The Year in Review- 1980

   It was the year that Luke Skywalker found out about his father and Jack Nicholson became an even worse one. Robert De Niro stepped into the ring, Robert Redford stepped behind the camera and Sissy Spacek was a cute country crooner. David Lynch unleashed the Elephant Man and there were a couple of comedies you may have heard of. Here are the ten best films in order for 1980.

1. "The Empire Strikes Back"(1980)
There's a reason that "Empire" has the least amount of changes and alterations in George Lucas' seemingly endless re-releases of the OT. It's because there's only one thing that hardcore fans, casual observers and critics seem to be in total agreement on- this is the darkest and best of all six "Star Wars" movies. After a blistering opening on the ice planet Hoth, Han and Leia's budding romance is handled in an adroit manner(thanks to Harrison Ford and screenwriter Lawrence Kasdan) that would be absent from the prequels, while Luke Skywalker is introduced to his marvelous puppet mentor Yoda. But it was Vader's mind-blowing climactic revelation that sealed the legacy of Irvin Kershner's superior sequel. Audiences were left reeling and the entire complexion of the saga was changed forever. Whether or not the Disney brain trust, or more specifically J.J. Abrams, can produce anything to rival this beloved benchmark in their aggressive expansion efforts(the first of MANY more SW films is slated for release in 2015) will surely be one of the industry's most tantalizing questions for years to come.

2. "Raging Bull"(1980)
Just when it seemed impossible for De Niro and Scorsese to match their unforgettable collaboration known as "Taxi Driver", the greatest actor-director combo ever reunited for a mesmerizing biopic of volatile 1940s middleweight boxing champion Jake LaMotta. The subject of their second masterpiece, shot almost entirely in black-and-white, is the anti-"Rocky", and to say that De Niro played LaMotta isn't really doing his Best Actor Oscar-winning performance justice. He BECAME Jake LaMotta and this literal transformation, complete with a forty-pound weight gain for the post-pugilistic scenes that bookend the film, cemented the De Niro legend and forever raised the bar for big screen acting. Scorsese reportedly had no interest in boxing going into the project, not that you'd know it from the visceral fight footage. Joe Pesci, after a decade of struggle that led him to nearly quit showbiz, got his big break as Jake's long-suffering brother and lord knows this wouldn't be the last time this trio made magic on a film set. Over three decades later, "RB" still hits like one of the Bronx bully's body blows.

3. "The Shining"(1980)
Bobby and Marty weren't the only dynamic duo to make history in 1980. Jack Nicholson and Stanley Kubrick got together as well, and I shouldn't have to tell anyone with even an elementary school knowledge of cinema what went down. Former alcoholic/axe-wielding/hack writer and just all-around bad husband and father Jack Torrance may be Nicholson's most iconic role, and that's really saying something. On top of his leading man's famous freak-outs, Kubrick had enough terrifying tricks up his sleeve to rival "The Exorcist" and even the normally non-plussed viewers were covering their eyes faster than telepathic son Danny. Stephen King wasn't happy about some of the liberties Stanley took in the Overlook hotel. Have you EVER heard ANYONE talk about his more-faithful-to-the-book 1997 TV movie version?

4. "Coal Miner's Daughter"(1980)
Sissy Spacek's vibrant, astonishing turn as country music star Loretta Lynn was also one of the year's unquestionable highlights. The actress, who'd previously come into prominence for her roles in "Badlands" and "Carrie", added a well-deserved Best Actress Oscar to her resume for playing Lynn from backwoods 14 year old all the way up to her days as a thirty-something chart-topping crooner and the journey is totally convincing(she does all her own singing, too). Director Michael Apted keeps this biographical tale humming along and a young(er) Tommy Lee Jones got an early, plum role as Loretta's thick-headed hubby that hinted at future greatness.

5. "The Elephant Man"(1980)
David Lynch is unquestionably a polarizing filmmaker. Many cinephiles bow before his warped genius, but more casual observers tend to react to his work in much the same way that 19th Century London reacted to this severely deformed title character. I'm here to assure the latter group that this is Lynch's most straightforward and accessible film and also his best. John Hurt is strangely moving under heavy prosthetic make-up as our tragic protagonist John Merrick and a pre-Hannibal Anthony Hopkins is the kindly doctor looking after him.

6. "Ordinary People"(1980)
This well-acted family drama marked the directorial debut of matinee idol Robert Redford. The Sundance Kid got impressive performances from his entire cast with Mary Tyler Moore receiving special praise for breaking out of her likable sitcom persona as the cold matriarch of a suburban trauma-filled household. She received a Best Actress nomination, and her suicidal son Timothy Hutton became the youngest recipient of the Best Supporting Actor Oscar at age 20. The only problem is that it also took Best Picture and Director and I'm pretty sure I'm the only person I know that has seen or even heard of this movie. It definitely wasn't the best cinematic offering of 1980, and it wasn't the first or last time the Academy did this, but the film certainly has it's merits and we're all glad that Scorsese didn't sit contentedly and rest on his laurels, aren't we?

7. "The Big Red One"(1980)
Director Samuel Fuller had to wait over twenty years to bring his wartime experiences to the big screen after shooting down the studio's insistence on casting John Wayne in the lead role. Instead, he enlisted venerable tough guy actor and fellow real life WWII vet Lee Marvin to lead a young squad(yes, that's Mark Hamill!) through battles in North Africa and Europe, and the result was a stunning swan song for both men. Fuller's depiction of heavy combat may not be enough to thrill a younger generation first exposed to "Platoon" and "Saving Private Ryan", but in a historical context, this group earns it's stripes.

