The Year in Review- 1987

   It was the year Gibson and Glover forged cinema's ultimate bromance. Bernardo Bertolucci invited us inside the Forbidden City while Michael Douglas corrupted Charlie Sheen AND narrowly escaped Glenn Close. Schwarzenegger fought an ugly alien, Kubrick did his version of Vietnam, and Costner and Connery did it the Chicago Way. Here are the ten best films in order for 1987.

1. "Lethal Weapon"(1987)
The shoot-'em-up era reached it's dual apex in the late '80s("Die Hard" dropped a year later) and it all started with Shane Black's pioneering screenplay and the potent pair pictured above. Mel Gibson's trademark intensity was on full display as reckless, suicidal cop Martin Riggs, who lives life on the ragged edge. A wild-eyed Gibson absolutely nailed this part with a combination of humanity, humor and physicality rarely seen before or since, and it should have garnered him a Best Actor nod. "Superman" director Richard Donner made sure we care just as much about his partner, the older, cautious Roger Murtaugh(Danny Glover), who very much wants to get home to his loving family every day in one piece. When your job is to bust up Gary Busey's big-time L.A. heroin smuggling ring, that's never a sure thing. The tone of the series lightened considerably in later installments, but the original remains a dark, gripping thriller and simply the finest example of the genre. No, it wasn't the first buddy cop flick. Just the best.

2. "Fatal Attraction"(1987)
It's incredibly rare for an adult thriller to earn critical respect, light up the box office and become a cultural phenomenon in the process. Well, that's exactly what Adrian Lyne's seminal shocker did. Glenn Close was robbed of the Best Actress Oscar(sorry, Cher) for scaring the pants back ON every married man in America as the lonely and unhinged Alex Forrest, while Michael Douglas found his niche as our deeply flawed protagonist. Dan Gallagher doesn't get off the hook, and you actually sympathize with Alex before her bunny-boiling descent, and that's what sets this film apart from other black-and-white entries in the stalker sub-genre. More than a quarter-century and a million airings on basic cable later, "Attraction" still won't be ignored.

3. "The Last Emperor"(1987)
The 1980s delivered SO many superior crowd-pleasers that history tends to overlook the 'serious' films that had the nerve to try and compete with the likes of E.T, Indiana Jones and Marty McFly. Bernardo Bertolucci's sprawling, three-hour epic is one such casualty, and not even the Academy Awards for Best Picture and Director could draw much of a crowd in an age of such unadulterated escapism. The Forbidden City in China is captured on film for the first time, and the 19,000 extras employed to reenact two year-old Puyi's ascent to the throne in 1908 is a wondrous sight. Political upheaval ended the reign of the child ruler, ultimately leading to a ten-year imprisonment for war crimes. A production this grand and accomplished should never just fade into the background, so rent it with "Ghandi" and enthrall friends and family with your pretentious film acumen.

4. "Planes, Trains, and Automobiles"(1987)
Director John Hughes built a reputation for his uncanny understanding of teenagers in "The Breakfast Club" and "Ferris Bueller's Day Off". However, his best work was his holiday collaboration with two middle-aged comedy greats. Only a nearsighted fool would place this hilarious and heartwarming Thanksgiving travelogue in the same category as cheap wannabes like "Tommy Boy" and "Due Date". Steve Martin was the most successful film comedian of this era not named Eddie Murphy, but "PT&A" really belongs to the late John Candy. His Del Griffith made me laugh AND cry and I suspect that this lovably boorish shower curtain ring salesman wasn't that much different from the gregarious funnyman in real life.

5. "Predator"(1987)
 Arnold Schwarzenegger heads up the manliest ensemble in movie history and secured his A-list status in this instant sci-fi action classic. John McTiernan's direction is tight and skillful, and his dread-locked alien antagonist, designed by Stan Winston, is one of the most recognizable monsters of all time, having racked up appearances in four more movies to date as well as tie-in novels, comic books and video games. None of that would've happened if he hadn't blown a hole through Jesse Ventura's chest and thrashed a mud-covered Arnie to the delight of the testosterone-loving masses. Welcome to the jungle.

6. "The Princess Bride"(1987)
There are many reasons why Rob Reiner's hip fairy tale has stood the test of time. As Peter Falk points out to Fred Savage at the outset, it has something for everybody- romance, sharp humor, grotesque creatures and swashbuckling heroics, while recent offspring like 2007's "Stardust" reminds us of just how difficult it is to mix all those ingredients. Cary Elwes and Robin Wright both should have been more famous after playing these star-crossed lovers, while Mandy Patinkin, Andre the Giant and Wallace Shaw helped make all those comparisons to "The Wizard of Oz" well-deserved. A whole generation fell as in love with this film as Wesley did when he met Buttercup and has never fallen out.

7. "Robocop"(1987)
Is 1987 the greatest year EVER for action movies? Hard to argue against all this evidence. Peter Weller made his mark on the genre as the half-man, half-cyborg crime-fighter protecting the streets of Detroit in the not-too-distant future from all sorts of vile scum. The steady stream of violence and mayhem is unapologetic and hardcore, but visionary director Paul Verhoeven breaks it up with unexpected doses of heart and social satire. It's a shame both sequels were so clunky and the 2014 remake probably won't resurrect the character, but Murphy's first outing is easily one of the most kick-ass films of it's kind.

