I have a dark secret addiction. Enable me!
October 23, 2010 5:52 PM Subscribe
I really, really love corny-but-higher-quality movies made from 1985-1995. Who knows why. Recommend some!
When I was working midnights, I got addicted to the corny free movies on On Demand, and some were downright awesomely bad, but still awesome. What similar but non-blockbuster quality titles would you recommend? (By non-blockbuster, I'm ruling out things like Ghost, for example.) I could look them up from similar recommendations, but I don't want to fish through Netflix one by one, if possible.
Here are some that I happen to like. There isn't really a common thread, but I love the "timelessness" of these films. That is, I like that they are distinctly 80s-ish or 90s-ish, and they generally have some sort of male protagonist with excellently shaggy hair.
Lena's Holiday
Spellbinder
White Palace
Single White Female
Party Girl
Casual Sex?
Sleeping with the Enemy
When I was working midnights, I got addicted to the corny free movies on On Demand, and some were downright awesomely bad, but still awesome. What similar but non-blockbuster quality titles would you recommend? (By non-blockbuster, I'm ruling out things like Ghost, for example.) I could look them up from similar recommendations, but I don't want to fish through Netflix one by one, if possible.
Here are some that I happen to like. There isn't really a common thread, but I love the "timelessness" of these films. That is, I like that they are distinctly 80s-ish or 90s-ish, and they generally have some sort of male protagonist with excellently shaggy hair.
Lena's Holiday
Spellbinder
White Palace
Single White Female
Party Girl
Casual Sex?
Sleeping with the Enemy
Best answer: Jack's Back (1988?) for more of that excellently shaggy hair.
posted by TWinbrook8 at 6:07 PM on October 23, 2010
posted by TWinbrook8 at 6:07 PM on October 23, 2010
Response by poster: bonus points for James Spader!
posted by santojulieta at 6:08 PM on October 23, 2010
posted by santojulieta at 6:08 PM on October 23, 2010
Working from your Breakfast Club suggestion - Weird Science, 1985, another John Hughes film. Lots of 80's hair and fashion, and a bunch of young, relatively unknown-but-now-famous actors: Robert Downey Jr and Bill Paxton in particular.
posted by Bora Horza Gobuchul at 6:08 PM on October 23, 2010
posted by Bora Horza Gobuchul at 6:08 PM on October 23, 2010
Better Off Dead. Young cute john cusack, a gag a minute, the best claymation dancing hamburger sequence in modern cinema.
posted by custard heart at 6:11 PM on October 23, 2010 [4 favorites]
posted by custard heart at 6:11 PM on October 23, 2010 [4 favorites]
Best answer: Shaggy hair of that period makes me think Andrew McCarthy. Mannequin and Weekend at Bernie's were both particularly bad in a bad/good way....but mostly just bad.
posted by cazoo at 6:17 PM on October 23, 2010
posted by cazoo at 6:17 PM on October 23, 2010
Valley Girl. (Nic Cage's first role, apparently, with obscenely excellent shaggy hair!)
posted by malibustacey9999 at 6:44 PM on October 23, 2010 [3 favorites]
posted by malibustacey9999 at 6:44 PM on October 23, 2010 [3 favorites]
Sliver.
Sex, Lies, and Videotape (more Spadery goodness plus Steven Soderbergh).
Criminal Law.
posted by biscotti at 6:46 PM on October 23, 2010
Sex, Lies, and Videotape (more Spadery goodness plus Steven Soderbergh).
Criminal Law.
posted by biscotti at 6:46 PM on October 23, 2010
Band of the Hand (Wikipedia, IMDB, YouTube Intro) is probably my favorite 80s guilty pleasure.
Period fashion crimes. Gnarly hair. Mean streets and gangs. Music montages -- in fact, if memory serves me right, even a "fixin' up the place" music montage. Former juvenille delinquents turned into a paramilitary force for good by an ex-military wilderness program leader. And, at least in the second half, guns. Lots of guns.
What else would you expect from people who brought you Miami Vice?
I also like Lost Boys, but not quite as much, despite the fact that it's probably a better film.
posted by weston at 6:57 PM on October 23, 2010
Period fashion crimes. Gnarly hair. Mean streets and gangs. Music montages -- in fact, if memory serves me right, even a "fixin' up the place" music montage. Former juvenille delinquents turned into a paramilitary force for good by an ex-military wilderness program leader. And, at least in the second half, guns. Lots of guns.
What else would you expect from people who brought you Miami Vice?
I also like Lost Boys, but not quite as much, despite the fact that it's probably a better film.
posted by weston at 6:57 PM on October 23, 2010
Grosse Pointe Blank. 1997 but I think it's sort of what you're looking for.
posted by sideofwry at 7:00 PM on October 23, 2010
posted by sideofwry at 7:00 PM on October 23, 2010
Streets of Fire (1984) early Diane Lane & the great Dan Hartman song
posted by TWinbrook8 at 7:01 PM on October 23, 2010
posted by TWinbrook8 at 7:01 PM on October 23, 2010
War Games was fun.