8. "Caddyshack"(1980)
What more needs to be said about this much-loved golf comedy? I don't know that I can call it a great movie or even a really good one to be perfectly honest, but some movies just take on a life of their own and enter the public lexicon to a degree that is impossible to predict. Revisionist history tends to give Bill Murray's iconic groundskeeper much of the credit(his largely improvised role only took six days to film), but Chevy Chase and Rodney Dangerfield put the ball in the hole, too. An animatronic gopher and 1980s soundtrack king Kenny Loggins also helped make Harold Ramis' directorial debut a classic even if the whole isn't greater than the sum of it's parts.

9. "Airplane!"(1980)
Here we have another comedic landmark, coincidentally released the same year(and the same month!) as it's golf-course counterpart. Both films consistently rank high on every single list of greatest comedies to this day. The never-ending "Scary Movie" franchise and it's ilk have given spoofs a bad name in the 21st Century, which might make it difficult to fully appreciate how fresh and funny the Zucker-Abrahams-Zucker's fast-paced parody of disaster flicks truly was back in 1980. Leslie Nielsen hijacks this plane from leads Robert Hays and Julie Hagerty with one immortal line, which led to further deadpan antics with the ZAZ team in the "Naked Gun" series.

10. Melvin and Howard"(1980)
This pleasant comedy doesn't have nearly the same level of remembrance with the general public as the abovementioned two, but is notable for placing two significant talents on the Hollywood radar. Director Jonathan Demme made a stylish breakthrough in this true story of service station owner Melvin Dummar(Paul Le Mat) and his chance encounter with reclusive, ailing billionaire Howard Hughes, played by the late, great Jason Robards. Now I'd like to call your attention to Mary Steenburgen. She's one of the finest character actresses of the last thirty-plus years with the rare ability to shine in both comedy and drama, and was rewarded the Best Supporting Actress Oscar for her scene-stealing turn as Melvin's feisty young wife.

Honorable Mentions- "Foxes"(1980) Jodie Foster in Adrian Lyne's directorial debut. "American Gigolo"(1980) Paul Schrader presents Richard Gere in this slick drama. "The Changeling"(1980) George C. Scott in a haunted house. "Fame"(1980) Alan Parker's musical may not live forever, but it's theme song might. "The Long Riders"(1980) Join the James-Younger gang in Walter Hill's hearty Western. "Friday the 13th"(1980) Jason's mother gets the slasher cycle started. "Urban Cowboy"(1980) John Travolta rides a bull.

"Brubaker"(1980) Robert Redford goes to jail. 'Bronco Billy"(1980) Clint Eastwood directs and stars as a comedic cowboy. "The Blues Brothers"(1980) Dan Aykroyd and James Belushi are on a mission from God. "Used Cars"(1980) Robert Zemeckis directs Kurt Russell in this cult comedy. "The Stunt Man"(1980) Peter O'Toole made the Best Actor slate. "Dressed to Kill"(1980) Hitchcock homage from Brian De Palma. "Raise the Titanic"(1980) Jason Robards did it. "The Final Countdown"(1980) Travel back to Dec 1941. "The Hunter"(1980) Steve McQueen's farewell. "The First Deadly Sin"(1980) Frank Sinatra's farewell. "Stardust Memories"(1980) Woody Allen is plagued by fans who prefer his "earlier, funnier movies".

"Gloria"(1980) Gena Rowlands gets another nomination with her director/husband John Cassavetes. "It's My Turn"(1980) Jill Clayburgh should have been a bigger star "Private Benjamin"(1980) Goldie Hawn joins the Army. "The Long Good Friday"(1980) Bob Hoskins is a mob boss in his breakthrough role. "Popeye"(1980) Robin Williams eats his spinach as the silly sailorman. "Stir Crazy"(1980) The most successful pairing of Gene Wilder and Richard Pryor. "The Formula"(1980) George C. Scott and Marlon Brando star in this John Avildsen thriller. "The Dogs of War"(1980) Christopher Walken was a badass. "Borderline"(1980) Charles Bronson chases illegal immigrants. "Inside Moves"(1980) Disability leads to love and friendship in this Richard Donner-directed drama. "Altered States"(1980) William Hurt undergoes sensory deprivation in his film debut. "9 to 5"(1980) What a way to make a living, with Jane Fonda, Lily Tomlin, and Dolly Parton. "Seems Like Old Times"(1980) Goldie Hawn and Chevy Chase had a nice, easy chemistry in this Neil Simon-scripted comedy. "The Competition"(1980) Richard Dreyfuss makes music with Amy Irving.

The Year in Review- 1999

   It was the year Brad Pitt and Edward Norton traded blows in David Fincher's pre-millennial pipe bomb. Woody and Buzz were welcomed back, M. Night Shyamalan didn't suck and Kevin Spacey lusted after Mena Suvari. Keanu Reeves took the red pill, Tom Cruise hosted a sex seminar and Star Wars owned the summer. Here are the ten best films in order for 1999.

1(tie). "Fight Club"(1999)
Looking back, 1999 really feels like the last gasp of a pretty bold cinematic era before that safe, post-9/11 period outlawed all the risky themes and content that would make middle America uncomfortable. Director David Fincher made "Seven" look all warm and fuzzy compared to his blistering dissection of male discontent and our soul-crushing consumerist lifestyles. Brad Pitt consistently brought a welcome edge to the screen in the '90s, and his impossibly cool, soap-making psycho anarchist Tyler Durden remains his greatest role. Edward Norton looked to be laying down a legacy with the one-two punch of his nameless Narrator and "American History X". Do you think anything even remotely resembling this movie could be produced by a major studio today? I can't see Project Mayhem sitting too well with Fox News. A vision THIS unfiltered has to be appreciated in an age of such sterile conformity. "FC" gets right in our faces and under our skin and it's therapeutic violence and nihilistic spirit isn't going away anytime soon.

