The 80s, what a decade for film. But as you will soon learn we are talking about an over-abundance of films this week, so let’s just get straight to them. Later information will justify the lack of comments on certain films, trust me.
I must also add that I have recycled certain comments regarding films that appeared on my “Top Ten” piece that opened this blog, pardon my laziness, but this was a herculean task.
15. Rain Man (Levinson, 1988)
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One of the many great dramas of the decade. Dustin Hoffman often gets lauded here as the greatest performance of the film and the praise is more than worthy, it’s a genuinely excellent performance. But I have always felt that the hardest task lies with Tom Cruise here, as the ‘straight man’ per-say. I feel if his empathy and charisma was not at the top marks that it is, then the film would fall flat. Fortunately for us both performances are superb and make the film the modern drama classic that it rightly is.
14.
An American Werewolf in London (Landis, 1981)
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One of the most quoted films around my neck of the woods, and one of the most enjoyable. The opening Yorkshire section of this film just sets you on the perfect path for the darkly comedic path of brilliance that you’re in for. Like any great horror-comedy, Landis perfectly balances both and never shies away from the comedy and most importantly never lets his foot off the gas with the brilliant horror sequences, all of which are truly terrifying.
13.
The Thing (Carpenter, 1982)
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For me this is John Carpenters best film. If you get me on the
right day then I might comment that Halloween
is my favourite, but I think all in all this is his most accomplished film
in almost every regard. The film features some of the greatest special effects
ever put to celluloid, and despite my pension for hyperbole, this is desperately
true here. Kurt Russell leads a murderers row of excellent talent into the stomach
of the beast and as for the beast...well, what a beast.
12.
Raging bull (Scorsese, 1980)
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Scorsese and De Niro’s long journey into the soul of real life Jake La Motta revitalised and developed a whole new way to make a biopic, a path that I wish more people took to make their films more interesting. Although I do believe that De Niro has given more nuanced performances, this is hands down his best in the realm of pure brutish force and the peak of his chameleon-esque manner to embody a person whole.
11.
Dead Poets Society (Weir, 1989)
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A beautiful life-affirming film that can defy even the coldest
heart to break just a little. It’s not the greatest coming of age film of the 80s,
that comes later in this list, but it’s certainly up there. Actually for me, I
feel this movie taps into a more poetic (pardon the pun) insight into transcendence
from adolescence into adulthood, never looking away from all of the terrible
pain that can come in this transition. And when we are taken on this journey by none
other than the angel that is Robin Williams, we find ourselves with a truly
majestic and powerful film.
10.
The Verdict (Lumet, 1982)
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Perhaps the peak of a career of unbelievable breadth, Paul Newman stars as the haggard alcoholic lawyer creation of David Mamet in this sublime and brutal Sidney Lumet courtroom drama, facing off against a deviously devilish James Mason. Jack Warden and Charlotte Rampling offer similarly marvellous support to make this gritty tale of Frank Galvin's “one last chance at a big case” the barn-storming lawyer classic that it is.
9.
The Big Chill (Kasdan, 1983)
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Perhaps the finest ensemble cast in a decade filled with an abundance of them. Lawrence Kasdan with his camera and pen weaves us through these tales with a deftness comparable to Altman. Close and Kline and Hurt standout amongst the crowd, each giving pure performances of rich humanity and pain (aswell as moments of light comedy). But don’t sleep on Goldblum, Berenger, Kay Place, Tilly, who offer further great work leading this cast to fulfil my first statement.
8.
The King of Comedy (Scorsese, 1982)
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Scorsese’s finest work of the 80s, The King of Comedy. A perfect companion piece to Taxi Driver if you look at the skeleton, with De Niro playing an isolated and depressed slightly mentally ill basket case who wants to make a difference in the world – except this time it’s funny, and good god is it funny. For me this can take Raging Bull in the ring any day of the week.
7.