Also that one with Robert Redford and a group of computer hackers, including a young Angelina Jolie - Hackers, I think.
posted by SuperSquirrel at 7:04 PM on October 23, 2010
Also that one with Robert Redford and a group of computer hackers, including a young Angelina Jolie - Hackers, I think.
posted by SuperSquirrel at 7:04 PM on October 23, 2010
Also that one with Robert Redford and a group of computer hackers
Sneakers! Featuring Mary McDonnell - swoon.
posted by serazin at 7:08 PM on October 23, 2010 [4 favorites]
Sneakers! Featuring Mary McDonnell - swoon.
posted by serazin at 7:08 PM on October 23, 2010 [4 favorites]
Heartburn. Meryl Streep and Jack Nicholson along with a whole bunch of others, some starting out.
posted by Polgara at 7:19 PM on October 23, 2010 [1 favorite]
posted by Polgara at 7:19 PM on October 23, 2010 [1 favorite]
I was under-employed for much of this time, and feel like a saw every single film from the era on VHS. Some that stand out in my mind, but otherwise seem forgotten, and have shaggy haired protagonists:
After Dark My Sweet
Trust
Darkman
Dogfight (set in early 60s, but River Phoenix, c'mon)
posted by bendybendy at 7:30 PM on October 23, 2010
After Dark My Sweet
Trust
Darkman
Dogfight (set in early 60s, but River Phoenix, c'mon)
posted by bendybendy at 7:30 PM on October 23, 2010
One that's dead-on:
The Hand That Rocks the Cradle (1992)
The antidote to Ghost:
Truly Madly Deeply (1990)
A dark horse:
Lair of the White Worm (1988)
A lighter British movie:
The Tall Guy (1989)
In spirit, but totally unqualified on timing:
Hot Tub Time Machine (2010)
(Grosse Point Blank is actually too good for your criteria!)
posted by NortonDC at 7:47 PM on October 23, 2010 [1 favorite]
The Hand That Rocks the Cradle (1992)
The antidote to Ghost:
Truly Madly Deeply (1990)
A dark horse:
Lair of the White Worm (1988)
A lighter British movie:
The Tall Guy (1989)
In spirit, but totally unqualified on timing:
Hot Tub Time Machine (2010)
(Grosse Point Blank is actually too good for your criteria!)
posted by NortonDC at 7:47 PM on October 23, 2010 [1 favorite]
Cold Comfort Farm, it's set in the early 1930's England and I think it's a great movie.
posted by TooFewShoes at 7:59 PM on October 23, 2010 [3 favorites]
posted by TooFewShoes at 7:59 PM on October 23, 2010 [3 favorites]
My go-to movie to recommend for underseen, but terrific, but corny, but outstanding, but bizarre, complete with 80's cheez and Tangerine Dream soundtrack, is Miracle Mile. From 1988, but seems earlier. It's got Anthony Edwards, but not in a very floppy-haired place in his life, and Mare Winningham in a haircut that doesn't make any sense in any time period period. It starts out like a romantic comedy and goes, well, elsewhere.
It's on Netflix instant view right now. If you don't know anything else about it than what you've read here try and watch it without finding out where it goes. It's pretty strange. Hugely flawed, but hugely entertaining.
Also: the Dennis Quaid/Meg Ryan remake of DOA, also 1988 I think, is great.
Also also: Night of the Comet is a feel-good sci-fi/horror treat from 1984. It's charming, really.
Huh. All three are very Los Angelesy movies.
posted by dirtdirt at 8:03 PM on October 23, 2010
It's on Netflix instant view right now. If you don't know anything else about it than what you've read here try and watch it without finding out where it goes. It's pretty strange. Hugely flawed, but hugely entertaining.
Also: the Dennis Quaid/Meg Ryan remake of DOA, also 1988 I think, is great.
Also also: Night of the Comet is a feel-good sci-fi/horror treat from 1984. It's charming, really.
Huh. All three are very Los Angelesy movies.
posted by dirtdirt at 8:03 PM on October 23, 2010
Best answer: Real Genius! Val Kilmer with kinda shaggy hair and fantabulous '80s fashions. Bonus points for being directed by Martha Coolidge.
posted by computech_apolloniajames at 8:09 PM on October 23, 2010 [1 favorite]
posted by computech_apolloniajames at 8:09 PM on October 23, 2010 [1 favorite]
You need to see Sam Fuller's White Dog. It was never released in theaters because of protest by the NAACP, but Criterion Collection has released it on video. It's the touching story of a girl (Kristy MacNichol) who adopts a dog without realizing that the dog has been been trained to attack and kill black people. Can a black activist animal-trainer get far enough inside the dog's brain to cure him? Or will he live to KILL AND KILL AGAIN??
