Independent movies are, and always have been, a bit hit and miss, and the 80s indie movie is no exception. However, while there were some shockers, the decade gave us some of the most memorable indie movies in history.
The indie scene centered around film festivals, most notably Cannes and the newer Sundance, which began in 1978 in Salt Lake City in Utah, as a way to promote American-made films and give a platform to independent films. In the 80s it gave awards to films like Blood Simple (by the Coen brothers), Waiting For The Moon (starring Linda Bassett), Last Night at the Alamo, and Sex, Lies and Videotape. This was one of the most famous indie movies of the decade, especially because it captured the time so brilliantly, the pros and cons of modern technology and the increasing focus on voyeurism that resulted from it.
It was the success of indie movies in the 80s that paved the way for the golden age of indie in the 90s, when filmmakers like Quentin Tarantino, Kevin Smith and Guy Ritchie gave us high-quality and wildly successful films on a very low budget.
Posted on February 17, 2012 CategoriesVideos, Words
If you’ve spent more than a couple of seconds on this blog, you’ve likely worked out that I love 80s music and movies more than just about anything! So when these two things are combined, it makes for very happy viewing for me. With that in mind, today I’m counting down my top 5 music-related movies of the decade. These could be musicals, movies starring musicians, movies with a band theme – you’ll have to read on to find out!
5. Dirty Dancing
This one of course needs no introduction. It’s a dance movie, but the soundtrack had a pretty huge impact and it gets extra points because the wonderful Patrick Swayze (RIP) recorded a song, She’s Like the Wind, for the movie.
4. Desperately Seeking Susan
Madonna. Fashion. Music. There might have been a plot in there somewhere, but I never really pick up on it when I watch the movie.
3. Eddie and the Cruisers
This is a favorite of mine because it is an 80s movie about a 60s rock n roll band – two of the best decades covered right there! It is a wonderful look at band dynamics and the inevitable ego clashes that come along with being in any creative group.
2. Amadeus
This one isn’t quite your regular 80s music movie! Amadeus is about Mozart (yes, that one) and his relationship with another composer, Salieri, who is wildly jealous and plots to steal Mozart’s work and glory. I especially love the depiction of Mozart in this, because it is so unexpected – Tom Hulce plays him as a lewd, spoiled brat, which is hard to reconcile with the some of the most beautiful music that has ever been composed. Amadeus won big at the Oscars in 1984, taking 8 awards including Best Picture, Best Director and Best Lead Actor.
1. The Blues Brothers
I’ve always had a lot of time for anything with a Belushi in it, and John B in this movie is one of the best. John and Dan Ackroyd play brothers who try to get their old blues band back together to save the orphanage they grew up in from being foreclosed on. They get themselves into all manner of hilarious situations while running from the police and getting other bands offside, while they try to get the money to save the orphanage. Belushi and Ackroyd were two of the most talented comedians of the time, and adding a great script and killer soundtrack made this my number one choice!
The teen movie was a genre that definitely came into its own in the 80s. While there was movies aimed at teens earlier on (everything from Gidget to Rebel Without a Cause), the 80s teen movie was the beginning of the genre that we know today, specifically when it came to high school-centric plots.
The few years we spend at high school seems so short when we look back on them, but at the time it seems they’ll never end, and that everything that happens is the be all and end all of life. So it’s not surprising that there is an infinite number of takes on high school life, and many of these were put on film in the 80s. Think films as varied as the magical Teen Witch, the raw Fast Times at Ridgemont High, the romantic Say Anything and the ridiculous Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure (all personal favorites of mine!).
Then of course came the king of the 80s teen movie – John Hughes. His first in the genre, Sixteen Candles starring Molly Ringwald, was an exaggerated comedy, yet it hit home with teens around the world who felt it spoke to how they really felt about life. Hughes kept the hits coming with the Breakfast Club, Pretty in Pink, Weird Science and Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, before he eventually branched out into different movie genres. Even though Hughes himself moved on, he left as his legacy a group of timeless, enduring teen movies that I think we’ll all keep watching forever.
What are some of your favorite teen movies from the 80s?
Posted on February 12, 2012 CategoriesVideos, Words
We interrupt 80s Movie Month for a special tribute to Whitney Houston, who died today aged 48.
For anyone who was around in the 80s and early 90s, Whitney Houston was a star beyond compare. There was no one on the scene who could even come close to touching her voice (and I still don’t think anyone has). Her range was amazing, the emotion she put into each song was touching. There will likely be a lot of talk over the coming weeks and months about how she died and the tragic last few years of her life. I choose to let those people talk all they want, while I remember Whitney as she was, back when she reigned as the most talented, popular female musician in the world.
Whitney had 7 number one hits in the 80s, all making the top spot in a row from ’85 to ’88, and today I’m posting my three favorites so you can remember just why it was we all adored her so much. Feel free to leave your own memories of Whitney in the comments or via Twitter.