Heartburn (Nichols, 1986)
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Mike Nichols' Heartburn is quite simply flawless and frankly one
of the greatest romantic-comedic-dramas of the decade. Meryl Streep divorces
Jack Nicholson, written by Nora Ephron, underscored by Carly Simon. Name a
better collection of five people at their primes, I dare you. A truly marvelous
film that simultaneously breaks your heart, whilst reigniting your faith in
love and marriage, or at least giving you hope to find a better love.
6.
Broadcast News (Brooks, 1987)
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James L Brooks offers us another of the great movies of the 80s. Directing and writing one of the ultimate love triangles ever put to film; with William Hurt, so dastardly handsome and charming, Albert Brooks, so perfectly cowardly and cruel, and Holly Hunter, so pitch perfect as Jane, wining you over from her first frame. So much delectable dialogue, so many brilliant love moments, so much to get your teeth into, that the meal fills you indefinitely.
5.
Stop Making Sense (Demme, 1984)
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Many might comment that putting a concert film of the much celebrated band Talking heads this high is a truly baffling choice, but I feel like it would be remiss to not place this film at such a worthy position. After all this is the greatest concert film of all time and if you were to categorize them as such, one of the best documentaries of all time. Jonathon Demme immortalises this legendary selection of songs and adds much cinematic flare to the proceedings and editing, along with David Byrne’s decisions in staging and performance that lead this to be simply one of the best films of it’s kind.
4.
Die Hard (McTiernan, 1988)
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The finest action film ever made in my eyes, it was just never topped. Such as Halloween and Jaws and others before it and after it, have succeeded by striving in their simplicity, such is the case here also. With Bruce Willis (incredible as the everyman action man, John McClane) going head to head with Alan Rickman, so perfectly evil as Hans Gruber. McTiernan directs a sturdy and impeccably constructed film that will never fail to completely win you over in every regard.
3.
Stand By Me (Reiner, 1986)
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Quite possibly the greatest coming of age film ever made. This first of two Reiner/Stephen King adaptations, is the ultimate film in that ever rich genre in the world of adolescent films. What makes the film is that classic King grit and Reiner’s choice to not dilute any of it. Through the eyes/voice of a wonderfully nostalgic Richard Dreyfuss, we view our four leads. All four of which are just tops in their roles. Will Wheaton, Corey Feldman and Jerry O Connel are all great, but the true star of the film is River Phoenix. There is no doubt that Phoenix unfortunate passing adds to the power of the film, but if it was not for the fact that Phoenix was so damn excellent in the film, then that power would not be there to be harnessed anyway. A beautiful elegy to a time that passes everyone by.
2.
Amadeus (Forman, 1984)
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Taking Peter Schaffer’s original play and adapting himself to the
screen, we come to make one of the most celebrated and deserving operatic films
of all time. Every choice in this film, from the editing, to costume, to
performance, to the cinematography is all perfectly positioned and framed into
this dynamic and virtuosic piece of film-making, which if it wasn’t for One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest would be Milos Forman’s best effort.
The fact that it isn’t is a huge testament to the director’s work.
1. The Shining (Kubrick, 1980)
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The ultimate enigma of a film, lending to multiple decades of research into signs and the like, and one can view it as such, or one can simply watch it was a pure horror film. The simple tale of a man going insane and eventually succumbing to a murderous urge to murder his entire family. Kubrick’s work here is just incredible, naturally living up to his often given title as an absolute genius of the world of cinema. A more than worthy film to top this list.
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Now at this point you are probably wondering where all the comedies were on that list. Well, I personally believe the 80s to be the finest decade for comedy that we have ever had, so here’s a separate ranking of the 15 greatest comedies of the decade. You lucky devils.
15.
Risky Business (Brickman, 1983)
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The best that early Tom Cruise has ever been, paired with one of the all time sex-symbols of the decade with Rebecca De Mornay. Paul Brickman’s unfortunately sole hit is a declaration of style against the typical frat-sex comedy of the era. A film far better than it ever gets credit for, which is greatly unfortunate.
14.
