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Post by Hulk With A Mustache on Jul 22, 2014 23:57:21 GMT -5
*Killing Joke’s “Eighties” plays: www.youtube.com/watch?v=x1U1Ue_5kq8 A graphic that says “Living In The Eighties” pops up onto the screen. We then open onto a room with Eighties memorabilia all over the wall. Sitting in front of the wall is The Breakfast Pack. They all have on “Choose Breakfast” T-shirts and acid wash blue jeans. Sitting at the far left is Brandon Barger, and to his left, in order, is Nick Britt, Beth Graham, Lauren Jamison, and Shaun Clark.* Brandon Barger: Hello, and welcome to the first ever episode of Living In The Eighties. We are you host with the most, The Breakfast Pack. And, this show is designed to let all you Breakfast Packers out there in TV land to get to know the most rad, ace, and tubular group to ever come to the Freakin’ Awesome Wrestling Alliance. So, allow ourselves to introduce… ourselves. I am the Hardcore Homeboy, the leader of the group, Brandon Barger. They say that I come from the wrong side of the tracks, but there ain’t no train where I live. So, I don’t know what the hell they are talking about. Anyway, this Clydesdale bohunk to my left is the enforcer of the group. Say hello to Nick Britt.Nick Britt: Hey! What’s up, dudes and dudettes? As Brandon said, I’m the enforcer of the group. I take care of all those dweebs and doofuses who want to do us harm.Brandon: Well said. Anyway, to Nick’s left is our ash lady. People call her a goth, but she’s just a big basket case. And, we mean that in the nicest way possible. She’s our wildcard, Ms. Beth Graham. Beth Graham: Hello.Brandon: She’s a lady of few words. Unless, it’s about Michael Jackson.Beth: And, he deserves it! I mean, he’s the King Of Pop! He gave the world the Moonwalk and Thriller! He got Eddie Van Halen to do guitars on Beat It! That’s impressive, man! And…Brandon: Hey, hey, hey! I know you like Michael. And, we do to. But, we have to move on, okay. Beth: *begrudgingly* I guess. Brandon: Anyway, next to Beth, is our bodacious bimbette. She’s a bitchin’ Valley girl, a fly honey, and a kickin’ preppie chick. She’s our princess, but don’t let her looks fool you. She can kick you ass. She is the one, the only, Lauren Jamison. Lauren Jamison: Oh my God! I’m like totally excited to be here! You guy have like no idea how much I’m been waiting to get back into action and show all those Bettys and Joanies how things are done. It’s totally tubular to be back on TV. Brandon: We feel the same way. And, last, but not least, we have our McFly. They may call him a dweed, a nerd, a poindexter, but they are just jealous of his brains. He’s our resident genius, Shaun Clark. Shaun Clark: Hello. It’s a pleasure to be here. I’m really looking forward to getting back into action. Brandon: Okay. Enough introduction. Let’s get to why we’re here. Now, we figured that one of the best ways to get to know someone is to learn about what they like. Someone’s favorite movie, TV show, book, et cetera, tells you a lot about a person. We’re gonna do just that. So, ladies and gentlemen, sit back and relax as we share with you our…*A graphic appears on the screen as Brandon is talking.* Brandon: Top 5 Movies Of The Eighties. *The graphic goes away as they all clap and cheer.* Brandon: Alright. I’ll go first. Now, my number 5 is… *drumroll plays* Predator! *Clips of Predator play: www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y1txEAywdiw Then, we go back to the Pack.* Brandon: Great action flick. Very suspenseful with its cool premise of commandos being hunted by an alien. You got Arnold Schwarzenegger, Carl Weathers, Jesse Ventura, and that cool looking black guy and Native American dude whose names I can’t remember. Lauren: Bill Duke and Sonny Landham. Brandon: What? Lauren: That’s their names. Brandon: Okay… Anyway, it’s just a cool action flick. Man, they don’t make them like they use to. Nick: When did they stop making great action flicks? Brandon: The Nineties. All: Ugh… Nineties… *They all spit.* Brandon: Anyway, let’s move on. Nick, what’s your number 5 pick? Nick: Easy. Rocky III. *Clips of Rocky III play: www.youtube.com/watch?v=0fHDMTQUClE Then, we go back to the Pack.* Brandon: Good film. Nick: GREAT film. Now, a little set up. In the first two Rocky films, Apollo Greed is all cocky and shit. In the first, he thinks he’s gonna roll over Rocky, but Rocky gives him a good fight. And, even though he lost, everyone sees Rocky as the winner. So, he fights Rocky again. And, even though he trains better, he ends up losing the title. And, why? Because, he had the Eye of the Tiger. But, when he becomes champion, he becomes Apollo Creed. Now, he’s all cocky and shit. And, here comes big, bad Clubber Lang. He insults Adrian, he scares Mickey to death, and he beats Rocky, taking his title. But, unlike Rocky Two, Rocky trains to beat Clubber Lang’s ass and wins his title back. Why? Because Apollo, who knows what it’s like to lose twice, helps Rocky get the Eye of the Tiger back. Brandon: Well said. Now, let’s move on to Beth’s number 5 pick. Beth? Beth: I’m going in a little different direction. My number 5 is Rain Man. *Clips of Rain Man play: www.youtube.com/watch?v=mlNwXuHUA8I Then, we go back to the Pack.* Beth: It’s a touching film about a world class jerk who discovers he has an autistic brother after his estranged father dies and leaves all his money with the institution that takes care of him. It’s got great performances by Tom Cruise, who plays the trickier role of the jerk and using his charisma to be likable, and Dustin Hoffman, who does a good job of portraying autism even though he relies on tons of weird quirks. And, it wisely breaks up the melodrama with several funny moments. Brandon: Interesting choice. And now, for something lighter, here’s Lauren Jamison’s number 5 pick. Lauren: Okay, for my fifth pick, I went with a totally boss. It’s like a huge favorite of mine. It’s such a bright, colorful film that looks gorgeous. It is Spike Lee’s Do The Right Thing. Brandon: What? Beth: Are you serious? Lauren: Totally. *Clips of Do The Right Thing play: www.youtube.com/watch?v=muc7xqdHudI Then, we go back to the Pack.