1(tie). "Toy Story 2"(1999)
Despite the groundbreaking success of the 1995 original, short-sighted Disney execs were originally planning to send this sequel straight to video. That was until they realized it was better than every movie currently in theaters. With a 100% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes, "TS2" would've fared pretty well against just about any movie ever made. It's "The Godfather Part II" of animated sequels, with a deeper story that explores the limited lifespan of our favorite toys. Will Woody choose museum immortality over his last few years with Andy? Tom Hanks and Tim Allen gladly returned to the recording booth to lend their irreplaceable vocals, and are joined by talented new additions such as Joan Cusack, Kelsey Grammar and Wayne Knight. Pixar was the house that Buzz built, and the studio has been an unstoppable powerhouse ever since the box office bonanza generated by this delightful encore.

2. "The Sixth Sense"(1999)
Recent events have made it difficult to heap praise on M. Night Shyamalan, but I'm not here to talk about "After Earth" or "The Last Airbender". Or "The Happening". Try your best to block out "The Village" and "Lady In The Water", too. I'm here to talk about his 1999 mega-hit that had eager journalists crowning him the next Spielberg. Things didn't quite work out that way, but you can't accuse the man of not having talent, because it was on full display in this superior ghost story before hype and expectations proved a heavy burden on so many of his later projects. "The Exorcist" was the last scary movie to enter the zeitgeist with this much force, so it's easy to see why we all got so worked up. Bruce Willis' subtle, understated turn as a sympathetic psychiatrist hints at the kind of actor he might have been, while Haley Joel Osment is a revelation as the frightened boy that sees dead people. That famous ending holds up on repeat viewings, even if the real shocker turned out to be Night's steep decline.

3. "The Matrix"(1999)
Cyberpunk subculture, Hong Kong cinema and the dystopian future popularized by the "Terminator" films were confidently combined in the Wachowski bros' career-defining crowning achievement. Keanu Reeves put his blank slate non-acting style to good use as a restless hacker drawn into a rebellion against sentient machines trying to subdue and enslave the human population in a simulated virtual reality. 'Neo' learns the truth from mysterious fugitive Morpheus(Lawrence Fishburne) and leather-clad warrior Trinity(Carrie Anne Moss) until his destiny as the savior of mankind in slowly revealed. I admit that I didn't fully grasp all of these concepts on my first viewing. All I knew is there was a lot of cool stuff happening. Several scenes became instantly iconic(most notably the one pictured above) in the most imitated action film since "Die Hard". The movies that make the largest impact tend to come out of nowhere to blindside the unsuspecting masses. That was certainly the case here. A cult-like fan-base emerged at the dawn of the new millennium and two sequels arrived with substantial hype(but fewer plaudits) in 2003.

4. "American Beauty"(1999)
First-time director Sam Mendes brings the same tar-black comedic approach to his celebrated portrait of mid-life crises as Fincher brought to disenfranchised youth in 1999's acerbic Best Picture winner. Kevin Spacey's transition from superlative supporting player to main man was complete with his Best Actor Oscar-winning role as quietly desperate suburbanite Lester Burnham. You think marriage, fatherhood, steady employment, and stability equals happiness? Guess again. None of that compares to potentially shagging your 17 year old daughter's best friend. The perennially underrated Annette Bening shines as his shrewish wife, and teen lust object Mena Suvari looked like she was headed for big things after bathing in those rose pedals. This was the year that a few daring filmmakers asked us to face some uneasy truths and the cinema was a better place because of it. Middle-aged malaise has never been captured more beautifully.

5. "The Insider"(1999)
One year before audiences chanted 'Maximus', Russell Crowe was proving his worth in Michael Mann's captivating true story of a tobacco industry whistleblower selling his secrets to "60 Minutes". It's rather astonishing to see the 33 year old Crowe disappear into the part of pensive fifty-something family man Jeff Wigand in between his macho, star-making roles in "L.A. Confidential" and "Gladiator", as the multi-dimensional Australian left little doubt that he was here to stay. When has Al Pacino's involvement ever NOT been the first big selling point when discussing a film? Talk about a changing of the guard.

6. "Magnolia"(1999)
Paul Thomas Anderson reassembles much of the cast of "Boogie Nights"(Julianne Moore, William H. Macy, Philip Seymour Hoffman, John C. Reilly, Philip Baker Hall) for this collection of wildly different tales of love and loss in the San Fernando Valley. Tom Cruise seemed to be making a conscious effort to shed his normally affable persona("Eyes Wide Shut" dropped the same year) and is the standout of this sparkling ensemble as flamboyant sex guru Frank T.J. Mackey. The late Jason Robards may be the greatest actor that never gets talked about, and his role as Mackey's estranged, ailing father was the last of his long and distinguished career. It may be difficult to pinpoint the overriding theme or message behind PTA's emotionally ambitious epic, but the melodious results are rarely less than engrossing.

7. "Boys Don't Cry"(1999)
The tragic circumstances that led to the rape and murder of a transgender Nebraska teen in 1993 was recreated in devastating fashion, by director Kimberly Peirce in her critically-lauded film debut. Hillary Swank's fearless portrayal of Brandon Teena earned the Best Actress Oscar, and instantly catapulted her to the upper echelon of big-screen actresses. That's quite a leap from "The Next Karate Kid" and "Beverly Hills 90210". Indie darling Chloe Sevigny deserved the Supporting Actress nod for her equally brave performance as Brandon's naive girlfriend. This gritty, challenging film barely scraped together enough funds to make it into theaters, and is one story that deserved to be rescued from the usual TV movie fodder.