Coming to America (Landis, 1988)
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One of the multiple excellent Landis/Murphy comedies of the decade, but for me the best part of this film is it’s romance which it never scrounges on. There is an abundance of excellent comedy, but for me, the romance just keeps me coming back to watch and watch again. Also get ready for the absolute greatest cameo of all time. The simply perfect return of two characters that couldn’t come back in a better and more fitting fashion.
13.
Dirty Rotten Scoundrels (Oz, 1988)
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The ever delightful Steve Martin is suited with his match against a surprisingly hilarious Michael Caine, pitted against each other in spectacular fashion in Frank Oz’s ultimate snob V slob film. Both going up against each other to swindle the similarly brilliant late Glenne Headly as Janet Colgate. The film is constantly twisting our expectations and genuinely never fails to make us laugh hysterically.
12.
The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad! (Zucker, 1988)
Another all-mighty gag fest from David and Jerry Zucker and Jim Abrahams, giving Leslie Nielson another all timer comedy character in Frank Drebin. A person could make the case to me about how this could topple Airplane!, but I don’t think that day will come. All the same, The naked gun is an all round feat in comedy film-making and ultimately film-making entirely.
11.
Clue (Lynn, 1985)
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The greatest comedic ensemble of the decade feature in the taut, hilarious, impeciably clever comedic mystery farce, with forces such as Tim Curry and Madeline Kahn on absolute barn-storming runs, paired against Mckean, Lloyd, Brennan, Mull and Ann-Warren – none of which offer us a weak performance, the film never lets us off the hook. The taglines correct, “it’s not just a game anymore”, it’s one of the funniest films of the 80s.
10.
National Lampoons Vacation (Ramis, 1983)
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I write this paragraph on the film after re-watching the remake at a friend’s house and although I don’t think that film is the worst thing in the world and I actually think it’s got its fair bit of solid comedy, nothing can beat the original (or the other wonderful sequels – not Vegas). With a John Hughes script directed by Harold Ramis with cameos from Randy Quaid, Eddie Bracken, Brian Doyle Murray, Eugene Levy, John Candy and Christie Brinkley – you really can’t go wrong with a vacation where Chevy Chase is your guide, one of the all time comedians.
9.
This is Spinal Tap (Reiner, 1984)
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Quite possibly the greatest mockumentary ever made. Although there were films of the same ilk before, Reiner and Christopher Guest with This is Spinal Tap invented the modern comedic mockumentary. If I was to put any against it I would have to look to TV, with works such as Ricky Gervais The Office, or the future films of Christopher guest and his band of merry actors with comedy classics like Waiting for Guffman, Best in Show and A Mighty Wind. But this effortlessly tight comedy masterpiece and it’s whacky characters are forever indelible in the world of music and film alike, and will forever be legends of the comedy world.
8.
Ferris Bueller’s Day Off (Hughes, 1986)
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We go back to 1986 to see a more fresh-faced Mathew Broderick in his star-making role as the titular rebel in 'Ferris Bueller's Day Off'. Although I’d still side with his turn in Election over this, nobody can ever deny the immense charisma of Broderick in this film, perfectly becoming a walking talking embodiment of the phrase “Men want to be him, women want to be with him”. Hughes’ script is brilliant as usual, the cast around him are all stellar and the set pieces will get you singing and dancing as soon as they start. Just a bloody great film for all ages.
7.
Fletch (Ritchie, 1985)
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With this spot on the list we take another plunge into the
pool of films by Cornelius Chevy Crane Chase, for Fletch, a movie that I have probably seen over thirty times. That's
if we're not being too hyperbolic, if we were being hyperbolic then I would
just put that I've seen it more than a hundred times, but that's just not
exactly true. But this sort of dry humour couldn’t be more fitting in
discussing the dynamite comedy film that this is. The greatest encapsulation of
Chase’s immense comedic talent, that we’re ever gonna get.
6.
