face it, you're a neo-maxi-zoom-dweebie [for missing all those movies]
October 7, 2015 1:16 PM Subscribe
Help me plan an extended 1980s-90s home-based film festival to last throughout winter 2015-16.
My partner is a child of the 80s who missed out on the movies of the 80s! And 90s. He has seen Ferris Bueller and the Princess Bride but he's from Baltimore and had never heard of Barry Levinson. (He did know John Waters at least.) A screening of Avalon convinced him that he'd been missing out.
So this winter I want to take him on a guided tour down memory lane and watch all the brat-pack/Karate Kid/Indiana Jones movies we can stand.
I am good with comedy (Airplane, Fast Times, Caddyshack, Raising Arizona, PeeWee Herman, big long list) and horror (will watch the Shining & Poltergeist but skipping Friday the 13th/Nightmare on Elm Street et al.). The Coen brothers and Quentin Tarantino are on the list, and Die Hard is part of my family's annual tree-trimming tradition.
But I could use some help with everything else: sci-fi/fantasy/documentary/art-house/drama/other genres.
For guidance, dude loves the Bourne movies and the Hunger Games. Inexplicably, his favorite comedy is So I Married an Axe Murderer (I am confident that this film festival will change that).
Thanks in advance.
My partner is a child of the 80s who missed out on the movies of the 80s! And 90s. He has seen Ferris Bueller and the Princess Bride but he's from Baltimore and had never heard of Barry Levinson. (He did know John Waters at least.) A screening of Avalon convinced him that he'd been missing out.
So this winter I want to take him on a guided tour down memory lane and watch all the brat-pack/Karate Kid/Indiana Jones movies we can stand.
I am good with comedy (Airplane, Fast Times, Caddyshack, Raising Arizona, PeeWee Herman, big long list) and horror (will watch the Shining & Poltergeist but skipping Friday the 13th/Nightmare on Elm Street et al.). The Coen brothers and Quentin Tarantino are on the list, and Die Hard is part of my family's annual tree-trimming tradition.
But I could use some help with everything else: sci-fi/fantasy/documentary/art-house/drama/other genres.
For guidance, dude loves the Bourne movies and the Hunger Games. Inexplicably, his favorite comedy is So I Married an Axe Murderer (I am confident that this film festival will change that).
Thanks in advance.
Two words: Buckaroo Banzai.
posted by matildaben at 1:22 PM on October 7, 2015 [5 favorites]
posted by matildaben at 1:22 PM on October 7, 2015 [5 favorites]
Blade Runner, Brazil, Tremors, A Fish Called Wanda, Galaxy Quest (you said you had comedy down, but I wanted to make sure).
The Fifth Element, Hoop Dreams, the Terminator movies, Alien and Aliens (there are no other movies in that series, whatever people may claim), and 12 Monkeys.
posted by It's Never Lurgi at 1:22 PM on October 7, 2015 [2 favorites]
The Fifth Element, Hoop Dreams, the Terminator movies, Alien and Aliens (there are no other movies in that series, whatever people may claim), and 12 Monkeys.
posted by It's Never Lurgi at 1:22 PM on October 7, 2015 [2 favorites]
Response by poster: And we're off! Please tell me genres too - I will collect/collate all your recommendations and put them in genre-buckets so we know what we're in for on a given night.
posted by headnsouth at 1:28 PM on October 7, 2015
posted by headnsouth at 1:28 PM on October 7, 2015
Sci-Fi: The Fly, The Abyss, Total Recall, Gattaca
Fantasy: Beetlejuice, Edward Scissorhands
posted by soelo at 1:37 PM on October 7, 2015 [3 favorites]
Fantasy: Beetlejuice, Edward Scissorhands
posted by soelo at 1:37 PM on October 7, 2015 [3 favorites]
Real Genius, Valley Girl, The Gods Must Be Crazy
posted by computech_apolloniajames at 1:44 PM on October 7, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by computech_apolloniajames at 1:44 PM on October 7, 2015 [1 favorite]
He's annoying, but Michael Moore's documentary Roger & Me is good.
You said you had comedy down, but Clueless is great and is even better if you watch it with Emma (the Gweneyth Paltrow version). I blame this movie for the fact that I sometimes say "As if!" non-ironically.
For some reason I've never seek a Spike Lee movie. I haven't avoided them, I've just never gotten around to it. Nevertheless, I feel confident in suggesting Do The Right Thing.
posted by It's Never Lurgi at 1:51 PM on October 7, 2015
You said you had comedy down, but Clueless is great and is even better if you watch it with Emma (the Gweneyth Paltrow version). I blame this movie for the fact that I sometimes say "As if!" non-ironically.