8. "Three Kings"(1999)
It's hard to believe there was ever a time when the public wasn't completely sold on the idea of George Clooney starring in movies. Yeah, that's right, as much as I hate to admit it, the '90s was a long time ago. Mark Wahlberg was involved in a similar battle with naysayers, and they both have David O. Russell to thank for arming them with sturdier resumes as we all faced the uncertainties of the new millennium. This was one of the first notable films to tackle the Gulf War, but Russell balances grim reality with a considerably lighter touch that has since become his trademark. Witnessing the rise of big league talent is always exciting, and this film's title may now be an accurate description of the three abovementioned individuals, a decade-and-a-half later(Ice Cube hasn't done too bad, either).

9. "The Green Mile"(1999)
It's incredibly fitting that we wrap up this '90s retrospective with the decade's benign poster boy. Hanks just had to headline another heartwarming awards contender to make that latter-day Jimmy Stewart label really stick. Director Frank Darabont, of "Shawshank" fame, has the two-time Best Actor recipient AND the late Michael Clarke Duncan to thank for not making him a one hit wonder. Darabont has a knack for adapting the literally works of Stephen King, but MCD's magical 1930s death row inmate is truthfully the main attraction. His burly breakthrough bolstered an already-stacked Best Supporting Actor race(Michael Caine upset Duncan, Cruise and Osment), keeping this film's three-hour-and-nine minute runtime from feeling like too much of a prison sentence during those bi-annual AMC viewings.

10. "Star Wars: Episode I- The Phantom Menace"(1999)
Yes, I'm putting George Lucas' much-maligned(and unfairly so) return to the "Star Wars" universe on this list. You can whine about Jar Jar Binks, Jake Lloyd and the Trade Federation all you want, but the fact remains that you can't talk about 1999 without talking about the unprecedented fanfare that accompanied the decade's runner-up for the box office title(only "Titanic" brought in more $$$ in the '90s). Bashing the prequels is so clichéd, so I'll be original and list some of the positives- Liam Neeson, Darth Maul, the pod-race and the closing triple threat light-saber battle. This saga is far from over thanks to Disney's deep pockets, so just admit it. You're glad Star Wars didn't end WAY back in 1983.

Honorable Mention

"She's All That"(1999)
Freddie Prinze Jr. helped close out the '90s. "Gloria"(1999) Sharon Stone stars in Sidney Lumet's remake of John Cassavetes.
"10 Things I Hate About You"(1999) Heath Ledger first came to our attention in this high school comedy.
"True Crime"(1999) You can always count on Clint.
"Analyze This"(1999) Billy Crystal psychoanalyzes Robert De Niro, hilarity ensues.
"Office Space"(1999) Work sucks.
"Election"(1999) Alexander Payne's breakthrough pits Reese Witherspoon against Mathew Broderick.
"Cruel Intentions"(1999) An attractive young cast updates "Dangerous Liaisons".
"Notting Hill"(1999) Julia Roberts asks Hugh Grant to love her.
"Tarzan"(1999) Phil Collins helps conclude the Disney Renaissance.
"Big Daddy"(1999) Sandler's best?
"The General's Daughter"(1999) Travolta's last stand as a top tier leading man.
"Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me"(1999) Mike Myers' sequel was an even bigger hit than it's predecessor.
"Summer of Sam"(1999) Spike Lee lets us relive New York in 1977.
"The Blair Witch Project"(1999) This indie chiller and it's 'found footage' became a pop culture phenomenon.
"American Pie"(1999) The teen sex comedy makes a comeback.
"Eyes Wide Shut"(1999) Cruise and Kidman in Kubrick's haunting farewell.
"Bowfinger"(1999) Steve Martin and Eddie Murphy should be any comedy lover's dream.
"Runaway Bride"(1999) "Pretty Woman" reunion for Julia Roberts, Richard Gere and director Gary Marshall.
"The Iron Giant"(1999) Old school animation wasn't dead yet.
"Double Jeopardy"(1999) Tommy Lee Jones chases after 'fugi-chick' Ashley Judd.
"Sweet and Lowdown"(1999) Woody Allen and Sean Penn tell the story of troubled 1930s jazz guitarist Emmett Ray.
"Being John Malkovich"(1999) Spike Jonze builds his rep as cinema's quirkiest auteur.
"Bringing Out the Dead"(1999) I'll bet you never knew that Scorsese worked with Nick Cage.
"The Cider House Rules"(1999) Michael Caine wins Best Supporting Actor for his delivery of one line.
"Life"(1999) Eddie Murphy and Martin Lawrence serve hard time.
"Any Given Sunday"(1999) Oliver Stone's indictment of pro football.
"Girl, Interrupted"(1999) Angelina Jolie enters our lives.
"The Hurricane"(1999) Denzel Washington scored another knockout as imprisoned boxer Rubin Carter.
"Bicentennial Man"(1999) A robotic Robin Williams reteams with his "Doubtfire" director Chris Columbus.


"8 MM"(1999) Nick Cage + Joel Schumacher= guilty pleasure.
"A Walk On the Moon"(1999) Diane Liane does her best work when she's unfaithful.
"A Midsummer Night's Dream"(1999)
"Music of the Heart"(1999)
"The Limey"(1999)

The Year in Review- 1985

   It was the year that a time-traveling Michael J. Fox made history and Sylvester Stallone made a herculean effort in his two greatest roles. Harrison Ford went Amish, Steven Spielberg got 'serious', and a group of high schoolers spent a memorable day in detention. Meryl Streep and Robert Redford made their obligatory trip to the Oscars while Pee-Wee searched for his bike. Here are the best films in order for 1985.