Ghostbusters (Reitman, 1984)
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They came, they saw, they made on the greatest comedies of all time. From the absolutely bonkers mind of Dan Aykroyd, and structured into the ultimately flawless script that it is now by an alum of this list, Harold Ramis. Ivan Reitman directs a film that chiefly doesn’t loosen its grip on its adventure, horror or action, but certainly never stops being incredibly knock-out funny. Murray steals every scene he’s in, but has lots of stiff competition with Ackroyd and Ramis also in front of the camera, along with Weaver, Atherton, Annie Potts and Ernie Hudson. An all around hilarious and brilliantly exciting adventure.
5.
Trading Places (Landis, 1983)
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The tagline read “some very funny business” and this is very, very, very funny business indeed. Another top showing from Ackyroyd and another brilliant comedic creation from Murphy, polar opposites from his earlier entry in Coming to America. Here everything is heightened; the laughs, the cast, the broad nature and the boadity. Along with the help of some brilliant role-players and the always brilliant and always beautiful Jamie Lee Curtis (who will appear again), Landis constructs another perfect comedy in his exceptional 70s/80s run.
4.
Scrooged (Donner, 1988)
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The second funniest Christmas film of all time (Christmas Vacation is tops I’m afraid), but what Scrooged does have over Christmas Vacation is an ending that will never fail to bring you extreme joy and the overwhelming sense to attempt to do some good in this world. Whilst still, again, never not bruising you ribs with how bloody funny it actually is. It may just be Bill Murray’s best lead performance, and that final ten minutes may just be the best work he’s ever done in his entire career.
3.
A Fish Called Wanda (Chrichton, 1988)
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2.
Tootsie (Pollack, 1982)
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Tootsie for me is one of the most efficient and pristine comedies ever made, the only reason it doesn’t have the top spot is because of pure bias. Sydney Pollack, one of the most underrated directors, takes on a script of pure comedy that is structured so acutely that it could falter at any minute if it was not for such a steady hand at the wheel and Dustin Hoffman in his greatest performance to date as Michael Dorsey, and naturally Dorothy Michaels. I defy anybody not to laugh during the Emily Kimberly’s dinner speech at her birthday – not just one of the funniest scenes of all time, but one of my favourite scenes ever put to film.
1. Airplane! and Caddyshack (Z.A.Z, Ramis, 1980)
My two favourite comedies of all time have to be tied, I’m sorry. Both
were released in 1980, so there’s a vague link there at least.
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First, Airplane!, from Z.A.Z (Jim Abrahams and David and Jerry
Zucker). Now if you want to talk about sheer, unbridled brilliance in comedy,
look no further than this film. For me, personally, every gag lands, but for
those who don’t feel the same way, you only have a few seconds before the next gag
is already past you, so when it comes to formulating a batting average for the
film, it puts itself in a pretty good stead. The stellar ensemble all playing
to their strengths in the best way possible for the film, leads to this being
an eminently re-watchable and forever enjoyable non-stop farce that I will love
to the day I die.
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Second, Caddyshack, from Harold Ramis and... well, three different writers, and an incredible cast just throwing everything at the wall and seeing if anything sticks. Luckily for the audience, a whole lot of it does. Now where Airplane! succeeds in its sheer perfection and structure and construction, Caddyshack rather succeeds in you feeling you’re along for the ride with the greatest comedians of two different eras. To put it frankly, the film is really quite messy, but I wouldn’t have it any other way. This is not the film where you are surprised when you hear the behind the scene stories of cocaine fuelled debauchery and multiple re-writes and endless improvisation and as I just alluded to, I wouldn’t have it any other way.
Two thoroughly re-watchable and undeniably hilarious comedy
masterworks.
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Are you ready for a final twist? That’s not it. You’ve still got another four films. These are the prized gooses, these are the all timer’s, these are the four greatest films of the 80’s. You may ask why they didn’t top either of the above lists? Well because they are masterful comedies and dramas. Both mediums are so wonderfully portrayed that it would be hard to call them pure drama or pure comedy, I never do normally, so why should I here?
4. Planes, Trains and Automobiles
(Hughes, 1987)
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It’s an old adage and it’s a solid
one that I still go by. For me, there is simply no better review for
simplicity. The review has never been more apt. The film is John Hughes
masterful Plane, Trains and Automobiles and the review is “it’ll make
you laugh, it’ll make you cry and all less than two hours”. One of my other
favourite phrases that I return to often in film criticism is that “the film
strives in its simplicity”. There’s just something undeniable about this film.