8. "Wall Street"(1987)
Michael Douglas owned 1987. A few months after his fateful fling with Glenn Close, he permanently stepped out of his famous father Kirk's shadow in the greatest role of his career. With suspenders, slicked-back hair, and Oliver Stone's expert tutelage, his financial wizard corrupted Charlie Sheen's impressionable Bud Fox and an entire generation of genuine white-collar creeps. Gordon Gekko, and his oily charm and "greed is good" mantra, is an all-time villain, which is why the 2010 sequel and it's redemptive arc didn't work. Robert Richardson's roving camera and Stone's sensational screenplay(his father Lou was a broker) made "Wall Street" one of the Reagan-era's most rewatchable films.

9. "Full Metal Jacket"(1987)
The first forty-five minutes of Stanley Kubrick's blistering take on Vietnam is unforgettable, thanks to Vincent Donofrio's haunting Pvt. Pyle and R. Lee Ermey's vitriolic drill instructor(where was his Best Supporting Actor nod?). That's not to say that the second half doesn't also burrow it's way into your psyche, as the fabled filmmaker explores the mental toll of combat and the resulting desensitization, to earn favorable comparisons to "Platoon". Mathew Modine's Pvt. Joker may have been in a world of shit, but by the time the Rolling Stones' "Paint It Black" is blaring through the end credits, you'll realize why the film world misses artists like Kubrick so much.

10(tie). "The Untouchables"(1987)
Director Brian DePalma had to put together a dream cast and tackle Prohibition in an attempt to live up to his insane epic known as "Scarface". Kevin Costner made his leading man breakthrough as legendary lawman Elliot Ness, Sean Connery transitioned into the role of cinema's elder statesman as his tough Irish mentor, Robert De Niro lends some of his old brilliance to the proceedings as notorious Chicago mob boss Al Capone, and a young Andy Garcia reports for duty, too. There's a generous amount of blood-shed(an '80s audience would accept nothing less) with a train station shoot-out among the many highlights. This is another sizzling smash from an underrated auteur at the top of his game.

10(tie). "Broadcast News"(1987)
TV titan James L. Brooks only directed six movies in his storied career, starting with his Oscar-collecting triumph "Terms of Endearment". This buoyant newsroom comedy is his OTHER sparkling '80s effort complete with multiple Oscar nominations. Holly Hunter is highly appealing as a frazzled producer and will leave you wondering why she didn't become an omnipotent leading lady(I think it was the accent). She's torn between William Hurt's handsome hotshot and the always-affable Albert Brooks(both in peak form) in the kind of smart, loquacious love triangle that you just don't see in major Hollywood releases anymore. Brooks fave Jack Nicholson appears briefly in a funny, unbilled role as an arrogant star anchor.

Honorable Mentions- "Dead of Winter"(1987) Mary Steenburgen stars in this little-seen chiller. "Radio Days"(1987) Woody Allen reenacts his childhood in the 1940s. "A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors"(1987) The Freddy phenomenon rages on. "Some Kind of Wonderful"(1987) Amanda Jones. "Blind Date"(1987) Bruce Willis enters my life. "Evil Dead II"(1987) Another glorious gore-fest from Sam Raimi and Bruce Campbell. "Raising Arizona"(1987) Nicolas Cage kidnaps a baby for the Coen bros. "Angel Heart"(1987) Mickey Rourke dances with the devil. "Street Smart"(1987) Meet Morgan Freeman. "Beverly Hills Cop II"(1987) Axel F. is back for more laughs, gunfights, and huge box office. "Roxanne"(1987) Steve Martin has a big nose and a poetic soul. "The Witches of Eastwick"(1987) Jack Nicholson seduces Cher, Susan Sarandon, and Michelle Pfeiffer.

"Spaceballs"(1987) Mel Brooks spoofs "Star Wars". "Innerspace"(1987) Dennis Quaid is inside Martin Short's body. "Adventures in Babysitting"(1987) Elisabeth Shue was an '80s teen queen. "The Secret of My Success"(1987) Michael J. Fox climbs the corporate ladder. "The Living Daylights"(1987) Timothy Dalton does a grittier, tougher 007. "Stakeout"(1987) Richard Dreyfuss and Emilio Estevez spy on Madeline Stowe in this comic thriller. "Nadine"(1987) Jeff Bridges and Kim Basinger bicker in 1950s Texas. "No Way Out"(1987) Kevin Costner vs. Gene Hackman. "The Big Easy"(1987) Dennis Quaid beds Ellen Barkin in New Orleans. "The Lost Boys"(1987) Joel Schumacher's horror comedy was an instant classic.

"Dirty Dancing"(1987) Patrick Swayze steals the heart of every chick in America. "La Bamba"(1987) Lou Diamond Philips peaks as Hispanic 1950s rock 'n' roller Richie Valens. "Three O'Clock High"(1987) Don't touch Buddy Revell. "The Whales of August"(1987) Bette Davis and Lillian Gish say goodbye. "Like Father Like Son"(1987) Dudley Moore and Kirk Cameron switch bodies. "Someone to Watch Over Me"(1987) Ridley Scott rolls on in this sleek thriller. "Baby Boom"(1987) Diane Keaton carries this family film favorite. "Less Than Zero"(1987) Robert Downey Jr. has a drug problem. "Three Men and a Baby"(1987) The year's biggest moneymaker, believe it or not. "Throw Momma From the Train"(1987) Danny DeVito and Billy Crystal swap murders.