1. "Back to the Future"(1985)
If future generations only hold onto ONE movie made during Ronald Reagan's presidency, my money is on Robert Zemeckis' beloved time travel classic. No film defines it's respective era quite like Marty McFly's first spin in the Delorean. Michael J. Fox will always be best remembered as Hill Valley's skateboarding teen hero, which is really saying something given his wealth of superlative work on television. Fellow sitcom standout Christopher Lloyd is a manic delight as mad scientist Doc Brown, and the magical chemistry on display here insured that neither would ever have to worry about where their next paycheck was coming from. Bob Gale's consistently compelling and imaginative script is still the envy of every would-be screenwriter, and it can only be described as divine intervention that it made it's way into the nurturing hands of producer Steven Spielberg. A premise this potent made sequels a foregone conclusion, in which the Bobs were incredibly able to maintain the same level of energy and creativity. The popularity of "BTTF" is such that it's one of the few old-school properties that remains untouched by the belated sequel/reboot craze. Even Hollywood knows better than that.

2. "Come and See"(1985)
I would normally consider placing a foreign film above homegrown Hollywood hits to be the height of snobbery and pretentiousness. However, an exception must be made in the case of director Elem Klimov's powerful and brutal Russian WWII drama. After a slow start, the patience of adventurous viewers is richly rewarded during the disturbing third act which paints an unflinching portrait of human savagery as the Nazis set out to scorch 628 villages in Byelorussia in 1943. "The Deer Hunter" and "Apocalypse Now" are feel-good family films compared to watching these horrors unfold through the bug eyes of our 14 year old protagonist(Aleksei Kravchenko) minus the relative comfort of recognizable stars and pat patriotism. This should be mandatory junior high school viewing.

3. "Witness"(1985)
Harrison Ford was unquestionably the biggest leading man of the 1980s. His name had become synonymous with fantasy blockbusters, but he had director Peter Weir to thank for showing him that there was life after Steven Spielberg and George Lucas. The Amish community, previously shrouded in mystery, became common knowledge and a perennial tourist attraction after Ford's tough yet tender cop John Book rejected modern conveniences to hide out from his murderously corrupt colleagues. He found time to romance comely widow Kelly McGillis while Lucas Haas was the most adorable '80s child star this side of Drew Barrymore. This film works wonderfully on many levels- it's a thriller, a love story, and a study in culture clash that allowed Ford to begin a new chapter and score his only Academy Award nomination to date.

4. "The Breakfast Club"(1985)
Emilio Estevez, Molly Ringwald, Judd Nelson, Ally Sheedy, Anthony Michael Hall. These names wouldn't exactly be selling points as the years passed, but we're talking about 1985 and more importantly, writer-director John Hughes. The "Sixteen Candles" helmer was an unstoppable creative force for more than half the decade, ratcheting up one hit comedy after another which included the birth of the 'Brat Pack' in the quintessential high school movie. The expert tutelage of Hughes allowed this wildly-dissimilar group to express themselves in a manner much more insightful than real teenagers could manage. The claustrophobic plight of this youthful library-bound ensemble definitely struck a chord that lasted MUCH longer than their individual careers in front of the camera.

5. "Rocky IV"(1985)
Sylvester Stallone churns out another wildly successful chapter in the saga of the dauntless heavyweight champ. After a rocky start(no pun intended) with Paulie's robot, we're swiftly introduced to the series' greatest villain- the fearsome, Creed-killing Soviet machine Ivan Drago, played with the perfect amount of stoic menace by Dolph Lundgren. Sly spends the next 90 minutes pressing all the right emotional buttons(patriotism, revenge!) as the epic training montage builds to a brutal showdown in Moscow. Is it the best fight scene ever? Stallone put himself in the hospital for four days after encouraging too much realism in Lundren's body blows. You can moan about predictability all you want, but the bottom line is that Balboa is one of the most durable characters in ANY medium. Rocky VII? Don't doubt it.

6. "Pale Rider"(1985)
With all due respect to John Wayne, Clint Eastwood and Westerns go together like peanut butter and jelly. Nine years after "The Outlaw Josie Wales", Clint made a most welcome return to the genre that he practically patented in the '60s with Sergio Leone. After spending the intervening years pioneering the cop movie(are you GETTING how BIG a deal this guy was?!), we were all happy to have him back in the saddle as the enigmatic gunslinger known only as "Preacher". Eastwood directs with his trademark minimalist style and grace as he defends struggling miners and their families from thugs like Chris Penn(Sean's brother) in 1880s California. The taciturn tough guy's second-to-last Western is an elegiac, beautifully-filmed throwback to a bygone era that may be his most satisfying output of the '80s.

7. "Pee Wee's Big Adventure"(1985)
Pee Wee Herman, that '80s oddity and unlikely icon, made the most of his big screen close-up in this quirky cult comedy. The bizarre man-child's nationwide search for his missing bike wouldn't have been half as fun or memorable if not for his creator's kinship with first time director Tim Burton. The 27 year old former animator was laying the groundwork for three decades of offbeat brilliance which included Beetlejuice, Batman and at least half the career of Johnny Depp. The proof is in the sequel "Big Top Pee Wee" which fizzled in '88, and it was probably for the best that Paul Reubens' much-publicized indiscretions forced him to retire that ill-fitting grey suit and red bow tie in 1991. Loyal fans remain fond of the character however and rumors of a revival persist to this day.

8. "Out of Africa"(1985)
Meryl Streep continued her mastery of accents in this lush romantic drama that ticks all the boxes in every category that Oscar voters look for in determining Best Picture. Period setting? Check. Long length? Check. Based on a book? Check. Hollywood royalty in the lead roles? Check. It know it sounds like I'm picking on Sydney Pollack's gold-grabber, but it's all a little too neat and perfect like Robert Redford's supposedly rugged big-game hunter. "Africa" is a well-made film that ruled over a relatively weak field of nominees, and let's be honest. Streep and Redford could have added enough prestige to "Police Academy" to get the Academy to sit up and take notice.