* Lauren: Set over the course of one blistering hot summer day in the Bedford-Stuyvesant neighborhood of Brooklyn, Do The Right Thing stars Lee as a pizza-delivery guy who travels up and down the block, encountering friends, girlfriends, militants, drunks, racists, and thugs, as long-festering tensions and resentments bubble to the surface. Though shot on location, Do The Right Thing has a bright, colorful backlot look; and Lee’s vision of New York City at the end of the ’80s is similarly compressed and abstracted, touching on multiple hot-button issues without becoming an “issue” movie, per se. Lee’s more interested in creating a rich cinematic experience than in exposing racism, which makes Do The Right Thing a close cousin to his debut film, She’s Gotta Have It, in a lot of ways, complete with gorgeous sex scenes, dynamic music, and earthy comic relief. The difference is that all the eclectic expressionism culminates in a riot, in a sequence that builds with queasy inevitability, from shouting match to violence to police brutality to mayhem. Some cultural commentators at the time fretted that the movie itself would provoke violence among African-American audiences—a worry that probably says as much about the sorry state of race relations in 1989 as the entirety of Do The Right Thing did—but Lee got out in front of the controversy, fighting for his film even if that meant publicly criticizing Oscar voters and the Cannes jury for snubbing it. He turned what might’ve been a sparsely distributed low-budget drama into a must-see cultural event. Brandon: Um… Okay… Well, that was surprisingly intellectual. And, let’s keep that smart streak up with Shaun’s fifth pick. Shaun: I chose Back To The Future. Brandon: Really? Shaun: Yes. *Clips of Back To The Future play: www.youtube.com/watch?v=yosuvf7Unmg Then, we go back to the Pack.* Brandon: Okay! I mean, it’s a cool flick. Lauren: And, it’s surprisingly smart for a blockbuster sci-fi film. As you all know, fifties nostalgia was big thanks to the rise of the Conservative Movement and its focus on going back to the good ole days. But, as Back To The Future shows, the good ole days weren’t as innocent as they had been made out to be. Marty McFly travels back and time and learns that his dad is a bit of a pervert and his mom is boy-crazy. And, there’s the fact that Biff nearly rapes Marty’s mom. But, the most fitting joke comes from Doc Brown’s disbelief that Ronald Reagan is president in 1985, which makes sense since Reagan had been an actor and, with the exception of Knute Rockne: All-American, most of his film were crummy B-movies. In fact, his most famous co-star was a chimpanzee. Brandon: Um… Yeah, I’m sure that’s why Shaun liked it. Shaun: Actually, I just like the car and Christopher Lloyd. Brandon: Okay… That’s cool, too. Um… Let’s move on. For my Number 4, I went with Fast Times At Ridgemont High. *Clips of Fast Times AT Ridgemont High play: www.youtube.com/watch?v=FKov1lmq_OU Then, we go back to the Pack.* Brandon: This is a rad movie. It’s very funny, with great performance by Judge Reinhold and Sean Penn. In fact, this movie just shows how great an actor Penn is. Primarily known for his dramatic roles, Penn shines as the stoner surfer Spicoli. He throws himself into this role as if he’s going for an Oscar. And, it had that awesome scene where Phoebe Cates took her top off. Nick: Yeah, that scene started my sexual awakening. Beth: Me, too. Brandon: What? Beth: Nothing. I didn’t say anything. Brandon: Okay. Let’s move on. Nick, your Number 4? Nick: Oh, that’s easy. Lethal Weapon. *Clips of Lethal Weapon play: www.youtube.com/watch?v=GUorM4nTX7k Then, we go back to the Pack.* Brandon: Good film. Nick: GREAT film. This movie is so good that it makes me like the third and fourth films, even though they came out in the Nineties. Brandon: The Nineties. All: Ugh… Nineties… *They all spit.* Nick: Anyway, it’s a cool action flick that started the buddy cop genre. You got Mel Gibson before he went all crazy and shit. And, you had Danny Glover kicking ass even though he was too old for that shit. In fact, that has motivated me throughout my life. I mean, he’s been too old for that shit since the first movie. But, what does Danny Glover do? He keeps on doing that shit. Because, age shouldn’t limit your potential. Brandon: That’s a good lesson for us all. You see, this show is not only entertaining but educational as well. Anyway, let’s move on. Beth, give us your fourth pick. Beth: Fletch. *Clips of Fletch play: www.youtube.com/watch?v=4sMMt2M3RiU Then, we go back to the Pack.* Beth: Here’s some more education for you hosers out there. Before he could only find work on a sitcom on NBC and blew that job with his usual lack of tact and grace, Chevy Chase was actually funny and did funny movies. Fletch is pretty much is best role since the character tailor made for him. Now, the character of Fletch was created by writer Gregory Mcdonald, who wrote eleven novels featuring the charming, sarcastic journalist, two adjectives that pretty much describe Chase’s sense of humor. Of course, like most comic actors, Chase lost his way, but Fletch is a great reminder of a time when he was funny as hell. Brandon: Interesting choice. Okay. Let’s move on to Lauren’s fourth pick. After her fifth choice, I can honestly say I have no idea what movie is coming next. Lauren: I like decided to go with a more typical film, one that everyone totally remembers from the decade. Brandon: Oh, you mean like Sixteen Candles or Pretty In Pink? Lauren: Close. The Last Emperor. Brandon: What? *Clips of The Last Emperor play: www.youtube.com/watch?v=QBUbmT8cCkM Then, we go back to the Pack.