It's been awhile since I focused an Omniflick spotlight on a particular year, so I thought I would do so again by randomly selecting an interesting time from yesteryear to revisit. This time I chose 1980, which, when I looked over the releases from that particular time, I found to be quite fascinating. Though I didn't include all the terrific films from that year, the following effectively demonstrate that cinema was alive and thriving. When one considers a sampling of 1980's cinematic output, one sees a diverse offering of films with a talent pool featuring Stanley Kubrick, Woody Allen, Martin Scorsese, Samuel Fuller and David Lynch; to name just a few. It is also worth mentioning that three of the films on my list were filmed in black and white.
Looking over the titles, one can see a male-dominated film scene and though this is regrettable, we can see the problem has only been corrected a smidgen here in the 21st century. Be that as it may, one can hardly deny the quality of the films on the list I've compiled below.
I only chose ten films from that year but feel some guilt for leaving off notables that are no less deserving of recognition. Concision is always of the essence.
I hope you enjoy my selection and hopefully the movies listed herein will inspire you to revisit or maybe see them for the first time. The films are haphazardly arranged, without qualitative concerns.
10 From '80
1. Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back--Director: Irvin Kershner
George Lucas' follow-up to his absurdly successful Star Wars was widely anticipated and easily lived up to the promise of the first film. Of the original trilogy, The Empire Strikes Back is easily my favorite. It has a darker ending and didn't stint on character or story. We can only hope the next installment in December '15 will live up to the original series and this film in particular.
2. The Shining--Director: Stanley Kubrick
Though Stephen King has disowned Kubrick's adaptation, it has nevertheless achieved iconic status in the Horror-movie genre. The Diane Arbus-inspired twin girl shot has been copied, stolen and satirized to death while Jack Nicholson's "Here's Johnny" has suffered the same fate. In spite of Nicholson's occasional, over-the-top mugging, the film is chilling and always fun to watch. Kubrick's camera work still seems fresh and brilliant.
3. Raging Bull--Director: Martin Scorcese
Back when Robert De Niro still had a serious actor's aura, his depiction of boxer Jake La Motta was (and is) something to see. Scorsese's shots inside the ring are memorable for their inventiveness and their ability to capture the brutality of the sport. Joe Pesci and Cathy Moriarty are superb in supporting roles. Still one of the best boxing movies of all time.
4. Stardust Memories--Director: Woody Allen
I don't know that Stardust Memories wowed many critics at the time but it is very entertaining and always worth a gander. The deliberate blurring of fact and fiction; the past and present, imparts a surreal quality to the film. Some of Woody's funniest material can be found here, including the 8 1/2 parody at the beginning of the film. Charlotte Rampling, Jessica Harper and Marie-Christine Barrault are quite terrific as Woody's three loves.
5. Altered States--Director: Ken Russell
An underrated film that isn't exactly science fiction or horror but a cerebral fusion of both genres. The collaboration of Russell and screenwriting legend Paddy Chayevsky produced this gem about a man who uses mind-altering drugs and a sensory-deprivation tank to connect to man's primeval past. The dialogue and William Hurt's terrific performance, as well as Russell's trippy imagery-from-the-sub-conscious, make Altered States worthy of repeated viewings.
6. Breaker Morant--Director: Bruce Beresford
One of the great military-courtroom films, Bruce Beresford's Breaker Morant is also arguably his best work. The tragic and true story of three Australian soldiers charged with a murder during the Anglo-Boer War (1899-1902) is distinguished by its riveting courtroom scenes and fine performances. The film is especially effective in showing how soldiers become convenient scapegoats for those who make and administrate war. Forever stirring and powerful.
7. Melvin and Howard--Director: Jonathan Demme
A story almost too bizarre to be true, Demme's film is funny in a sad sort of way. Paul Le Mat and Mary Steenburgen make this movie shine with their oddball characters who find themselves in an extraordinary situation. I had the good fortune to see the film on the big screen last year and I'm happy to say it hasn't aged a bit. It is only one among many great Jonathan Demme films.
8. The Changeling--Director: Peter Medak
An unsung film in the haunted house, horror sub-genre. The creepy, shadowy, lighting and the film's very effective use of sound are enough to keep one chilled to the marrow. A seemingly innocuous red ball becomes a terrifically spooky object while George C. Scott's presence (and performance) lends the film some added cachet.
9. The Big Red One--Director: Samuel Fuller
Fuller, known for tough, gritty films, is true to his reputation with his World War II drama. The film is chock full of memorable scenes; one of which involves a carefully orchestrated ambush of GIs' by German soldiers while another is the liberation of a concentration camp, where American soldiers see Nazi atrocities first-hand. One of the film's stand-out performances belongs to real-life WWII veteran Lee Marvin, who plays a Sergeant whose toughness is tempered by compassion.
10. The Elephant Man--Director: David Lynch
David Lynch's black and white film makes his version of the story of John Merrick seem timeless and keeps us focused on the characters and story. With no colorful finery to distract us, Merrick's tragic story becomes more poignant and heart-rending. Lynch doesn't seem like the obvious choice to direct such a film but he manages the story quite well and doesn't stint on stunning visuals; which are accomplished in part by cinematographer Freddie Francis' striking chiaroscuro. John Hurt's Elephant Man isn't a self-pitying grotesquery but an articulate, gifted man who happens to be physically deformed. A superb performance by someone who literally and figuratively vanishes into his character.
I hope I provided an interesting, cinematic cross-section of the year 1980. Some other notable films from that year are: The Last Metro, Atlantic City, The Blues Brothers, Friday the 13th, Kagemusha, Superman II and Airplane. Sorry about the omissions!
Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back, The Shining, Raging Bull, Stardust Memories, Altered States, Breaker Morant, Melvin and Howard, The Changeling, The Big Red One, The Elephant Man.
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