"Moonstruck"(1987) Cher wins an Oscar. "Overboard"(1987) An amnesiac Goldie Hawn falls for Kurt Russell and his unruly brood. "Empire of the Sun"(1987) Steven Spielberg introduces us to a 13 year old Christian Bale. "Bad Taste"(1987) Peter Jackson's directorial debut was a micro-budgeted triumph. "Nuts"(1987) Barbra Streisand as a crazed call-girl. "Ironweed"(1987) Jack Nicholson and Meryl Streep act up a storm as a homeless Depression-era couple. "September"(1987) Woody Allen is in a melancholy mood with Mia Farrow and Dianne Wiest. "Eddie Murphy Raw"(1987) The #1 stand-up film of all time. "Good Morning, Vietnam"(1987) Robin Williams is officially a movie star.

Franchise Review- Superman 1978-2013

   "Man of Steel" swoops into theaters on June 14th to continue the seemingly endless summer barrage of superhero movies. Director Zack Snyder and Henry Cavill are the latest guardians of Superman's storied legacy, but their film has more than just the memory of Christopher Reeve to contend with. Robert Downey Jr.'s Iron Man and the Marvel brigade keep setting the box office expectations impossibly high, so there's A LOT riding on "Man of Steel", as DC hopes to catch up to their relentless rivals and launch a heavily-rumored "Justice League" movie to counter that juggernaut known as "The Avengers". We'll have those answers soon enough, but first let's recap the silver screen history of the big blue legend thus far.

1972's Best Actor.

1971's Best Actor.

"Superman: The Movie"(1978)
Listen up, all you Marvel front-runners because THIS is where it all started. As hard as it is to believe now, there was a time when most of Hollywood thought that a quality comic book movie was impossible. That's why even Chris Nolan bows at the feet of Richard Donner, because the director of "The Omen" disagreed with that narrow viewpoint and set out to dress up his 'inconsequential B-movie' with some serious A-list class. Marlon Brando received top billing and $3.7 million for less than two weeks of work, but you couldn't put a price tag on the prestige and credibility that his presence immediately lent the production. It was enough to attract fellow Oscar winner Gene Hackman to the role of Superman's perennial arch-nemesis Lex Luthor. We all know who the real star is, though. Christopher Reeve, then a handsome 25 year old unknown, is perfection in the title role. Gone but never forgotten, his Superman is one of the most enduring pop culture images in the last quarter of the 20th century.

   The transcendence is further heightened by John Williams' majestic score and a measured script supplied of Mario Puzo("The Godfather"). History was made in the biggest spectacle of this celluloid era not called "Star Wars", as the film topped the charts for a full four weeks, and the word 'impossible' was suddenly banished into the Phantom Zone by Tinsel-town execs.

 

"Superman II"(1981)
The Man of Steel soars in this glorious sequel that builds on everything that was established the first time around(in a perfect world, that's what every follow-up would do, superhero or not). After a touching courtship, Kal-El gives up his powers to bed Lois Lane(Margot Kidder) while three super-villains from planet Krypton take over the Earth. Terence Stamp's General Zod is a villain performance for the ages, that surely made Michael Shannon think twice about following in his footsteps. The franchise arguably peaked with that epic battle above the skyscrapers of Metropolis. However, the conversation about "II" often gets bogged down in the Donner vs. Lester directorial debate.

   It's common knowledge to most fans that Richard Donner was fired by producers Ilya and Alexander Salkind after one too many creative disputes, even though he had 75% of the film in the can. In a highly controversial move, Richard Lester("A Hard Night's Night") was brought in to finish the job, and he wound up re-shooting enough scenes to receive solo credit for it. The movie is super despite these major behind-the-scenes shakeups, but replacing Donner mid-flight turned out to be a decision that prevented Reeve's Superman from ever flying this high again.

"Superman III"(1983)
Long before Joel Schumacher got his hands on the Batman franchise, this was unquestionably the clearest cinematic example of the law of diminishing returns. With Donner totally out of the picture, Richard Lester directed ALL of this third installment, and from the moment the opening credits start to roll, we know something just isn't right. Margot Kidder's Lois Lane is reduced to a cameo, as we're introduced to Clark's first love Lana Lang(Annette O'Toole) on a return trip to Smallville. That was a nice idea, and so was Superman getting corrupted by some doctored kryptonite(that junkyard fight is the definite highlight). But Robert Vaughn's villainous CEO was a lame stand-in for Lex Luthor(Hackman reportedly refused to return over the Donner debacle) and Richard Pryor was cast for no other reason than he was really popular at this time. With all due respect to the late comic, his bumbling computer programmer added NOTHING to the proceedings, and he's in it almost as much as Reeve!

   "Superman III" couldn't hope to steal summertime audiences away from "Return of the Jedi" with it's misguidedly comedic tone, and took in significantly less money than it's predecessors at the box office. Coupled with the failure of 1984's "Supergirl", the Salkinds were removed from the franchise, but all that meant was that they couldn't be blamed for what happened next.

"Superman IV: The Quest For Peace"(1987)
Two words- Nuclear Man. By all accounts, everyone went into the much-maligned fourth and final film with the best intentions- to bring the franchise back to it's former glory. It was not to be. "Batman & Robin" may have taken some of the heat off of this film ten summers later, but it's just as shockingly bad in it's own way. Even more perplexing is the fact that most of the original cast is present. Even Gene Hackman is powerless in the face of such outright mediocrity.