* Lauren: Now, I know it’s an obvious, safe choice since it won the Best Picture Oscar for 1987, and it's tempting to dismiss the film as mere pageantry, a sumptuous one-of-a-kind tour through the Forbidden City that makes up in ornate costumes and exotic ritual what it lacks in historical or emotional resonance. But, it is a truly great epic, one which attempts to capture the political turmoil that gripped 20th-century China without getting too reductive or bogged down in minutiae. Through the story of Pu Yi, the footnote of an emperor who ended the Ching Dynasty, Bernardo Bertolucci tells the larger story of an era where individuals were caught in the swells of history. Crowned Emperor in 1908 at age 2, Pu Yi ruled for only a few years, and the film shows the young boy as curious but put-upon from the start, attached more to his wet nurse than any of the luxuries within his gilded cage. Played as an adult by John Lone, Pu Yi has a rebellious, or at least petulant, streak, which British tutor Peter O'Toole labors mightily to mold into refined intellect. But, he's essentially a prisoner in the Forbidden City, and when a warlord forcibly evicts him in 1924, it's an ironic sort of liberation. His later installment as a puppet leader of Manchuria by the Japanese leads to serious recriminations after the Communists take over China, and he eventually dies a humble gardener. Because Pu Yi wields so little control over his destiny, his passive nature makes The Last Emperor a difficult epic. It doesn't help that Lawrence Of Arabia himself is around to remind viewers what a more purposeful hero can do. But, from The Conformist to The Dreamers, Bertolucci has always been fascinated by characters who are whisked away by powerful forces; that a "son of heaven" and ostensible leader of half a billion people could be among them is one of the film's many rich ironies. *The other Packers just stare at her like she’s crazy.* Lauren: What? Do I like have something in my teeth? Brandon: No. You’re good. Lauren: Cool. Brandon: Okay, let’s go to Shaun’s fourth pick. Shaun: Mannequin. Brandon: Really? That’s your fourth pick? Shaun: Yes. *Clips of Mannequin play: www.youtube.com/watch?v=N6gpndlepiM Then, we go back to the Pack.* Brandon: Okay… I just have to ask… Why? Shaun: Well, it was funny. The plot of a guy falling in love with a mannequin that comes to life only when he’s around was original. And, I had a big crush on Kim Cattrall. Brandon: Is that it? Shaun: Yes… I’m done. Brandon: Okay… Um… Let’s move on. My number 3… Raiders Of The Lost Ark. *Clips of Raiders Of The Lost Ark play: www.youtube.com/watch?v=XkkzKHCx154 Then, we go back to the Pack.* Brandon: Indiana Jones was the best trilogy of the Eighties. Though, I say that because all three movies came out in the Eighties, but it would be if the Back To The Future or Star Wars films had all come out in the Eighties. Anyway, it’s just a cool film that callback to those classic adventure serials with a great performance from Harrison Ford. But, the thing that makes this movie so great is that Raiders is an act of homage that doubles as one-upmanship. The adventure is bigger, the villains nastier, the hero more heroic, though with a little cynicism to keep him up to date, and, most importantly, the action more impressive. And believable. From the moment we first see Harrison Ford's Indiana Jones running from a rolling boulder, it's clear this world runs on real, however oversized, physics. As elsewhere, the believability helped sell the fantasy. So, now for Nick’s number 3. Nick: I thought about making Rocky III my number 3. You know, for symmetry. Hey that rhyme! Brandon: Yeah, yeah, yeah… You’re a poet, and you didn’t know it. Get on with it. Nick: Anyway, I ultimately decided that I had to go with my heart over symmetry, and my heart told me that Rocky IV is the better film. *Clips of Rocky IV play: www.youtube.com/watch?v=bwJJkeOTT6Y Then, we go back to the Pack.* Brandon: Good film. Nick: GREAT film. As good as Rocky III, Rocky IV has the more important story. Not only was Rocky fighting for his country against those nasty commies, but he was also fighting to somehow make up for allowing Apollo Creed to be killed at the hands of Ivan Drago. It’s got bitchin’ music, awesome montages, and Rocky helping to bring an end to Communism. Shaun: Oh, come on. He didn’t end Communism. Nick: Well, you have to at least agree that he helped to bring about the end of the Soviet Union. Shaun: Okay, the Rocky fictional universe, you could argue that Rocky’s victory and the crowd switching to his side played a part in the dissolution of the Soviet Union. Nick: Exactly. Brandon: Okay. Now, for Beth’s Number 3. Beth: My number 3 is one of the funniest films I’ve ever seen. It’s A Fish Called Wanda. *Clips of A Fish Called Wanda play: www.youtube.com/watch?v=dqAJUlSRCwo Then, we go back to the Pack.* Beth: Now, most comedies have likable leads. Not this film. Pretty much everyone is morally compromised. The film is about a group of diamond thieve. Two of them, a couple played by Jamie Lee Curtis and Kevin Kline, plan to steal the loot from the other two, Michael Palin and Tom Georgeson. However, Georgeson has moved the loot. So, Curtis sets about seducing his barrister, John Cleese, into finding out where he stashed them. It’s absolutely hilarious, especially with a subplot in which Palin has to kill a little old lady who saw Georgeson. And, of course, Kline gives one of the great comedic performances. It was so good that he won the Oscar, one of the few for a comedic performance. He was too good for the Academy to ignore. Brandon: Amen. Now, Lauren… I can’t wait to hear what your Number 3 is. Lauren: I went with another totally safe choice. It’s like pretty commercial. Brandon: Oh. So, now we’re getting a John Hughes flick. Lauren: Oh no. Brandon: A Spielberg flick? Lauren: No. Brandon: Then what? Lauren: The Cook, The Thief, His Wife, And Her Lover. *Clips of The Cook, The Thief, His Wife, And Her Lover play: www.youtube.com/watch?v=nXLRdeYFHss Then, we go back to the Pack.