Starring: Steve Martin, Rachel Ward, Director: Carl Reiner Steve Martin stars as a private detective in this neo noir, film noir homage, comedy that's a love letter to the classic movies of the 40's. Shot in black and white, the movie makes fun of the plot lines and tropes of the hard boiled detective films… Continue reading Classic Movie: Dead Men Don’t Wear Plaid (1982)
I love watching scary movies around this time of year and there's nothing I love quite like a horror franchise. Seeing how the film's plots and tropes evolve or devolve as the films go on is pretty fun. Robert Englund as Freddy burst onto our screens in 1984, with Wes Craven's Nightmare On Elm Street.… Continue reading Horror Franchise: Nightmare On Elm Street (1984 – 2010)
Starring: Christopher Walken, Natalie Wood, Louise Fletcher Director: Douglas Trumbull A technology that allows you to experience other people's minds and memories, and the governments plan to shut it down and weaponise it! This is delightful 80's futurism, but it more famous for being Natalie Wood's last film. Find out more about this film and… Continue reading Classic Movie: Brainstorm (1983)
Starring: Shelley Long, Craig T Nelson, Carla Gugino, Kellie Martin, Ami Foster Director: Jeff Kanew Shelley Long stars as Phyllis Nefler, a pampered Beverly Hills wife, soon to be divorced, who takes on the role of den mother to her daughters failing girl scout troop. It's a funny, sweet film that's gained a cult following,… Continue reading Classic Movie: Troop Beverly Hills (1989)
Richard Gere starred in this sexy 80's film as a male prostitute, working in LA who gets framed for murder, in a career starting role. It's classic 80's, and pushed the boat out for nudity, earning it's R rating at the time. With Lauren Hutton joining him, and a classic Blondie track as it's theme,… Continue reading Classic Movie: American Gigolo (1980)
Starring: Sissy Spacek, Tommy Lee Jones, Beverly D'Angelo Director: Michael Apted The adaptation of Loretta Lynn's bestselling memoir, Coal Miner's Daughter is brimming with music and drama. From rags to riches, Loretta was a reluctant star, pushed into the limelight by her husband, who she married at 13. It's a remarkable story, watch my review… Continue reading Classic Movie: Coal Miner’s Daughter (1980)
Director: Katsuhiro Otomo A startling, strange and beautiful Japanese animation film, Akira was the most expensive animation in it's country's history at the time. In a cyber punk dystopian future, an uneasy peace is disrupted by some motorcycling teens when one of them is tested on by the government in an experiment that unleashed a… Continue reading Classic Movie: Akira (1988)
Starring: Nicolas Cage, Maria Conchita Alonso, Jeniffer Beals Director: Robert Bierman Vampire's Kiss is a late 80's film starring Nicolas Cage as a publishing executive with issues who starts to lose his grip on reality after he thinks he's been bitten by a vampire. But that doesn't begin to really describe what this film is.… Continue reading Classic Movie: Vampire’s Kiss (1988)
Starring: Fairuza Balk, Jean Marsh, Piper Laurie, Brian Henson Director: Walter Murch Dorothy returns to Oz in this dark Disney movie. But Oz is not a technicolor musical this time. Because now it's the 80's, and all children's films are scarring. I love this film and if you want to know why and how and… Continue reading Classic Movie: Return To Oz (1985)
Starring: F Murray Abraham, Tom Hulce, Elizabeth Berridge, Simon Callow, Jeffrey Jones Director: Milos Foreman Sometimes dark, sometimes funny, always lavish, Amadeus is a lush and vibrant film. It tells the story of Salieri, a talented court composer who admires Mozart as having divine talent. A pious man, his love turns to obsessive hate when… Continue reading Classic Movie: Amadeus (1984)
Wildfire Movies 