   Director Sidney J Furie("The Entity") is at the helm, as Superman wants to rid the world of all it's nukes, but this attempt at real-world relevance was all for naught, with such obvious deficiencies in the screenwriting and special effects departments. A cheap look and overly cartoonish performances made this a depressing swan song for Christopher Reeve's once-great Man of Steel.

"Superman Returns"(2006)
After a nineteen-year sabbatical, that included a close-call in the mid-'90s with Tim Burton and Nicolas Cage, "X-Men" director Bryan Singer was ultimately deemed the safest choice to resurrect the DC icon on the silver screen. A self-professed huge fan of the 1978 original, Singer may have had TOO much reverence for Donner's celebrated interpretation, because he basically made a direct sequel to "Superman II", asking the public to forget about "III" and "IV"(which admittedly wasn't too much to ask). He hired Reeve lookalike Brandon Routh to fill those iconic tights, and even dusted off some Brando footage in the Fortress of Solitude. These aren't necessarily complaints, but Singer payed homage instead of leaving his own distinct mark on the mythology, and that may have kept his film from greatness.

   But let's not pretend that "Returns" doesn't have a lot going for it- Kevin Spacey's Lex Luthor and a showstopping plane rescue can't be dismissed. Nevertheless, WB executives were underwhelmed by the box office numbers(even though it made roughly the same amount of money as 2005's "Batman Begins"), and Singer was denied the opportunity to produce a sequel to his earnest effort that is every bit as love-starved as the Last Son of Krypton himself.

"Man of Steel"(2013)
Hollywood hits the reset button again, and hires musclebound Brit Henry Cavill to halt the momentum of Marvel's Avengers. "Watchman" director Zack Snyder acts as DC's would-be savior, and his Nolanesque approach to Smallville/Metropolis has divided the fan community(there's no pleasing some people). Nobody can accuse "MOS" of being too light on action and FX, as Snyder put every penny of that $225 million price tag(!) up on IMAX screens across the country. But all of that earth-shattering destruction coursing through the fifty-minute finale feels like a slight betrayal of the innocence and gentle spirit long associated with the world's first superhero. This is a clean break from yesteryear, and Superman's arrival on Earth is now akin to a nuclear bomb going off. No more saving kittens from trees, because even Krypton is a battlefield, in Snyder's summer box office quest.

   We have to acknowledge the classy ensemble cast- Russell Crowe, Kevin Costner, Amy Adams, Diane Lane, Michael Shannon, Lawrence Fishburne. Snyder assembled one of the best groups of actors ever to grace the genre, and the result was $291 million domestically. Warner Bros. had to have been hoping for a higher total, though. "Iron Man 3" made $409 million, so there's a hierarchy here. Hey, no worries, we'll just add BATMAN to the mix next time, and everything will be great, right?



Updated Sept 2018
"Batman v Superman" and "Justice League", both helmed by Snyder, didn't cause Kevin Feige to lose much sleep. Cavill will NOT get a direct sequel to "Man of Steel". Is Superman dead?

The Year in Review- 1989

   It was the year Bat-Mania ran wild and Indiana Jones rode off into the sunset. Marty and Doc and Riggs and Murtaugh got sequels, much to movie lovers' delight. Meg Ryan had an orgasm in a deli, Michelle Pfeiffer made whoopee, Kevin Costner was in a cornfield, and Tom Cruise was in a wheelchair. Here are the ten best films in order for 1989.

1(tie). "Batman"(1989)
The Dark Knight was originally slated to take flight alongside his DC counterpart Superman in the late 70's, before getting dragged down into developmental hell. Well, Tim Burton's game-changer was worth the wait. When you pause to consider how cluttered the superhero genre has become, it has to be considered one of the most influential films of the last quarter-century. Michael Keaton overcame some pre-internet casting controversy to bring the titular title character back to his comic book roots, as a stoic vigilante stalking criminals on the city streets. His photographer-girlfriend Vicki Vale may be a damsel in distress, yet Kim Basinger was undoubtedly one of this era's most luscious leading ladies, while Jack Nicholson forever raised the bar for big screen villainy as the maniacal, eternally grinning Joker unleashes a massive reign of terror on all of Gotham City. The action comes in small doses, but it's all meaningful and impactful, while Burton's striking originality and gothic sensibilities made him the perfect fit for the material. It's hard to accurately describe the hysteria that this film created to somebody that wasn't there. It was quite simply the biggest motion picture event since "Star Wars", and a sequel was every bit as inevitable as death and taxes.

1(tie). "When Harry Met Sally..."(1989)
Can men and women ever really be just friends? That never-ending question inspired this defining collaboration between director Rob Reiner and screenwriter Nora Ephron. Their seminal masterpiece has arguably surpassed Woody Allen's "Annie Hall"(a clear inspiration) as the benchmark of the modern romantic comedy. There haven't been many contenders to that throne in the thirty-plus years since, but that doesn't make this movie any less great. Billy Crystal has never had a better showcase for his sardonic wit, and Meg Ryan is perfection from that 1977 car ride to Katz's Delicatessen to New Year's Eve 1988. The Marc Shaiman/Harry Connick Jr. score helps set the classy tone, that keeps fans coming back to NYC in the fall. This film's brand of relationship humor also acted as a precursor to "Seinfeld", which began a similar and not-so-coincidental rise to immortality the following year.