* Brandon: That’s a commercial film? Lauren: Well, yeah! It was Peter Greenaway’s most commercial film. Of course, Greenaway still uses his usual style and filmmaking techniques. Now, Greenaway has always felt that movies are limited in their influence, choosing to use other movies for inspiration. However, Greenaway feels that filmmakers shouldn’t be limited to just a hundred years of film history when there are thousands of years worth of entertainment and art to cherry pick. He feels that using such classical inspiration and techniques, he could, ironically, help move filmmaking forward, to evolve beyond mere storytelling. He’s always film his movies like Baroque Dutch Golden Age paintings, and his follow-up film, 1991’s Prospero’s Books, is an adaptation of The Tempest so choked with cinematic techniques and gimmicks—animation, mime, opera, and a dense assortment of frames within frames he called paintbox images—that moviegoers were given pamphlets to help them process the visual overload. Yet, I feel that this is best film, even though it is one of his most straightforward and commercial. It’s a film awash in the color red, full of blood, sex, and rage, the rare Greenaway film that feels alive as more than a formal or semiotic exercise. You may even catch him storytelling here and there. But, the story is fantastic, telling a wonderful tale of a woman having an affair right under her gangster husband’s nose at his very own restaurant and her quest for revenge after he kills her lover. Even in its straightforward, storytelling way, it is still very much a Greenaway film. He’s grafting the classic form of Jacobean revenge tragedy—a genre known for fusing satire with outrageous violence—to a modern, politically charged metaphor for the Thatcher years. And the old and the new are also reflected in the style, which combines rigid theatricality with boldly experimental use of color and space, all raised to a fevered intensity that courts mere silliness, like a Julie Taymor project run amok. It’s basically Greenaway taking a film meant to entertain the masses and making it his own. *The other Packers just stare at her like she’s crazy.* Beth: Who are you? Lauren: *laughing* Oh, you! Brandon: Okay… Shaun. Shaun: Right… My number 3 is Hot Dog The Movie. Brandon: What? Shaun: I said Hot Dog The Movie. *Clips of Hot Dog The Movie play: www.youtube.com/watch?v=NHyP4Oj17zg Then, we go back to the Pack.* Brandon: I don’t remember this film. Shaun: Well, it’s a comedy about skiing. Brandon: Okay… An Eighties skiing comedy. Sounds appropriate. I figured Lauren would have picked it, but…Lauren: Why would you think that? Brandon: Um… Don’t know. Shaun: Well, anyway, I chose it because I like skiing, I like comedies, and I like Shannon Tweed. Nick: Well, she’s a bodacious babe, but what does she have to do with this movie? Shaun: She’s in it. Nick: Makes sense now. *There is a pause.* Brandon: Is that it? Shaun: Yeah, that’s it. Brandon: Okay. Well then… We’ll move on. So… My Number 2. Now, my list has had action and comedy. And, my next pick has both. It’s Beverly Hills Cop. *Clips of Beverly Hills Cop play: www.youtube.com/watch?v=XQGi4eB3RZI Then, we go back to the Pack.* Brandon: The movie has a cool premise with a Detroit cop coming to Beverly Hills to solve a murder and clashing with the local police department. Sure, it’s the standard “good cop, bad cop” scenario. But, the thing that makes it work is Eddie Murphy. The guy is hilarious in this movie. He makes Axel Foley into a cool character mainly through his charisma and the fame he had gained from being the cool guy on SNL. But, he also makes Foley a unique con man. Whenever Foley is trying to fool someone, he pretty much becomes a whole different. When he’s trying to get a room at that fancy hotel, he’s not Axel Foley pretending to be a righteous Rolling Stone reporter. He IS a righteous Rolling Stone reporter. When he’s trying to get info at that airport customs, he’s not pretending to be an uptight, hardass inspector. He IS an uptight, hardass inspector. When he’s trying to get into the restaurant, he’s not pretending to be Victor Maitlin’s gay lover. He IS… Well, you get the idea. But, the thing that makes Murphy’s performance truly great is when he plays it straight. He knows when to stop with the comedy, like when his friend has died or when he plays the straight man to Bronson Pinchot or Judge Reinhold. Alex Foley truly is Murphy’s greatest performance. So, Nick, your Number 2? Nick: Easy… RoboCop. *Clips of RoboCop play: www.youtube.com/watch?v=zbCbwP6ibR4 Then, we go back to the Pack.* Brandon: Good film. Nick: GREAT film. I mean, it’s about a cyborg police officer. How is that not cool? It’s got a lot of kick-ass action. But, it’s also got a good story with RoboCop slowly regaining his memories of being Officer Murphy and trying to get revenge on the gang who killed him. Lauren: Exactly. RoboCop may look like a dumb action film on the surface, but it’s actually a smart satire. Director Paul Verhoeven and writers Edward Neumeier and Michael Miner filled the film with themes regarding the media, gentrification, corruption, authoritarianism, greed, privatization, capitalism, identity, dystopia, and human nature. It is a perfect satire of American culture in the 1980s, as most of the film takes place in abandoned factories in Detroit and some of the main antagonists in the film are businessmen who feel that the solution to the poverty and crime that has plagued the city is to create a cyborg who’s primary objective is to beat criminals down. But, it’s not just about consumerism. Verhoeven filled the film Christian symbolism, as RoboCop was a man reborn into something more powerful. RoboCop as a Christ figure is represented in Murphy's horrific death, his return as RoboCop, and the scene at the steel mill where RoboCop is seen walking ankle-deep in water, creating the illusion of him walking on water. It’s also a nice commentary on male masculinity, as the movie suggest that the ante for masculinity has been upped so much that a man would need something more than biological in order to live up such an ideal. The thing that truly makes RoboCop such a great film is that Verhoeven hid these themes with the thick sheen of an ultraviolent action film, another symbol of the American culture and masculinity that he intended to make fun of. Nick: Uh… Yeah… Totally…Brandon: Anyway, Beth. Your Number 2? Beth: Um… Oh… My Number 2. That would be Raising Arizona. *Clips of Raising Arizona play: www.youtube.com/watch?v=2AIfVoGUs6c Then, we go back to the Pack.