9. "Kiss of the Spider Woman"(1985)
Twenty years before "Brokeback Mountain", William Hurt and Raul Julia spent more time together than the average, un-evolved 1985 viewer was comfortable with, in this stagy but impressively-acted character study. Hurt is one of those great actors that never gets talked about, because of his strong artsy leanings, but his homosexual inmate resulted in the Best Actor Oscar, while Julia's political prisoner is the solidest piece of work we have from his too-short life. This wildly dissimilar duo wowed critics in a dark, cramped South American jail cell with their slow-building bond. Walk in with an open heart and mind and thank me later.

10(tie). "The Color Purple"(1985)
Steven Spielberg left his commercial comfort zone and got 'serious' for the first time in this ambitious adaptation of Alice Walker's novel. Racism and sexism in the early 1900s was quite a departure from "E.T." and Indiana Jones, but the legendary director clearly had more on his mind than box office records. Danny Glover's role as an abusive husband(along with a villainous turn in "Witness") put him squarely on the map, while Whoopi Goldberg, Margaret Avery, and Oprah Winfrey are all quietly affecting as downtrodden women slowly finding their self-worth. "Purple" famously went home empty-handed on Oscar night but if nothing else, you can credit it as a sobering set-up for "Schindler's List" and "Saving Private Ryan".

10(tie). "Rambo: First Blood Part II"(1985)
The '80s were tailor-made for Sylvester Stallone(or perhaps it's the other way around). Sequels became the norm, bigger was better, and Sly was more than willing to fashion himself into the sculpted poster boy for manly excess. It turned out that "First Blood" was a mere warm-up, as his bandanna-wearing bad-ass returned to Vietnam and gave the country a cathartic release in the form of pure summer escapism. Rambo became a pop culture phenomenon that epitomized the oft-repeated one-man-army motif(sorry, "Commando" fans) and was even referenced by Reagan. It was a surreal acknowledgment of Stallone's god-like status in 1985. There was nowhere to go but down.

Honorable Mentions- "The Falcon and the Snowman"(1985) Sean Penn sells govt. secrets. "Into the Night"(1985) Michelle Pfeiffer lights up Jeff Goldblum's boring life. "Vision Quest"(1985) Matthew Modine wrestled in high school. "Mask"(1985) Cher is a real actress. "Lost in America"(1985) Albert Brooks writes, directs, and stars. "The Purple Rose of Cairo"(1985) Woody Allen considers this romantic fantasy to be among his best work. "The Sure Thing"(1985) Rob Reiner's rise continues with John Cusack's college cut-up. "Missing in Action 2: The Beginning"(1985) Chuck Norris finds his niche. "Desperately Seeking Susan"(1985) Mistaken identity with Madonna and Rosanna Arquette. "Brewster's Millions"(1985) Walter Hill gives Richard Pryor a killer comic hook.

"Fletch"(1985) Chevy Chase's best role? "The Goonies"(1985) Richard Donner's ragtag youngsters were a part of your childhood. "Cocoon"(1985) Ron Howard scores a geriatric summer hit. "Prizzi's Honor"(1985) Anjelica Huston wins an Oscar opposite her real-life beau Jack Nicholson. "St. Elmo's Fire"(1985) The Brat Pack grew up fast. "The Black Cauldron"(1985) This rare Disney failure is ripe for rediscovery. "Ladyhawke"(1985) Rutger Hauer, Michelle Pfeiffer, and Mathew Broderick star in this Donner-directed medieval adventure. "Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome"(1985) Mel Gibson's last ride as the grizzled post-apocalyptic warrior.

"Summer Rental"(1985) John Candy will crack you up in this "Vacation"-style comedy. "Silverado"(1985) Kevin Kline, Scott Glenn, and Danny Glover in a Lawrence Kasdan Western. "A View to a Kill"(1985) Roger Moore retires his role as 007. "Weird Science"(1985) More teenage anarchy from John Hughes. "American Flyers"(1985) Kevin Costner enters the race. "Marie"(1985) Sissy Spacek as a criminal justice crusader. "After Hours"(1985) Martin Scorsese makes a black comedy. "Twice in a Lifetime"(1985) Gene Hackman leaves Ellen Burstyn for Ann-Margret. "Agnes of God"(1985) Jane Fonda, Anne Bancroft, and Jennifer Tilly expose the Catholic Church. "Death of a Salesman"(1985) Dustin Hoffman won an Emmy for the top TV movie of the year. "Sweet Dreams"(1985) Jessica Lange is a dream as country legend Patsy Cline. "Re-Animator"(1985) The best horror film of 1985.

"Commando"(1985) Arnold Schwarzenegger kills bad guys. LOTS of them. "Jagged Edge"(1985) Did Jeff Bridges kill his wife? "To Live and Die in L.A."(1985) William Petersen and Willem Dafoe square off in this William Friedkin thriller. "Brazil"(1985) Terry Gilliam's dystopian future has a cult following. "Revolution"(1985) Al Pacino participates in the Revolutionary War. "Runaway Train"(1985) Jon Voight and Eric Roberts are escape convicts on a rampaging locomotive. "Murphy's Romance"(1985) Sally Field falls for James Garner. "Fool for Love"(1985) Kim Basinger benefitted from Robert Altman's direction. "Jewel of the Nile"(1985) Michael Douglas, Kathleen Turner, and Danny DeVito reunite for this "Romancing the Stone" sequel. "Young Sherlock Holmes"(1985) was directed by Barry Levinson, and produced by Steven Spielberg.

The Year in Review- 1996

   It was the year that the Coen brothers became mainstream and Billy Bob Thornton started living the dream. Ewan McGregor used narcotics, Wes Craven killed more kids, and Ralph Fiennes needed a nurse. Tom Cruise and Mel Gibson were box office royalty  and an alien ass-kicking Will Smith was the newest member of the fraternity. Here are the ten best films in order for 1996.