2. "Back to the Future Part II"(1989)
The original is quite possibly the most beloved movie of the decade, making this eagerly-awaited encore a daunting task for the entire BTTF team. Fortunately, Marty and Doc's highly entertaining second go-around is a lot closer to "Empire Strikes Back" than "Ghostbusters II". With it's Oscar-nominated visual effects, breakneck pace and brilliant labyrinth plotting, "Part II" was the grand finale of the '80s blockbuster era. I love how director Robert Zemeckis and screenwriter Bob Gale threw every crazy time travel concept they could think of at the audience, and trusted that they'd be smart enough to stay with every potential paradox and manic Doc Brown explanation. It's one of the most ingenious sequels ever created, and also one of the best.

3. "Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade"(1989)
Steven Spielberg crafted the perfect finale to his classic adventure series that propels his intrepid archaeologist on a search for the ultimate artifact- the Holy Grail(Oh, if only this WAS the finale but that's a discussion for another blog). Harrison Ford was born to play this role and the casting of Sean Connery's as Indy's dad was an inspired stroke of genius. Watching these two bickering icons trapped in a Nazi castle hideout and a nose-diving plane is about as much fun as you can have at the movies. We get to see a teenage Indy, nicely played by River Phoenix, in a flashback opening, and there's one memorable action set-piece after another. With the most humor and heart in the franchise, if "Last Crusade" is you're favorite outing with Dr. Jones, you've chosen wisely.

4. "Born On The Fourth Of July"(1989)
Three years after his Oscar-winning triumph "Platoon", Oliver Stone still wasn't ready to say goodbye to Vietnam. The fearless filmmaker coaxed a career-best performance out of Tom Cruise, in the real-life story of veteran Ron Kovic. His raw and powerful transformation from idealistic youth to bitter paraplegic would have garnered a Best Actor Oscar if Daniel Day-Lewis hadn't made an equally showy turn in "My Left Foot" that same year. Nevertheless, Cruise's follow-up to "Rain Man" left no doubt that he was here to stay, in another passionate effort from a director working at the peak of his considerable powers.

5. "Glory"(1989)
The Civil War gets stellar treatment in this grand tribute to the all-black 54th Regiment of Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry. Although Mathew Broderick received top billing for his role as the white bread colonel,  this film is best known for heralding the true arrival of Denzel Washington. His defiant slave shed a single tear to clinch the Best Supporting Actor Oscar as the entire movie industry eyed it's next leading man. The rousing final battle is impressively staged by director Edward Zwick, and it's stirring score represents one of the first high profile gigs for composer-extraordinaire James Horner("Braveheart", "Titanic").

6. "Driving Miss Daisy"(1989)
Broadway legend Jessica Tandy became the oldest recipient of the Best Actress Oscar as an elderly widow bonding with her black chauffeur(Morgan Freeman entering his dignified prime), an intimate story that spans twenty-plus years, starting in 1948 and ultimately whisking us through of the civil rights changes of the 1960s. This warm and sensitive look at old age and race relations is a thoroughly pleasant experience, thanks to the moving interplay between it's two graceful leads, and Dan Aykroyd is very good in a rare serious role as Tandy's doting son. "Daisy" has often been knocked for being one of those 'safe' Best Picture winners, but if this decades-long friendship doesn't get you a little choked up by the end, you're made of stone.

7. "Lethal Weapon 2"(1989)
Mel Gibson and Danny Glover, the greatest buddy cop duo of all time, dutifully returned to the screen to match all the slick, violent and explosive joy of their genre-defining inauguration. The old rule was that you shouldn't bother making a sequel unless you're prepared to top what we saw last time. Director Richard Donner and his loyal crew were up to the task, and included a booby-trapped toilet for anyone that still wasn't convinced. Those slimy South African villains were more evil than Gary Busey, and Joe Pesci's hyperactive federal witness isn't just funny, he figures into the plot. The second half of "2" is heaven for Reagan-era action enthusiasists. Diplomatic immunity?! Joss Acklund must have been joking.

8. "The Fabulous Baker Boys"(1989)
Michelle Pfeiffer officially staked her claim as Hollywood's new queen in this terrific low-key drama. She sizzles(and not just in the famous piano scene) in one of her signature roles as tough-talking torch singer Susie Diamond, and would likely have an Oscar to show for it if 80 year old Jessica Tandy hadn't taken a ride with Morgan Freeman that same year. Much of the hoopla around this film focused on Pfeiffer's lithe body and impressive vocals, but Jeff and Beau Bridges also shine as lounge-lizard brothers in this refreshingly unsentimental tale of quiet complacency and familial resentments.

9. "Field of Dreams"(1989)
Kevin Costner and baseball went together like peanut butter and jelly( or at least it did until "For Love of the Game", but I'm here to talk about the man's heyday). He just had that all-American aura which made him an ideally suited to play our favorite pastime. This is not a movie for skeptics. Cynics need not apply. Phil Alden Robinson's wish-fulfillment fantasy is as unabashedly optimistic as Costner's Iowa farmer and therein lies it's enduring appeal. That ghost-friendly baseball field may have been totally illogical, but since when has logic and movie magic ever gone together? So just sit down with your pop and enjoy this one, I sure did.