* Beth: Concerning the whacky hijinks a married couple get into after they kidnap the son of a wealthy furniture salesman, this is one of the zanier movies from the Coen Brothers and surprisingly lowbrow for them. But, it's also undeniably hilarious, choked with lines and phrases that are regurgitated in everyday life nearly as often as those in The Simpsons… or at least Fletch. The movie is also a marvel of narrative energy. Having the credits arrive a good 20 minutes into the film may seem show-offy, but it was really the first pause in the action. Through voiceover, flashbacks, and wild digressions, the setup of the film is so absurdly long-winded and overstuffed that the credits are a payoff in themselves, a moment where the audience can catch its breath and giggle over how much movie has been squeezed into so small a timeframe. Brandon: Well-said. So… *sigh* I guess we move on to Lauren’s Number 2. And, I can honestly say that I have no idea what this will be. Lauren: My Number 2 is another safe pick. In fact, it may be the safest choice on this list. Brandon: Oh. So, now we get the John Hughes. Lauren: Uh, no. But, this is a filmmaker you would recognize. Brandon: Oh, let me guess… Is it… Oh, forget it. Just tell us the movie. Lauren: Raging Bull. Brandon: Of course. *Clips of Raging Bull play: www.youtube.com/watch?v=YiVOwxsa4OM Then, we go back to the Pack.* Lauren: Until 2007, Martin Scorsese was widely cited as the greatest American filmmaker who’d never won Best Director or Best Picture at the Academy Awards. Exhibit A in the indictment against the Academy was 1980’s Raging Bull. In many ways a throwback to classic boxing noirs like The Set-Up and Body And Soul, the movie tells the story of Jake LaMotta, a gifted and strong-willed fighter with a mile-wide self-destructive streak. His story, rife with religious guilt and the contradictions of a man who desperately wants to be part of a family but doesn’t have the skills to keep one together, is a perfect match for the obsessions of screenwriter Paul Schrader, and Robert De Niro absolutely nails the essence of the character, delivering a performance that’s astonishing on not only an emotional level, but a physical one as well. At least the Academy got it right by giving him the Best Actor Oscar. Michael Chapman’s cinematography, particularly in the film’s memorable fight scenes, is astonishing, and Raging Bull is a showpiece for editor Thelma Schoonmaker, at the start of what would be a long and fruitful collaboration with Scorsese. All these element came together perfectly to elevate the film from mere biopic and clichéd sports film into a work of art. Raging Bull was nominated for eight Oscars, snubbed for both Picture and Director. Its reputation has risen and fallen and risen again many times since its release, but Raging Bull may be the purest expression of Martin Scorsese’s aesthetic of religious guilt, family dysfunction, sudden violence, and regret. And, it contains some of the greatest fight scenes ever filmed. Brandon: Well, at least we’ve heard of this film. Anyway, Shaun. Your Number 2? Shaun: My Number 2 is Weekend At Bernie’s. Brandon: Of course it is. *Clips of Weekend At Bernie’s play: www.youtube.com/watch?v=VMCh9gLZofo Then, we go back to the Pack.* Brandon: So, why did you choose the film where people are too dumb to figure out a guy is dead? Shaun: Well, I thought it was funny. And, I like Andrew McCarthy. Brandon: Okay. I just have to ask… As a man of science, doesn’t it bother you that no one in the movie outside of the main characters could tell that Bernie was dead? Shaun: Nope. Lauren: I like to think that people in the film simply chose to ignore the fact that Bernie was dead because it would cause to reflect on their own mortality and contemplate the frailty of life, which opposes their party-going lifestyle. Brandon: Okay. Is that why you weren’t bothered by the movie’s big plot hole, Shaun? Shaun: No. I just thought that was funny. Brandon: *sighs* Okay. Um… So, we are all down to one pick left. But before we get to our Number 1’s, we would like to acknowledge the fact that choosing just five films for the whole decade is a tough task. And, of course, this meant that several of our favorites had to be left off. So, we would like to acknowledge these favorites giving you all three honorable mentions. I’ll start. My first honorable mention is Trading Places. *Clips of Trading Places play: www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZjDbJQKDXCY Then, we go back to the Pack.* Brandon: I almost went with this film over Beverly Hills Cop, but I felt that Cop was a better showcase of Murphy’s talents over Places, in which Murphy has to share the praise with Dan Aykroyd. And, Aykroyd is great as the yuppie stockbroker whose wealth and life is suddenly given to poor hustler Murphy, who, of course, also shines. Both are hilarious, and the film has a great third act in which they join forces to take down the two men who orchestrated the switch. And, Jamie Lee Curtis is very sexy in this movie. Oh man… *pause* Anyway, my next honorable mention is The Terminator. *Clips of The Terminator play: www.youtube.com/watch?v=c4Jo8QoOTQ4 Then, we go back to the Pack.* Brandon: Now, I hate to admit, but I did find the sequel to be better, even though it comes from the Nineties. All: Ugh… Nineties… *They all spit.* Brandon: However, the original is still pretty damn cool. I mean, you got Arnold Schwarzenegger as this ruthless robot who’s come from the future to kill the mother of the human resistance so that the machines can finally take over the world. With its cool effects and great action, the film helped to make Schwarzenegger and director James Cameron. But, the thing makes this film so good is the fact it tells a good, suspenseful story. It keeps you on the edge of your seat, which is what good action films should do. And, my final honorable mention is Repo Man. *Clips of Repo Man play: www.youtube.com/watch?v=DLGrXGEMOSo Then, we go back to the Pack.