First, her very first #1 – Saving All My Love For You:
Second, because I’m in tears and need to post something happier, this is How Will I Know:
Finally, the song I consider to be her greatest vocal achievement, the unsurpassed Didn’t We Almost Have It All:
R.I.P. Whitney. I hope wherever you are you’re singing again.
Posted on February 10, 2012 CategoriesVideos, Words
On Monday, I posted about the one movie from the 80s I can’t stand. Mostly though, I have an appreciation for all 80s movies – the good, the bad and the ugly! Today I’m counting down my top 5 movies that were so bad they were actually good. Because sometimes there’s nothing quite as satisfying as a really bad viewing experience!
5. Satisfaction
I am such a big fan of band-centric movies. Any type of band, any type of music, it’s one of my fave movie sub-genres. So, of course I had to check this one out, especially because it stars Justine Bateman, i.e. Mallory from Family Ties! She plays Jennie, leader of a band who needs to travel south for an audition. The whole movie is pretty stupid, but the cast is awesome, with Julia Roberts and also Liam Neeson, who hooks up with Mallory… I mean, Jennie.
4. Look Who’s Talking
I double dare you to pretend you didn’t love this movie in the 80s. EVERYONE loved it! John Travolta was at the height of his fame, and Kirstie Alley was the gorgeous new starlet to make it big. In the movie we could hear what Kirstie’s baby is thinking and it’s 80s-hilarious – partly because baby Mikey is voiced by tough-guy actor Bruce Willis!
3. Xanadu
People talk a lot of trash about Xanadu, but it is a personal favorite of mine. It’s got Olivia Newton-John, Gene Kelly (tap dancing!) and Michael Beck; lots of dancing; roller skating; singing and awesome 80s hair. So, I ask you, what is NOT to love?
2. The Pirate Movie
I was surprised a few years ago when I canvassed some Internet friends and found out almost no one knew about / remembered this amazing musical. The Pirate Movie is an updated version of Pirates of Penzance, with Kristy McNichol and Christopher Atkins (from Blue Lagoon) in the lead roles and the incredibly dashing Ted Hamilton as the Pirate King, all singing the classic original songs, with some new 80s-style tunes thrown in for good measure. It’s a fun, silly movie that laughs at itself and lets you laugh along with it.
1. Surf Nazis Must Die
This deserves a place on the list on the strength of its title alone! It starred no one you’ve ever heard of, and made no one famous. It is set after an earthquake destroys the California coastline and (for some reason) a bunch of gangs take over the beach, including a neo-Nazi gang. Unlike other gang movies, for example The Warriors, which is an excellent look at futuristic gang life, Surf Nazis Must Die is just stupid. But thoroughly enjoyable!
We all know that our beloved decade is notorious for producing some of the worst additions to culture in history – from dodgy music, to horrendous fashion, to terrible movies. But, isn’t that part of the reason we love it? (And, aren’t people in 30 years going to look back on current fashion as horrendous too?!)
With this in mind, I thought that Movie Month wouldn’t be complete without looking at some of the worst movies of the 80s.
On Friday I’ll be counting down the top 5 “So Bad They’re Good” movies, of which there were a lot! But what about the Just. Plain. Bad? It’s hard to pick what I think is the worst, given I have a genuine appreciation for B, C and D grade movies. However, one stands out as being my most hated of the decade, and it’s one I know a lot won’t agree with.
That movie is Blue Velvet. Often hailed as one of the BEST of the 80s, I found this David Lynch film almost unbearable, and had to force myself to sit through until the end.
It’s a pretentious, try-hard arty film, which tries to be weird for weird’s sake, and then fails at being anything at all. I still don’t really know what the plot was about, what the characters were doing, and what the point of the whole disaster was. I only borrowed it out in the first place because I really like the song Blue Velvet (which the film has kind of ruined for me now!).
I’m not opposed to strange, experimental film, but there has to be some point to it, and there still has to be a story, or else it’s not a real movie. I think Lynch tried to make it more captivating by putting in some sexual fetishist stuff, but that only made it all worse. Added to all this, there is some serious talent wasting away on the screen, like Dennis Hopper and Laura Dern.
What is your pick of worst movie of the 80s? And do you have an opinion on Blue Velvet? Hit me up in the comments below or on Twitter to let me know!
Jenna Cosgrove's Blog - Everything rad, sad and fab about 80s pop culture - movies, music, TV, celebs, reviews and general bodacious goings on. For 80's-come-latelys and those stricken with nostalgia for the best decade in history!
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Posted on February 20, 2012 
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Jenna Cosgrove's Blog - Everything rad, sad and fab about 80s pop culture - movies, music, TV, celebs, reviews and general bodacious goings on. For 80's-come-latelys and those stricken with nostalgia for the best decade in history!