1. "Fargo"(1996)
The quirky sensibilities of Joel and Ethan Coen had never quite clicked with the masses before 1996, despite a handful of critical favorites("Blood Simple", "Raising Arizona", "Barton Fink"). Enter Frances McDormand's pregnant police chief, the unlikely protagonist of this deft, snow-covered tale of a kidnapping gone horribly wrong. Her utterly charming Marge Gunderson is a classic Coen creation(she really was pregnant!) and the polar opposite of just about every fictional law enforcement officer you've ever seen. The Best Actress Oscar was rightly rewarded that year. A jittery William H. Macy came to our attention as a duplicitous used car salesman, and Steve Buscemi just made every '90s movie better in his own unique way. Expertly alternating between warmth and cruelty, "Fargo" sits alongside "The Big Lebowski" and "No Country For Old Men" as one of the essential works of a pair of mavericks that consistently flew in the face of convention.

2. "Sling Blade"(1996)
Billy Bob Thornton jumped on the thriving indie film movement and steered his career all the way from bit part purgatory to significant recognition within the industry. His Southern simpleton is no Forrest Gump, though. At first glance it would be easy to get the two confused, but I don't recall Tom Hanks' beloved shrimping boat captain killing anyone with a primitive weapon. Thornton's oddly endearing yokel had his reasons in this dark and downbeat tale elevated by his Oscar-winning screenplay and masterful performance in the lead. There's a disarming tenderness in Karl Childers' relationship with a distressed local boy that stands in stark contrast to his tragic fate, yet the film ultimately finds hope in it's outwardly bleak surroundings.

3. "The People vs. Larry Flynt"(1996)
Woody Harrelson is definitely one of the most interesting and underappreciated performers in the biz, and his role as controversial smut peddler turned First Amendment champion Larry Flynt was the culmination of his unlikely run as a '90s headliner. Director Milos Forman("One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest", "Amadeus") made a most welcome return to filmmaking to chart the many trials and tribulations of the 'Hustler' magazine founder in the '70s and early '80s. Courtney Love briefly had the world convinced that she was a legit actress as Flynt's drug-addled wife and was unfairly denied an Oscar nomination. Thanks to the talents of this wildly varied trio, not too mention Edward Norton as Larry's long-suffering lawyer, there's never a dull moment.

4. "Ransom"(1996)
Mel Gibson followed his "Braveheart" triumph with this highly-suspenseful, top-notch thriller from the equally-hot Ron Howard(they were BOTH nominated for Best Director during filming). His wealthy airline tycoon on a desperate NYC search for his missing son(Brawley Nolte) is another perfect illustration of Gibson's potency as a leading man. Rene Russo is very good as his distraught wife, and the normally-nice Gary Sinise is scary as a stone-cold cop/kidnapper whose plans grow more twisted. So go find one of the remaining DVDs and relive the days when Mad Mel had everyone in his corner as he screamed profanities over the telephone and Hollywood still considered R-rated movies viable at the box office.

5. "The English Patient"(1996)
This tragic romance set against the backdrop of WWII is one of those put-upon Best Picture winners that history tends to downgrade(even a "Seinfeld" episode had a go at it). Director Anthony Minghella made THE most acclaimed film of '96, but like "Out of Africa" and "Dances with Wolves", it's one we rarely feel the need to revisit. I could tell you about the passion, the intrigue, the beautiful cinematography, lush score, and solid performances by Ralph Fiennes, Kirsten Scott Thomas and Best Supporting Actress Juliet Binoche and I know that you'll probably just take my word for it. This is undoubtedly classy and sumptuous film-making, but the ambition and length is like a sandstorm to those looking for mere 'entertainment'.

6. "Jerry Maguire"(1996)
Tom Cruise's approval rating was at an all-time high in 1996. Ten years after "Top Gun", he capped off a decade of dominance in writer-director Cameron Crowe's winning sports comedy. The 33 year old grinning movie god would never be this likable, vulnerable, or human onscreen again(and certainly not off of it). "JM" is more than just three great catchphrases, even though that alone would be enough to earn it's place on this list. Renee Zellweger had me at 'hello' in her breakout role as a sweet single mom, and an Oscar-winning Cuba Gooding Jr added to the all-around enjoyment as an excitable NFL star.

7. "Trainspotting"(1996)
Director Danny Boyle's raw, attention-grabbing indie breakthrough doesn't spare viewers much in it's depiction of the squalid lives of a group of young heroin addicts. Their Edinburgh misadventures were more than a little unpleasant, but Boyle's daring decision to show us the euphoric high as well as the horrifying downside got critics' tongues wagging, and a previously-unknown Ewan McGregor would quickly trade in his needle for a lightsaber. "Trainspotting" illustrates the unique allure of the '90s, because there were almost as many edgy films existing outside the mainstream as there were commercial blockbusters. We just don't get that kind of diversity anymore.

8. "Scream"(1996)
The slasher movie was as dead as one of Freddy or Jason's teen victims before Drew Barrymore answered the phone in the nail-biting opener of director Wes Craven's hip, knowing postmodern horror hit. Kevin Williamson's clever script pays it's respects to everything from "Psycho" to "Halloween" before hacking away at the cliches that laid the genre to waste several years earlier. But Craven still gives his fresh-faced cast the slice 'n' dice treatment, with smart survivor Neve Campbell briefly emerging as a sought-after starlet. The unexpected $100 million box office total led to a full blown resurgence which included three sequels that(sadly) turned "Scream" into exactly what it set out to satirize.

9. "Mission Impossible"(1996)
How was Tom Cruise able to banter with Johnathan Lipnicki AND orchestrate the biggest revival of a popular '60s TV series this side of "The Fugitive"? Maybe there's something to Scientology after all. Brian De Palma's classy touch behind the camera sure didn't hurt. David Koepp and Robert Towne's often-indecipherable plot drew criticism that wasn't unwarranted, but Ethan Hunt's first outing boasts some astounding set-pieces- the CIA wire-room sequence and the bullet train climax definitely rank among the decade's highlights. The resulting franchise has become something of a lifeline for Cruise, with steady ticket sales in 2000, 2006, and 2011 offsetting many iffy projects and tabloid woes.