* Brandon: This was the hardest to leave off. I pretty much flipped a coin between it and Predator. Still, this is just a cool ass flick about a young Emilio Estevez who ends up becoming a repo man after losing his store clerk job. Eventually, he and his repo man mentor, played by Harry Dean Stanton, end up chasing a 1964 Chevy Malibu with a twenty thousand dollar bounty. And, it’s the car that makes the film so cool as it not only incinerates everyone who opens the trunk but is also the key to its bizarre, transcendent ending involving… Well, I won’t spoil it for anyone who hasn’t seen it. Anyway, let’s move on with Nick’s honorable mentions. Nick? Nick: Okay, my first honorable mention is Commando.*Clips of Commando play: www.youtube.com/watch?v=pPhISgw3I2w Then, we go back to the Pack.* Nick: It’s a fun little film in which Arnold Schwarzenegger’s daughter is kidnapped by mercenaries who want him to assassinate a South American president for the brutal dictator he originally helped to dispose of. However, Schwarzenegger instead sets out to kill the men who have his daughter. It’s got a lot of great action and hilarious one-liners from Schwarzenegger. It’s just a cool flick. My next honorable mention is Conan The Barbarian. *Clips of Conan The Barbarian play: www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y0cxNbz4yKc Then, we go back to the Pack.* Nick: Yeah, I know. Another Schwarzenegger film. But, this one is good, too. Here, he plays the legendary pulp character as Conan goes on an epic quest to kill the vicious cult leader, played by James Earl Jones, who murdered his family. Here, Schwarzenegger is more serious, but he does a good job as Conan. And, Jones is fantastic as Thulsa Doom, clearly having a ball playing such a magnetic villain. All in all, it’s just a great swords and sorcery film. Now, I know what you all are thinking—if I like Schwarzenegger, why not put these two on my list? Well, to be honest, I prefer Stallone over Schwarzenegger. They’re both cool, Stallone is a better actor. And, my final honorable mention is Aliens. *Clips of Aliens play: www.youtube.com/watch?v=zNE0dlHcmgA Then, we go back to the Pack.* Nick: Where as the first Alien film was a cool horror film set in space, the sequel is a pure sci-fi action flick. But, it’s still plenty scary as there are more aliens here. And, if you thought the effects in Terminator were cool, then you’ll love them here as Cameron has the effects team up the ante and create a truly alien and futuristic world. And, it’s got some good performances, like Sigourney Weaver’s tough-as-nails Ripley and Bill Paxton’s badass-marine-turned-scaredy-cat Hudson. And, it has one of the greatest lines in movie history—“Get away from her, you bitch!” Now, I felt bad for leaving it off my list, but I had to go with my gut. And, my gut preferred RoboCop. Brandon: Good choices. Nick: No, GREAT choices. Brandon: Okay, Beth, your honorable mentions. Beth: Okay, my first honorable mention is National Lampoon’s Vacation. *Clips of National Lampoon’s Vacation play: www.youtube.com/watch?v=jMiXWKJQPEQ Then, we go back to the Pack.* Beth: I almost went with this over Fletch, but I ultimately felt that Fletch was a better showcase of Chevy Chase’s talents, since it was a one-man show rather than an ensemble. But, this film does Chase justice as well. Here, he uses his comedic talents to play the dorky dad rather than the cool, sarcastic journalist of Fletch. And, he’s given plenty to work with as the writers keeps putting the Griswolds into one disastrous situation after another as they travel to Wallyworld. It’s just a hilarious movie that will have you laughing long after its done. My next honorable mention is Big. *Clips of Big play: www.youtube.com/watch?v=J62jciQ1PbY Then, we go back to the Pack.* Beth: Now, this movie could have sucked with the wrong lead. Luckily, Tom Hanks did a great job of playing a 12-year-old boy who suddenly ages into a 30-year-old over night. He pretty much makes the movie. And, I almost chose Big simply because of him. However, I ultimately decided that I liked my official choices more and for more reasons other than a good performance by the lead actor. Still, I felt Hanks’s performance deserved some mention. So, here it is. And, final honorable mention is Caddyshack. *Clips of Caddyshack play: www.youtube.com/watch?v=zrTqenN1SqQ Then, we go back to the Pack.* Beth: Now, I know this is more of a guy film. But, funny is funny, no matter what. And, this not only has Chevy Chase, whom I obviously like, but also Bill Murray, Rodney Dangerfield, and Ted Knight. They are all hilarious, so much so that I almost put them on the list. However, the movie isn’t really about them. The main character is basically the straight man and not that interesting. Which is why I ultimately went the other films. But still, it’s a damn hilarious film, and it made me a little interested in golf. Brandon: Well said. *sighs* Okay… Lauren. Try not to take up too much time. Lauren: Oh, I won’t. Now, my first honorable mention is Akira Kurosawa’s Ran. *Clips of Ran play: www.youtube.com/watch?v=9q8kLDgoO_c Then, we go back to the Pack.* Lauren: Ran recasts the plot of Shakespeare’s King Lear as a struggle in feudal Japan. Justly hailed for its epic battle scenes, it doubles as a tragedy played out on a national scale as the wills of the wealthy lead to the clash of armies. Meanwhile, on a smaller scale, one aging man brings about his downfall when he tries to hold too tightly to the material world after gaining much wealth and respect, but not enough wisdom. Kurosawa was 75 and losing his sight when he made the film, and Ran plays like a deeply personal work, one that despairs at the passing of all things, but refuses to ignore it. It’s a great film, and it pained me deeply to leave it off my official list. But, I ultimately found the other films more interesting. Now, my next honorable mention is Wall Street. *Clips of Wall Street play: www.youtube.com/watch?v=FCctqbRrsBQ Then, we go back to the Pack.