Now, I’d say that all of these films are perfect, naturally with them being on
this list. But for me there is something undeniably perfect about the script,
direction and performances in this film. And as I aforementioned, it’ll
make you laugh and it’ll make you cry. I don’t quite know why, but in
attempting to describe the brilliance of this film, I find myself simply lost
for words. Such is the power of this terrific film.
3. Crimes and Misdemeanours (Allen, 1989)
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There is an odd phenomenon when it comes to my top directors list. Even though Woody Allen is ranked number two on that list, he only has one film on this list and that film only ranks at 14. When it comes to Allen and why I do think he is the greatest writer of all time, I think immediately of this film. To discuss faith, guilt in an immoral world, adultery, tragedy in life, unrequited love and also have a five minute extended scene that’s basically a slapstick farce moment of the lowest denominator, truly evokes a talent for tone and an immense deftness of skill that I believe is unparalleled. By the time that Judah (an unbelievably good Martin Landau) and Cliff (another brilliant Woody turn) sit down by the piano to discuss the plot of a film script, we have gone on an entertaining and desperately thought-provoking journey that rivals the best drama’s and also the best comedies of the eighties. And Alan Alda. My word! Alan Alda as Lester – one of the greatest comedic inventions in the medium.
2. When Harry Met Sally (Reiner, 1989)
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For me there is simply no better
rom-com. There is no better final run. There is definitely no funnier and more
relatable female lead. There’s no better run for a director than Reiner’s 80s
run. There’s no better depressive but hilarious male lead. There is no better
second couple/friends. For me there is simply no film better that When Harry
Met Sally when it comes to movies of its type. I’ve always loved this film
and I know that I always will, because as soon as we fade up on that old
college building and we see Sally honking her horn and Harry necking a girl
he’ll soon forget, all the while hearing the first of many acutely picked jazz
standards, I’m fully invested all over again, and before I know it, the
swiftest 90 minutes of romance and comedy have flown by once again.
1. Terms of Endearment (Brooks, 1982)
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One of the most underrated movies of all time. "How can this
be?" you ask? The film won multiple Oscars, including best picture and
director. Well, I purely think the film is underrated as nobody talks about it
anymore and when they do it is reduced simply to a "weepy". But this
film is so funny, so brilliant and so exceptionally written. Yes, it makes you
cry. But this film has so much more going for it and people seem to forget that
you with a really good film, those tears come from well-built characters and
good writing that make you care when the tear-jerking moments do come about.
This is pure film-making at its finest, in the world of dram and in the world
of comedy. Shirley Maclaine wows us again, with her pitch-perfect presentation
of Mrs Greenway. Lithgow, Winger and Daniels offer the most sublime supporting
cast and we haven’t even mentioned Jack yet. In any other world this could be
Jack’s movie. But to have a film where Jack Nicholson is at the least the third
best thing in it, now that is surely saying something. It is now officially the greatest film of the 80s.
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Second tier honourable mentions: Sea of Love, Dead Calm, Ordinary People, The Elephant Man, The Dead Zone, Psycho 2, After Hours, The Witches of Eastwick.
Top tier honourable mentions: Back to the Future, Fatal Attraction, Hannah and Her Sisters, Blue Velvet, Annie, The Empire Strikes Back, Batman, Gremlins, The Muppets Take Manhattan, The Long Good Friday, Beverly Hills Cop, The Terminator, Little Shop of Horrors, The Lost Boys, Beetlejuice.
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And so concludes a rather longwinded breakdown of the 80s on film, but the upside, as always, is that you have now got more than enough films to watch or return to, which is truly never a bad thing. No, although this article had the most movies, I’d still have to side with the 70s when it comes to best filmic decade of all time, however when it comes to gut-busting humour, you quite simply cannot beat the 1980s.
- Thomas Carruthers
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