Tag: 1980s

Week 36

Posted by Leo – September 26, 2010

September 3 – September 9

Films watched:

  1. Swingers (1996)
  2. The Expendables (2010)
  3. Wet Hot American Summer (2001)
  4. Cross My Heart (1987)

Books Read: None

Screenplays Read: None

Films:

Swingers

I somehow managed to miss this male bonding classic, and its many quotable lines for over 14 years. Now I get why Vince Vaughn is famous – his character in Swingers is a funny, sweet, loyal to his friend, likable jerk (unfortunately, all his recent characters are just jerky without being likable). The movie has an easy going feel to it, much like the friendship between the characters.

The Expendables

The Expendables is a very 80′s action movie in so many ways. It’s entirely stars (all 80′s muscle icons) driven, all its action scenes must have big explosions, and of course, a forgettable plot. All three aspects (actors/action/plot) feel out of date. But, as someone who grew up watching these guys in silly action movies, I must admit I enjoyed this new silly one just enough to not dislike it.

Wet Hot American Summer

Is Wet Hot American Summer a parody of cliché teen camp movies, or is it just a mediocre teen camp movie? There are some funny moments scattered through, but the movie is too uneven and unfocused.

Cross My Heart

I remember liking Cross My Heart quite a bit when I saw it in the late 80′s. It only came out on DVD very recently, so I decided to re-watch it after 20 or so years, and it turns out I actually like it more now. Sure, there are flaws, such as several moments where it would make sense for the characters to tell the truth instead of lying. But those are easily forgivable. I like the filmmakers’ courage to trust the strength of the conversations between the two main characters to drive the movie, which is rare for a mainstream Hollywood romantic comedy.

Pick of the Week:

Swingers

2010:

Total films watched: 228  (in 252 days)

Total books read:  13 (11 to go)

Total screenplays read: 26 (26 to go)

Remembering “Lucas”. R.I.P., Corey Haim

Posted by Leo – March 10, 2010

R.I.P., Corey Haim, who passed away today at the age of 38.

Growing up in the 80′s, I saw pretty much all his (and the other Corey’s) movies in that period. Lucas was one that I missed. I didn’t see it until I was in my late twenties (I believe it was this enthusiastic Roger Ebert review that prompted me to see the movie). I’m glad that I saw it as a grown-up though, because what I like about Lucas is that nostalgic feeling about the pure, innocent, and idealist adolescent love that grown-ups can never recapture. Japanese cinema has an entire genre based on this concept of “Jinai” (Pure Love), which is all about adults remembering the life-defining romantic crushes they had when they were young. Perhaps due to cultural differences, we don’t really have this genre in American cinema, but Lucas strikes the same emotional chords in me.

Lucas (1986) - Written/Directed by David Seltzer

The story is not all that different from any other American teenage high school movies. Nerdy but intelligent kid Lucas (Corey Haim) falls in love with a pretty girl (Kerri Green) who is attracted to the school’s star quarterback (Charlie Sheen). A nerdy girl (Winona Ryder) is secretly in love with Lucas, while the football star has a beautiful girlfriend (Courtney Thorne-Smith) already. To complicate matters, Lucas is the target of the football team bullies.

But Lucas is not just another teenage movie. What sets it apart is not the plot, but its characters. These are not stereotypical teen movie characters. They don’t utter lines simply to advance the plot or to get a laugh. Writer/director David Seltzer treats his characters with respect and love. He gives them intelligence and sensitivity and in return, Seltzer is rewarded with note perfect performances from his young actors – in particular Corey Haim.

Corey Haim and Kerri Green

Ebert wrote (in 1986)  that Lucas is “as pure and true to the adolescent experience as Truffaut’s The 400 Blows” (you really can’t get any higher compliment than that), and Haim “creates one of the most three-dimensional, complicated, interesting characters of any age in any recent movie. If he can continue to act this well, he will never become a half-forgotten child star, but will continue to grow into an important actor. He is that good.” He was that good. And it’s truly heartbreaking to see such potential wasted.

Any 80′s movie worth its salt has a slow clap scene. Lucas has one of the best. Little Lucas has earned that slow clap.