* Lauren: I thought long and hard about including this film on my list since it is such a great period piece, but it is also a good example of one of the more annoying of Oliver Stone’s so many faults—his lack of subtly. That aside, Wall Street remains one of Stone's most tolerable efforts, because in its heavy-handed way, it's still strongly attuned to the period's material excesses, epitomized by conspicuous gadgetry—brick-sized mobile phones, electronic sushi-rice compactors, and modern art less cherished for its beauty than its market value. Again, it does have its flaws. Along with the lack of subtly, it’s morality tale plot of the hard-working, goody-two-shoes Charlie Sheen being seduced to the dark side by Michael Douglas’s deliciously evil Gordon Gekko; and the fiscal-speak in Wall Street is loaded with weird malapropisms like "We'll raise the sperm count on the deal.” But, it has an intoxicating buzz, which those flaws help to create. It’s little wonder that many would-be Gekkos see the film more as an inspirational video than a cautionary tale. Truth be told, Douglas's "Greed is good" speech is far more compelling than the tongue-clucking sermon that precedes it, which isn't the first time the movies have made sin look more attractive than righteousness. In spite of Stone's proselytizing for good, honest labor, audiences can be forgiven for wanting a pint of Douglas' snake oil instead. And, my final honorable mention is The Unbearable Lightness Of Being. *Clips of The Unbearable Lightness Of Being play: www.youtube.com/watch?v=SDQDwoFe6Ko Then, we go back to the Pack.* Lauren: Based on Milan Kundera's novel about sex, politics, and the shifting meaning of freedom, The Unbearable Lightness Of Being offsets its action with regular philosophical interludes, most tied to Nietzsche's liberating/terrifying notion of eternal return. But, director Philip Kaufman gets at the same ideas by digging into Kundera's story of a Czech neurosurgeon played by Daniel Day-Lewis who flits from woman to woman, an artist and frequent lover, played by Lena Olin, who shares his commitment to remaining noncommittal, and the country girl, played Juliette Binoche, who challenges the beliefs of both against the backdrop of the 1968 Prague Spring and its subsequent Soviet crackdown. In 1988, the film received a lot of attention for its frank sexuality, but its sex scenes aren't as notable for their lustiness—though it's best not to understate how sexy they are—as for how much Kaufman and his actors say with only body language. When Binoche shows up on Day-Lewis' doorstep, he finds her guileless affection makes his usual Don Juan maneuvers obsolete. It's the first of many humiliations, large and small, that he'll meet over the course of the film, the most serious coming in the wake of the Soviet invasion. No one leaves the film unchallenged or unchanged. Other people and the forces of history make sure of that. And whether the outcome is tragic or blissful, it's part of what makes any life, whether lived once or repeated endlessly, worth living at all. No one floats forever. Again, this one almost made it to my main list, but like with Ran, I found the other films more interesting. Brandon: I thought I told you to keep it brief. Lauren: That was brief. Brandon: Anyway, let’s finish off the Honorable Mentions with Shaun’s. Shaun: Okay. My first one is Soul Man. *Clips of Soul Man play: www.youtube.com/watch?v=CVtsvIpJFTw Then, we go back to the Pack.* Shaun: I suppose you could say that it has some social commentary with the plot of a white man pretending to be black to get into Harvard. But, I just found it funny. And, I like Rae Dong Chong. She’s cute, and I like saying her name. My next honorable mention is Back To School.*Clips of Back To School play: www.youtube.com/watch?v=iRpUAdI_F_o Then, we go back to the Pack.* Shaun: I thought this was funny. Rodney Dangerfield has some good one-liners. And, it has that great joke with Kurt Vonnegut being hired to write a paper about one of his own books and getting a D. And, my final honorable mention is Weird Science.*Clips of Weird Science play: www.youtube.com/watch?v=0eejklj3d9Q Then, we go back to the Pack.* Shaun: I liked this film because it’s about science… and… um… I like science. Nick: No, you like it because it has Kelly LeBrock in it. Shaun: No! *Every looks at him, not believing that for a second.* Shaun: Okay. Kelly LeBrock is the reason. Brandon: Well, hard to argue with that. But, why didn’t you put these films on your list? Shaun: I liked the other ones better. Brandon: Okay… Now, for our Number 1’s! I’ll got first since I’ve done so throughout this. *drumroll* Okay, my Number 1 pick for the Top Movie of the Eighties is… *drumroll continues* Die Hard! *drumroll ends**Clips of Die Hard play: www.youtube.com/watch?v=2TQ-pOvI6Xo Then, we go back to the Pack.* Brandon: Now, looking at my list, you can tell that I’m a big action fan. And, Die Hard is the best action film I’ve seen for several reasons. One… it has a great lead in Bruce Willis. He’s just so great as John McClane, using his wit and charisma to make up for the lack of muscles like Stallone and Schwarzenegger. And, his witty one-liners sound more natural from his mouth as do the dramatic moments. Two… it has a great villain in Alan Rickman. He’s great as Hans Gruber, using all of his theater skills to make him more than just a stereotypical evil foreigner. He’s just so deliciously swarmy that it’s not hard to see why he could make it in the film industry at the age of 42. Three… it has a lot of great supporting characters, like McClane’s wife Holly, the black cop who befriends McClane, the dick cop who was also in The Breakfast Club, the dick reporter who was also Dickless in Ghostbusters, that one dude who looked like Huey Lewis but wasn’t, and Argyle. But, the big reason this is such a great action film is the fact that McClane is human. Before Die Hard, most action films of the decade had their incredibly muscular hero go through the film without a scratch. Not Die Hard. McClane looks like a regular guy, and he gets hurt often, like when has to walk across all that broken glass without any shoes. It really makes you sympathize with him. All in all, it’s just one badass film! Now, Nick…Nick: *drumroll* Okay, my Number 1 pick for the Top Movie of the Eighties is… *drumroll continues* When Harry Met Sally! *drumroll ends*Brandon: Seriously? Nick: Yeah! Brandon: Well, it’s a good film, I suppose. Nick: It’s a GREAT film! *Clips of When Harry Met Sally play: www.youtube.com/watch?v=V8DgDmUHVto Then, we go back to the Pack.