10. "Independence Day"(1996)
The mammoth success of "ID4" may be more the result of brilliant marketing that actual quality, but the indisputable fact is that NO movie made a bigger splash in 1996. It was more than a movie, it was an event, and the indelible image pictured above built a palpable buzz from the Super Bowl till it's July 3rd debut. Every kid in America just had to see Will Smith's swaggering fighter pilot kick E.T's ass, while Jeff Goldblum did his brainy science-guy routine for everyone else. Critical respect will probably always elude director Roland Emmerich and his producing partner Dean Devlin. No matter- their alien invasion flick changed the business, for better or worse. "4" opened the floodgates, making CGI and excessive hype the new norm(it's 3,000 FX shots set a new record). A grateful George Lucas got to work on his prequels as soon as he wiped the drool off his face.

Honorable Mentions- "Eye for an Eye"(1996) Sally Field seeks revenge on Kiefer Sutherland. "Before and After"(1996) Eddie Furlong is the murdering son of Meryl Streep and Liam Neeson. "From Dusk Till Dawn"(1996) George Clooney and QT fight vampires. "Broken Arrow"(1996) John Travolta in a John Woo actioner. "Bed of Roses"(1996) Christian Slater is a romantic florist. "Beautiful Girls"(1996) Rosie O'Donnell hates them. "White Squall"(1996) Jeff Bridges on a boat. "The Birdcage"(1996) Robin Williams and Nathan Lane are a gay couple in this witty Mike Nichols remake.

"Fear"(1996) Mark Wahlberg is dangerously obsessed with Reese Witherspoon. "Flirting with Disaster"(1996) Ben Stiller and Patricia Arquette in David O. Russell's debut flick. "Primal Fear"(1996) Richard Gere defends Edward Norton. "Up Close and Personal"(1996) Robert Redford and Michelle Pfeiffer fall in love. "Twister"(1996) Bill Paxton and Helen Hunt chase storms in Jan de Bont's huge summer hit. "The Craft"(1996) Teen witches. "The Cable Guy"(1996) Jim Carrey's first 'flop' is still fucking funny.

"The Rock"(1996) Nick Cage and Sean Connery in Alcatraz. "Eraser"(1996) More explosive action with Arnold Schwarzenegger. "The Hunchback of Notre Dame"(1996) Disney animation becomes a summer staple. "The Nutty Professor"(1996) Eddie Murphy's mid-'90s comeback. "Phenomenon"(1996) John Travolta is the smartest man alive. "Kingpin"(1996) The Farrelly brothers strike again. "A Time to Kill"(1996) Mathew McConaughey got made in this John Grisham adaptation. "Matilda"(1996) Danny DeVito is a good director.

"Tin Cup"(1996) Kevin Costner is still a movie star. "Courage Under Fire"(1996) A "Glory" reunion for Denzel Washington and director Edward Zwick. "A Very Brady Sequel"(1996) The Bunch is back. "Bound"(1996) Welcome to the movie biz, Wachowski bros. "She's the One"(1996) Ed Burns gets a budget and beautiful women(Jennifer Aniston, Cameron Diaz). "City Hall"(1996) Al Pacino is the mayor of NYC. "Michael Collins"(1996) Liam Neeson is the Irish revolutionary in this Neil Jordan biopic. "William Shakespeare's Romeo + Juliet"(1996) Claire Danes is in love with Leonardo DiCaprio. "That Thing You Do!"(1996) Tom Hanks directs the tale of a '60s one-hit-wonder band. "The Long Kiss Goodnight"(1996) Renny Harlin directs his (then)wife Geena Davis. "Extreme Measures"(1996) Hugh Grant vs. Gene Hackman in a hospital. "Get On the Bus"(1996) Spike Lee and the Million Man March. "The First Wives Club"(1996) This $105 million hit has Goldie Hawn, Diane Keaton, and Bette Midler. "Secrets & Lies"(1996) The indie movement marches on in Mike Leigh's well-acted family drama. "Sleepers"(1996) Kevin Bacon, Robert De Niro, Brad Pitt, and Dustin Hoffman.

"The Long Kiss Goodnight"(1996) Michael Douglas and Val Kilmer vs. killer lions in 1896 Africa. "The Crucible"(1996) Daniel-Day Lewis and Winona Ryder in an Arthur Miller adaptation. "Set It Off"(1996) Jada Pinkett and Queen Latifah rob banks. "The Mirror Has Two Faces"(1996) Barbra Streisand(who also directed) finally found someone. "Star Trek: First Contact"(1996) The best 'Next Generation' movie? "When We Were Kings"(1996) This celebrated doc cements the legend of Muhammad Ali. "Shine"(1996) The Best Actor Oscar goes to Geoffrey Rush. "Marvin's Room"(1996) Meryl Streep, Diane Keaton, Robert De Niro, and Leonardo DiCaprio. "Hamlet"(1996) I dare you to watch all four hours of Kenneth Branagh's star-studded Shakespeare epic. "Hard Eight"(1996) Philip Baker Hall, John C. Reilly, Gwyneth Paltrow, and Sam Jackson in Paul Thomas Anderson's directorial debut. "Everyone Says I Love You"(1996) Woody Allen's musical has Julia Roberts, Goldie Hawn, Drew Barrymore, and Edward Norton. "Ghosts of Mississippi"(1996) Rob Reiner's fact-based drama features Alec Baldwin, Whoopi Goldberg, and James Woods. "Evita"(1996) Don't cry for Madonna, she won a Golden Globe for playing Eva Peron.