10. "Dead Poets Society"(1989)
Carpe diem. A post "Vietnam" Robin Williams was clearly following that famous credo when he seized the role of unorthodox English teacher John Keating. He livens up an ultra-conservative 1959 prep school and awakens the passions of a handful of restless students, including an 18 year old Ethan Hawke in his screen breakthrough. As far as inspirational teacher dramas go, Peter Weir's life-affirming film sits at the head of the class as major Academy Award nominations allowed Robin to class up his big screen credentials. I'm standing on top of my desk and saluting the Captain as I type this. You should be, too.

Honorable Mentions- "Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure"(1989) This goofy time travel comedy got sequels. "Heathers"(1989) Winona Ryder and Christian Slater kill their classmates. "Say Anything"(1989) John Cusack holds up a boom-box. "Three Fugitives"(1989) Martin Short holds Nick Nolte hostage. "Chances Are"(1989) Robert Downey Jr. gets reincarnated. "Lean on Me"(1989) Movie lovers can lean on Morgan Freeman. "Dead Calm"(1989) Billy Zane bangs Nicole Kidman on a boat. "True Believer"(1989) James Woods as a hippie lawyer. "Miss Firecracker"(1989) Holly Hunter and Mary Steenburgen bring energy to this little-seen indie. "Black Rain"(1989) Michael Douglas is an American cop in Japan. "Major League"(1989) Charlie Sheen and Tom Berenger reunite for this baseball comedy. "K-9"(1989) James Belushi and a German Shepherd. "See No Evil, Hear No Evil"(1989) Richard Pryor is blind, Gene Wilder is deaf.

"Ghostbusters II"(1989) The boys are back to bust up an evil painting and a river of slime. "The Karate Kid Part III"(1989) Cobra Kai never dies. "Star Trek V: The Final Frontier"(1989) This Shatner-directed episode is as good/bad as every other "Trek" movie. "Honey, I Shrunk the Kids"(1989) Rick Moranis in a high-concept summer smash. "The Abyss"(1989) James Cameron's underrated underwater epic. "Turner & Hooch"(1989) Tom Hanks and a huge drooling canine. "Great Balls of Fire!"(1989) Dennis Quaid as 'The Killer' Jerry Lee Lewis. "Do the Right Thing"(1989) Spike Lee's best film? "Casualties of War"(1989) Brian De Palma does Vietnam with Michael J. Fox and Sean Penn.

"Parenthood"(1989) Steve Martin leads a huge ensemble in Ron Howard's hit comedy. "Uncle Buck"(1989) John Hughes brought out the best in John Candy. "The Package"(1989) Gene Hackman vs. Tommy Lee Jones. "Sea of Love"(1989) Al Pacino ends his self-imposed exile with Ellen Barkin. "A Dry White Season"(1989) Marlon Brando ends an even longer exile and gets one last Oscar nomination. "Sex, Lies, and Videotape"(1989) James Spader hits record in Steve Soderbergh's breakthrough. "Look Who's Talking"(1989) Bruce Willis voices Kristie Alley's baby and starts an unlikely franchise. "Crimes and Misdemeanors"(1989) More expert existentialism from Woody Allen. "Dad"(1989) Jack Lemmon is an old man. "Old Gringo"(1989) Jane Fonda and Gregory Peck and the Mexican Revolution. "Immediate Family"(1989) Glenn Close and James Woods decide to adopt. "My Left Foot"(1989) Daniel Day-Lewis lands his first Best Actor Oscar. "Henry V"(1989) Kenneth Branagh breaks out in this Shakespeare adaptation. "Drugstore Cowboy"(1989) Gus Van Sant enters the conversation.

"Prancer"(1989) This should be a Christmas staple. "Valmont"(1989) The Milos Forman version of "Les Liasons dangereuses". "Steel Magnolias"(1989) Sally Field, Shirley MacLaine, Julia Roberts, and Dolly Parton in the preeminent late '80s chick flick. "Family Business"(1989) Sean Connery, Dustin Hoffman, and Matthew Broderick in a Sidney Lumet caper. "The Little Mermaid"(1989) Disney animation makes a comeback. "National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation"(1989) The Griswolds are a holiday fixture. "Always"(1989) Richard Dreyfus and Holly Hunter star in Steven Spielberg's romantic fantasy. "Blaze"(1989) Paul Newman's politician marries a stripper. "Music Box"(1989) Is Jessica Lange's father a Nazi war criminal? "The War of the Roses"(1989) Danny DeVito directs this testy reunion of Michael Douglas and Kathleen Turner. "Tango & Cash"(1989) Super-cops Sylvester Stallone and Kurt Russell close out the 1980s.

The Year in Review- 1986

   It was the year Oliver Stone returned to the jungle and James Cameron unleashed the most frightening aliens in film history. Tom Cruise took flight, Mathew Broderick took a day off, and Dennis Hopper lorded over David Lynch's sordid slice of suburbia. Gene Hackman was a hard-ass, four kids found a dead body, and a Woody Allen movie actually made money. Here are the ten best films in order for 1986.

