligible). The sequel's out of print in R1. The first film has never been released in R1 and is only available in widescreen on DVD from Germany (which is certainly worth importing, though it comes on IFC a lot). Both are highly recommended almost solely for O'Quinn.

[swo17]

The sequel's out of print in R1.

Netflix appears to have it in stock.

[Yojimbo]

In a decade rife with brain-dead slasher films, I'd like to single out the terrific the Stepfather, which features a bravura performance by Terry O'Quinn-- and he's arguably even better in the silly sequel (which is also eligible). The sequel's out of print in R1. The first film has never been released in R1 and is only available in widescreen on DVD from Germany (which is certainly worth importing, though it comes on IFC a lot). Both are highly recommended almost solely for O'Quinn.

speaking of weird and wacky, has anybody mentioned Crispin Glover in 'The River's Edge' yet

[GringoTex]

Just watched Domino's They All Laughed. Wow. It's definitely the best Woody Allen film of the decade. It's probably the best Altman film of the decade. It's even the best Rivette film of the decade. Gets my votes. Best NYC film ever.

[exte]

For me:

Three O'Clock High
Aliens
Last Crusade
Raging Bull
Blade Runner
Ran
Hannah and her Sisters
Twins
Dead Zone
Dead Ringers
Empire Strikes Back
E.T.
Evil Dead II
Grave of the Fireflies
Platoon
Rain Man
Tootsie
Christmas Vacation
Witness
Raiders
Terminator

The rest, I'll have to think of..

[domino harvey]

Just watched Domino's They All Laughed. Wow. It's definitely the best Woody Allen film of the decade. It's probably the best Altman film of the decade. It's even the best Rivette film of the decade. Gets my votes. Best NYC film ever.

Again, very glad to hear that the film hit you so hard. It's so nice to see my challenge paying off. Did you have an 80s film you'd like me to see in return?

[GringoTex]

Again, very glad to hear that the film hit you so hard. It's so nice to see my challenge paying off. Did you have an 80s film you'd like me to see in return?

Any of these you haven't seen that you can get a hold of?

The Aviator's Wife
The Right Stuff
Under the Volcano
Poto and Cabengo
Loulou
Blood Wedding
A Good Marriage
Gremlins
Full Moon in Paris
Police
House of Games
Superstar: The Karen Carpenter Story
Gang of Four

[domino harvey]

The only films you listed that I haven't seen or didn't already intend to see are the Gorin film (which I can't find anywhere) and the Saura film, so I guess I'll add Blood Wedding to my queue!