* Nick: Now, I know what you are thinking… “Really? This film? This is your Number 1?” And, I wasn’t looking forward to seeing this film when my mom dragged me to it back in the day. But, let me tell you something… It got to me man. It taught me a lot about what goes into a relationship with a woman. It made me think about what women think about and how they feel. It was a huge eye-opener for me. As much as I liked the other films on my list, this one had the biggest impact on me. And, that’s why I chose it as my number 1. Brandon: Okay. Not the first time we’ve been surprised with these lists. Anyway, Beth…Beth: *drumroll* My Number 1 pick for the Top Movie of the Eighties is… *drumroll continues* Moonwalker! *drumroll ends*Brandon: Not that crummy Michael Jackson pic. Beth: It’s not crummy! It’s a masterpiece! *Clips of Moonwalker play: www.youtube.com/watch?v=cFoVHVeLk-M Then, we go back to the Pack.* Beth: This is Michael in his prime at his best! Brandon: Now, don’t get me wrong. I like Michael as much as everyone here, but that movie was lame. It made no sense. Beth: It didn’t need to make sense! It just needed to show the world how awesome Michael Jackson is and was! And, it succeeded beautifully! This movie was his Magnus opus and showed the world why he was the Man Of The Decade! Brandon: Oh, c’mon! It had the Bad video with kids, Michael dancing with some stupid Claymation bunny, and him turning into a robot to fight Joe Pesci. Beth: Yeah! But, it also had Smooth Criminal. Brandon: Yeah… Well… You got me there. Beth: Exactly! That video is the coolest f***ing thing to come out of the Eighties and totally justifies the entire film. Hell, Smooth Criminal alone invalidates all your arguments! Brandon: Well, I don’t know about that, but it was a cool video. Anyway, let’s move on. *sighs* Lauren…Lauren: *drumroll* Alright, my Number 1 pick for the Top Movie of the Eighties is… *drumroll continues* Valley Girl! *drumroll ends*Brandon: Really? Lauren: Yeah! Brandon: Alright! Now, this is more what I was expecting from you earlier. Lauren: What do you mean by that? Brandon: Um… Don’t know…*Clips of Valley Girl play: www.youtube.com/watch?v=s56q8oY9xOo Then, we go back to the Pack.* Lauren: Now, the movie depicts the romance between Julie Richman, a young Valley Girl played by Deborah Foreman, and Randy, a young Hollywood Punk played by Nic Cage. Throughout the film, Julie’s friends pressure her to dump Randy because they come from different social cliques. And, even though she caves in, Randy refuses to give her up without a fight. It’s a nice little love-conquers-all romance, which I adore. But, the thing that makes it the top film of the Eighties for me is the film’s subtle social commentary about the class struggle of the Eighties. Brandon: What? Lauren: You see… the romance between Julie and Randy represents the social-economical relationship between the rich and the middle and lower classes of the Eighties. Julie and her friend obviously represent the upper class, while Randy is the middle and lower classes. Now, the popular economic theory of the Reagan administration was trickle-down economics, the idea that tax breaks and economic benefits for businesses and upper income levels will benefit poorer members of society by improving the economy as a whole, with the idea that the rich will have more money to spend and that money will trickle down to the lower classes. Of course, this theory has a flaw in that it gives the upper classes excuses to not help out the lower classes with economic aid. And, the Eighties were not only known for its high American economy but also the largest unemployment rates since the Great Depression. Now, in the movie, Julie and Randy’s relationship represents a beneficial relationship between the upper and lower classes and Julie’s friends represent trickle-down economics. Their main point is that Julie and Randy should be friendly to one another but not become bedfellows, which would not be beneficial to anyone. But, they are wrong. Julie and Randy are perfect together, and trickle-down economics will only widen the economic gap between the rich and poor. The fact that is all hidden in a romantic-comedy makes the movie even better. *Everyone just stares at Lauren like she’s crazy.* Beth: Seriously? Who are you? And, what have you done with Lauren? Lauren: *laughs* Oh you…Brandon: Okay… That was… *pause* something else… Anyway, let’s move on. Shaun…Shaun: *drumroll* My Number 1 pick for the Top Movie of the Eighties is… *drumroll continues* Revenge Of The Nerds! *drumroll ends*Brandon: Well, that makes sense. Shaun: What do you mean? Brandon: Well, you know…Shaun: No, I don’t. Brandon: Um…Nick: You’re a nerd, dweeb. Shaun: Oh! *Clips of Revenge Of The Nerds play: www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hw6zrInbtQE Then, we go back to the Pack.* Shaun: Okay, I guess you could say that I found some kindred spirits in the titular nerd characters. Brandon: Which is why you liked the film? Shaun: No. Brandon: Okay… So, what was that reason? Shaun: I just found it funny. Brandon: Is that it? Shaun: Yes. Brandon: Are you sure? Shaun: What else is there? Brandon: Well… Nothing else, I guess. So, we bid you all adieu. *Killing Joke’s “Eighties” plays: www.youtube.com/watch?v=x1U1Ue_5kq8 * Brandon: For all of us here in The Breakfast Pack, we say good night, and…Everyone: CHOOSE BREAKFAST!!!! |
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