Don't read too much about it, it will spoil the fun. Suffice to say, Fuller had his heart in the right place, but jeez.
posted by hermitosis at 8:43 PM on October 23, 2010
Don't read too much about it, it will spoil the fun. Suffice to say, Fuller had his heart in the right place, but jeez.
posted by hermitosis at 8:43 PM on October 23, 2010
I don't know how old you are- some of these would have been really successful back in the day but have pretty much dropped out of sight since:
Airheads, Just look at that hair!
Empire Records
Singles
Hudson Hawk (criminally underrated imho)
Indecent Proposal
Bill and Ted's if you've never seen it.o
The Burbs
The first Ace Ventura Pet Detective
posted by fshgrl at 9:11 PM on October 23, 2010 [3 favorites]
Airheads, Just look at that hair!
Empire Records
Singles
Hudson Hawk (criminally underrated imho)
Indecent Proposal
Bill and Ted's if you've never seen it.o
The Burbs
The first Ace Ventura Pet Detective
posted by fshgrl at 9:11 PM on October 23, 2010 [3 favorites]
Breaking away
Meatballs
Goonies
Saint elm's fire
Shirley valentine
Labrynth
Karate Kid 1,2 & 3
Valmont & dangerous liaisons
Highlander
Airplane
Some kind of wonderful
Ladyhawk
War games
Ferris bueller
Pretty in pink
About last night
Less than zero
Blood of heroes (rutger hauler)
Blade runner
Flesh & blood (rutger hauler again)
Police academy
Breaking 2 electric bugloo (had to sorry)
Repo man
Videodrome
Fright night
Terminator
Aliens
The black hole (1979 but great)
All thing Indiana jones
Hellraiser
Reanimator
They live (I really hate horror but this is freaking awesome with rowdy roddy piper)
The thing
Heavy metal
The fly
Earth girls are easy
.... More
posted by eatdonuts at 9:31 PM on October 23, 2010
Meatballs
Goonies
Saint elm's fire
Shirley valentine
Labrynth
Karate Kid 1,2 & 3
Valmont & dangerous liaisons
Highlander
Airplane
Some kind of wonderful
Ladyhawk
War games
Ferris bueller
Pretty in pink
About last night
Less than zero
Blood of heroes (rutger hauler)
Blade runner
Flesh & blood (rutger hauler again)
Police academy
Breaking 2 electric bugloo (had to sorry)
Repo man
Videodrome
Fright night
Terminator
Aliens
The black hole (1979 but great)
All thing Indiana jones
Hellraiser
Reanimator
They live (I really hate horror but this is freaking awesome with rowdy roddy piper)
The thing
Heavy metal
The fly
Earth girls are easy
.... More
posted by eatdonuts at 9:31 PM on October 23, 2010
Little mermaid
The star wars movies empire etc
Red dawn
Dirty dancing
The January man
Back to the future
The lost boys
Back to school
CaddysHack(1980)
Ghostbusters
Nightmare on elm street
Amadeus (!!!!!)
Neverending story
BraZil
Top gun
Stand by me
Willow
Top secret!
Blue velvet
Big trouble in little china (awesome heh)
Wallstreet
Princess bride
Predator
Space balls
Robocop
Die hard
Beetlejuice
Rainman
Conon sequel
Who framed Roger rabbit
Coming to america
Big
Splash...
Cocoon...
... I thin I'm done now. Heh
posted by eatdonuts at 9:45 PM on October 23, 2010
The star wars movies empire etc
Red dawn
Dirty dancing
The January man
Back to the future
The lost boys
Back to school
CaddysHack(1980)
Ghostbusters
Nightmare on elm street
Amadeus (!!!!!)
Neverending story
BraZil
Top gun
Stand by me
Willow
Top secret!
Blue velvet
Big trouble in little china (awesome heh)
Wallstreet
Princess bride
Predator
Space balls
Robocop
Die hard
Beetlejuice
Rainman
Conon sequel
Who framed Roger rabbit
Coming to america
Big
Splash...
Cocoon...