1. "Platoon"(1986)
Countless films have depicted the horrors of the Vietnam War, but none contained as much raw power and chaotic fury as Oliver Stone's visceral masterpiece. The fearless auteur was uniquely qualified to bring this infamous conflict to the big screen because he was actually there, and there's nothing glamorous or  'Hollywood' about his unsparing presentation. A previously-unknown Charlie Sheen is the college-age grunt standing in for the legions of voiceless young men who left their innocence in that hellish jungle. Willem Dafoe and Tom Berenger leave lasting images as sergeants with wildly opposite temperaments, to earn Supporting Actor nods, while the Academy Awards for Best Picture and Director couldn't have gone to anyone but Stone without a massive protest. Simply put, this is one of the greatest war movies of all time.

2. "Aliens"(1986)
When James Cameron, hot off the heels of his instantly iconic breakthrough "The Terminator", took the reigns from Ridley Scott for this sequel to his 1979 classic "Alien", he didn't take things to the next level. He took it a couple levels above THAT. Sigourney Weaver cemented Ripley as a pop culture heroine of the highest order on her return trip to planet LV-426 with the rough-and-ready Colonial Marines, played by Cameron regulars Michael Biehn, Bill Paxton, and Jennette Goldstein. Stan Winston's Oscar-winning FX are still amazing over a quarter century later, and the last hour is an exhilarating blast of balls-to-the-wall action. All subsequent "Alien" films never had a chance of measuring up to this.

3. "Ferris Bueller's Day Off"(1986)
Has anyone in the history of film ever captured the world of teenagers better than '80s maestro John Hughes? "Sixteen Candles" and "The Breakfast Club" displayed a keen awareness of the under-18 crowd, but those films were a mere warm-up for this joyride around Chicago, in perhaps the most epic teen movie ever made. Matthew Broderick never came close to matching his seminal role as high school legend Ferris Bueller who makes leisure an art form. He's seventeen and practically untouchable and every adult is lame and/or stupid and that's why a sequel wouldn't have worked. Ferris only had one day to con his way into our hearts, so savor it because life moves pretty fast.

4. "Top Gun"(1986) Tony Scott built his legacy off the back of one of the most popular films of the 1980s. We'll take it a step further- this movie IS the 1980s, for better or worse. Scott deserves a lot of the credit for constructing the Cruise persona that led to global superstardom, because his camera lingered on his grinning, cocksure 24 year old leading man as much as it did on the kinetic aerial sequences. Super-producers Don Simpson and Jerry Bruckheimer(hot off "Beverly Hills Cop") secured the full cooperation of the U.S. Navy to achieve a surprising level of technical integrity. Military recruitment skyrocketed as "Top Gun" became the year's highest grosser, and I'm sure there's still plenty of guys that dream of being the impossibly cool Pete 'Maverick' Mitchell.

5. "Hoosiers"(1986)
Any respectable compilation of the best sports movies will surely have this uplifting drama at or near the top. Loosely based on an underdog Indiana high school basketball team's state championship victory in the early 1950s, first-time director David Anspaugh and screenwriter Angelo Pizzo used an effectively-simple and straightforward style and tone to tell a story that may have been overly familiar or predictable in lesser hands(the duo reunited for 1993's "Rudy"). Gene Hackman scored one of his five best roles as tough but tender coach Norman Dale, and the climactic game is genuinely exciting. With a $6 million budget and no fanfare, this was a small movie that became a big winner.

6. "Salvador"(1986)
A jumpy James Woods is at his best as a strung-out journalist entangled in the Salvadoran Civil War in another grim Oliver Stone historical document. Yeah, Stone was really in the zone in '86. This film isn't nearly as popular as "Platoon" and only did a fraction of it's box office, but I suspect that's why you're reading this blog. Cinema's premier provocateur doesn't care if you'd rather NOT know about guerilla warfare, death squads or the failures of our own government. He's telling you about it anyway, so buckle up and forget what you've been told because we're entering the Oliver Stone era.

7. "Blue Velvet"(1986)
The late, great Dennis Hopper probably should have had an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor on his resume for his career-saving turn as the deranged Frank Booth, but there probably weren't any clips appropriate for the Oscar telecast(curiously, he got a conciliatory nod for his less deserving role in "Hoosiers"). Hopper is unquestionably the main attraction of director David Lynch's surreal exploration of a sleepy town's sordid underbelly. Educated film buffs know that words like 'weird' and 'bizarre' are redundant when used to describe the works of Lynch. He sure isn't everyone's cup of tea and you may not love this most celebrated entry in his fucked-up filmography, but you're not likely to forget it, either.

8. "Stand by Me"(1986)
Childhood memories are rife with nostalgia, and so is the career of director Rob Reiner. Before his sharp and sudden decline, Meathead was annually cranking out well-reviewed hits in every genre, which included this definitive coming-of-age tale based on a Stephen King novel. Reiner's young ensemble perfectly captured the rambunctiousness of adolescence, and he enlisted Keifer Sutherland, Richard Dreyfuss, and John Cusack for the small but pivotal 'adult' roles. Let's get back to the kids, though. Corey Feldman was a pretty hot property(again, ONLY in the '80s), and the film gained further albeit eerie resonance from the fate of River Phoenix whose death was as untimely as his reflective ringleader Chris Chambers.

9. "Sid and Nancy"(1986)
A wiry English chameleon named Gary Oldman exploded onto U.S. movie screens in this turbulent tale of Sex Pistols controversial front-man Sid Viscous and his destructive, drug-fueled union with ill-fated girlfriend Nancy Spungen(Chloe Webb). Oldman is so good, that it took at least a decade for mainstream moviegoers to connect the dots and credit his eclectic filmography(where was this man's Oscar??!!). For some reason, music is an acceptable backdrop for degenerate behavior, and Alex Cox's bawdy biopic doesn't shy away from illustrating Sid's lack of talent and productivity. If this is rock 'n' roll, I'm not sure I like it.

10(tie). "Manhunter"(1986)
Nine years before "Heat" placed him at the forefront of Hollywood directors, Michael Mann was the first to tackle the unsettling literary works of Thomas Harris in this visually-arresting thriller. A pre-"CSI" William Petersen is an intense FBI profiler on the trail of a brutal serial killer known as the 'Tooth Fairy'(Tom Noonan). Remade in 2002's "Red Dragon", this forgotten gem only came into the general public's awareness in the wake of it's unofficial sequel, the Oscar-winning phenomenon known as "The Silence of the Lambs". Anthony Hopkins made Hannibal Lecter a legend, but a subdued Brian Cox is arguably as effective in his brief appearance as the imprisoned portrait of evil.

10(tie). "Hannah and Her Sisters"(1986)
Few filmmakers in history can match the productivity of neurotic extraordinaire Woody Allen. He's produced a film almost every year for the last forty-plus years, and while I'm not suggesting that all of his output is worth your time, that's still a phenomenal feat. This insightful ensemble tale of three sisters and the men who weave in and out of their lives was by far his most successful offering of the decade, with the Oscars for Best Supporting Actor/Actress being awarded to Michael Caine and Dianne Wiest, and a(then) career-high box office tally for it's bespectacled star-director.

Honorable Mentions- "Youngblood"(1986) Rob Lowe is the Rocky of hockey. "Nomads"(1986) John McTiernan turned heads in his directorial debut. "Down and Out in Beverly Hills"(1986) Nick Nolte is a dirty bum. "F/X"(1986) I'll bet you forgot about this Bryan Brown-Brian Dennehy thriller. "Wildcats"(1986) Goldie Hawn coaches high school football. "The Delta Force"(1986) Chuck Norris and Lee Marvin vs. Middle Eastern terrorists. "Pretty in Pink"(1986) Molly Ringwald stars in this Brat Pack classic. "At Close Range"(1986) Sean Penn vs. Christopher Walken. "Gung Ho"(1986) Michael Keaton and Ron Howard reunite for this culture clash comedy. "Lucas"(1986) R.I.P. Corey Haim. "Just Between Friends"(1986) Just between Mary Tyler Moore and Christine Lahti. "Sweet Liberty"(1986) Alan Alda, Michael Caine, and Michelle Pfeiffer in a small-town showbiz send-up. "Highlander"(1986) There should have been only one.

"Short Circuit"(1986) Johnny Five is alive. "Mona Lisa"(1986) Bob Hoskins protects high-priced hookers. "The Karate Kid Part II"(1986) Daniel-san and Mr. Miyagi journey to Okinawa. "Ruthless People"(1986) Danny DeVito doesn't want Bette Midler back. "Running Scared"(1986) Billy Crystal and Gregory Hines clean up Chicago. "Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home"(1986) The most financially-successful "Trek" yet. "The Great Mouse Detective"(1986) is on Disney+. "About Last Night"(1986) Relationship drama with Demi Moore and Rob Lowe. "Heartburn"(1986) Meryl Streep and Jack Nicholson marry for Mike Nichols. "The Fly"(1986) Jeff Goldblum + David Cronenberg = a sci-fi horror hit. "Nothing in Common"(1986) Tom Hanks and Jackie Gleason(in his final role) are father and son. "The Name of the Rose"(1986) Sean Connery and Christian Slater in 14th Century Italy. "Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer"(1986) Michael Rooker's mass murderer has an underground following. "Extremities"(1986) Farrah Fawcett vs. James Russo.

"Crocodile Dundee"(1986) Paul Hogan in the decade's unlikeliest blockbuster. "Children of a Lesser God"(1986) Marlee Matlin is the first deaf Best Actress winner. "Peggy Sue Got Married"(1986) Frances Ford Coppola directs Kathleen Turner in this comic fantasy. "The Color of Money"(1986) Martin Scorsese directs Paul Newman and Tom Cruise. "Jumpin' Jack Flash"(1986) Whoopi Goldberg stars in Penny Marshall's directorial debut. "Deadly Friend"(1986) Kristy Swanson kills for Wes Craven. "Something Wild"(1986) Ray Liotta is Melanie Griffith's psycho ex. "52 Pick-Up"(1986) Murder and blackmail with Roy Scheider and John Frankenheimer. "The Mission"(1986) Robert De Niro and Jeremy Irons in Roland Joffe's 18th Century epic. "Mosquito Coast"(1986) "Witness" reunion for Harrison Ford and Peter Weir. "Heartbreak Ridge"(1986) Clint Eastwood leads the Marines into Grenada. "Three Amigos"(1986) are played by Steve Martin, Chevy Chase, and Martin Short. "No Mercy"(1986) Richard Gere and Kim Basinger sizzle in New Orleans. "The Morning After"(1986) Jane Fonda is a boozy murder suspect in Sidney Lumet's murder mystery. "Crimes of the Heart"(1986) Diane Keaton, Jessica Lange, and Sissy Spacek are Southern sisters in this Bruce Beresford Oscar bait.