... I thin I'm done now. Heh
posted by eatdonuts at 9:45 PM on October 23, 2010
Wait! I forgot Dead Poets Society and Hannah and her Sisters, also Radio Days (very un-woody Allen like), my favorite year, and adventures in babysitting.... Oh and Buffy the vampire slayer (original).
posted by eatdonuts at 9:53 PM on October 23, 2010
posted by eatdonuts at 9:53 PM on October 23, 2010
Road house
Trading places
.... Ok, I'm really done now.
posted by eatdonuts at 9:55 PM on October 23, 2010
Trading places
.... Ok, I'm really done now.
posted by eatdonuts at 9:55 PM on October 23, 2010
Best answer: Crap.... Um, Also Lucas.
posted by eatdonuts at 9:58 PM on October 23, 2010 [1 favorite]
posted by eatdonuts at 9:58 PM on October 23, 2010 [1 favorite]
Toy Soldiers, but only because I'm watching it RIGHT NOW! (Also, excellent shaggy hair quotient.)
posted by bedhead at 10:36 PM on October 23, 2010
posted by bedhead at 10:36 PM on October 23, 2010
The original Buffy the Vampire Slayer is one of my favorite movies of all time. It's 100% campy awesome goodness.
posted by fshgrl at 10:58 PM on October 23, 2010 [1 favorite]
posted by fshgrl at 10:58 PM on October 23, 2010 [1 favorite]
Romancing the Stone; corny spoof on romance novels, but fun, and so 80's! (+ shaggy Michael Douglas)
posted by martianna at 11:06 PM on October 23, 2010
posted by martianna at 11:06 PM on October 23, 2010
I just re-watched Married to the Mob today, and it fits the bill perfectly. It has Michelle Pfeiffer in one of her first major roles (co-starring Matthew Modine as The Shaggy Hair), oodles of over-the-top late-80s outfits & hairdos, and Dean Stockwell at his most deadpan-hilarious (the Burger World scene is pure brilliance).
posted by vorfeed at 11:21 PM on October 23, 2010 [1 favorite]
posted by vorfeed at 11:21 PM on October 23, 2010 [1 favorite]
Innerspace!
posted by Iteki at 4:50 AM on October 24, 2010 [1 favorite]
posted by Iteki at 4:50 AM on October 24, 2010 [1 favorite]
Just one of the Boys
Fast Times at Ridgemont High
Ruthless People
posted by plinth at 5:42 AM on October 24, 2010
Fast Times at Ridgemont High
Ruthless People
posted by plinth at 5:42 AM on October 24, 2010
Joe vs. the Volcano. My favorite non-blockbuster, criminally-underregarded movie of all time ... from 1990 and loaded with late-80s goodness, including Meg Ryan in three different fashion-victim haircuts, Abe Vigoda, Lloyd Bridges, and Robert Stack cameos.
posted by MattD at 6:14 AM on October 24, 2010 [3 favorites]
posted by MattD at 6:14 AM on October 24, 2010 [3 favorites]
She's Gotta Have it
Raising Arizona
The Color of Money
Red Dawn
Something Wild
posted by drlith at 6:38 AM on October 24, 2010
Raising Arizona
The Color of Money
Red Dawn
Something Wild
posted by drlith at 6:38 AM on October 24, 2010
Deathstalker (1983) was an awful sword-and-sorcery B-movie.
Deathstalker II (1987), however, was an awesomely awful cheesy parody of Deathstalker.
(Deathstalker III (1988) ignored the existence of Deathstalker II.)
Hmm, I don't think anybody has mentioned Lucky Stiff (1988).
posted by galadriel at 8:04 AM on October 24, 2010
Deathstalker II (1987), however, was an awesomely awful cheesy parody of Deathstalker.
(Deathstalker III (1988) ignored the existence of Deathstalker II.)
Hmm, I don't think anybody has mentioned Lucky Stiff (1988).
posted by galadriel at 8:04 AM on October 24, 2010
Gleaming the Cube!!
posted by ifjuly at 10:31 AM on October 24, 2010 [2 favorites]
posted by ifjuly at 10:31 AM on October 24, 2010 [2 favorites]
Working Girl. Lots and lots of eyeshadow.
posted by mippy at 12:02 PM on October 24, 2010 [1 favorite]
posted by mippy at 12:02 PM on October 24, 2010 [1 favorite]
Roadie is probably the best movie of all time. Meatloaf. Blondie. Roy Orbison. Don Cornelius. I'm begging you to watch this movie if super-dated-late-20th-century is your thing.
Also, Weekend at Bernie's.
posted by cmoj at 12:13 PM on October 24, 2010
Also, Weekend at Bernie's.
posted by cmoj at 12:13 PM on October 24, 2010
Hudson Hawk (criminally underrated imho)
Another vote for Hudson Hawk (with a young David Caruso in a role he'd probably just as soon forget).
And I'm not just saying that because I'm thrilled to find out I'm not a fan club of one.
posted by JaredSeth at 3:02 PM on October 24, 2010
Another vote for Hudson Hawk (with a young David Caruso in a role he'd probably just as soon forget).
And I'm not just saying that because I'm thrilled to find out I'm not a fan club of one.
posted by JaredSeth at 3:02 PM on October 24, 2010
The point being that there are NO 80s movies without a shaggy haired lead... Heh.
posted by eatdonuts at 3:36 PM on October 25, 2010
posted by eatdonuts at 3:36 PM on October 25, 2010
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by santojulieta at 5:55 PM on October 23, 2010