For some reason I've never seek a Spike Lee movie. I haven't avoided them, I've just never gotten around to it. Nevertheless, I feel confident in suggesting Do The Right Thing.
posted by It's Never Lurgi at 1:51 PM on October 7, 2015
Better Off Dead
posted by Cool Papa Bell at 2:14 PM on October 7, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by Cool Papa Bell at 2:14 PM on October 7, 2015 [1 favorite]
Gregory's Girl and Local Hero. Understated Scottish loveliness.
posted by singmespanishtechno at 2:49 PM on October 7, 2015 [4 favorites]
posted by singmespanishtechno at 2:49 PM on October 7, 2015 [4 favorites]
Fantasy: Labyrinth (1986), Willow (1988)
Drama/Action: Heat (1995)
posted by mhum at 3:14 PM on October 7, 2015 [1 favorite]
Drama/Action: Heat (1995)
posted by mhum at 3:14 PM on October 7, 2015 [1 favorite]
For comedy do you have 10 Things I Hate About You?
For SF/fantasy/horror there is John Carpenter's The Thing, Outland, Near Dark, Highlander, Brother From Another Planet, Escape From New York, Hellraiser, Akira, Screamers, Dark City, The Thirteenth Floor, The City of Lost Children, Stir of Echoes.
For Drama/Independent/Foreign: sex, lies, and videotape, Heathers, The Boat/Das Boat, Blue Velvet, Inside Moves, Cutter's Way, The Unbelievable Truth, Stranger Than Paradise, Sherman's March, Matewan, Henry, Portrait of a Serial Killer, Drugstore Cowboy, Sid & Nancy, The Year of Living Dangerously, That Thing You Do!, Go, Kids, Welcome to the Dollhouse, Before Sunrise, Chungking Express, Run Lola Run.
posted by gudrun at 3:32 PM on October 7, 2015 [3 favorites]
For SF/fantasy/horror there is John Carpenter's The Thing, Outland, Near Dark, Highlander, Brother From Another Planet, Escape From New York, Hellraiser, Akira, Screamers, Dark City, The Thirteenth Floor, The City of Lost Children, Stir of Echoes.
For Drama/Independent/Foreign: sex, lies, and videotape, Heathers, The Boat/Das Boat, Blue Velvet, Inside Moves, Cutter's Way, The Unbelievable Truth, Stranger Than Paradise, Sherman's March, Matewan, Henry, Portrait of a Serial Killer, Drugstore Cowboy, Sid & Nancy, The Year of Living Dangerously, That Thing You Do!, Go, Kids, Welcome to the Dollhouse, Before Sunrise, Chungking Express, Run Lola Run.
posted by gudrun at 3:32 PM on October 7, 2015 [3 favorites]
Comedy:
Earth Girls Are Easy, if only for Julie Brown singing "'Cause I'm A Blonde" (1988)
Top Secret! (1984)
Monty Python's The Meaning of Life (1983)
Dirty Rotten Scoundrels (1988)
...I could go on for ages, but you asked for no more comedy.
Fantasy/Sci-Fi/Thrillers (sorry, all kinda roll into one):
Time Bandits (1981)
Brazil (1985)
The Adventures of Baron Munchausen (1988)
...and any other Terry Gilliam movies.
Altered States (1980)
Tron (1982)
Dune (1984)
Cocoon (1985)
Innerspace (1987) [I just watched this with my kids this weekend and they loved it! I was so happy.]
Horror/Thrillers:
Maximum Overdrive (1986)
posted by late afternoon dreaming hotel at 3:35 PM on October 7, 2015 [3 favorites]
Earth Girls Are Easy, if only for Julie Brown singing "'Cause I'm A Blonde" (1988)
Top Secret! (1984)
Monty Python's The Meaning of Life (1983)
Dirty Rotten Scoundrels (1988)
...I could go on for ages, but you asked for no more comedy.
Fantasy/Sci-Fi/Thrillers (sorry, all kinda roll into one):
Time Bandits (1981)
Brazil (1985)
The Adventures of Baron Munchausen (1988)
...and any other Terry Gilliam movies.
Altered States (1980)
Tron (1982)
Dune (1984)
Cocoon (1985)
Innerspace (1987) [I just watched this with my kids this weekend and they loved it! I was so happy.]
Horror/Thrillers:
Maximum Overdrive (1986)
posted by late afternoon dreaming hotel at 3:35 PM on October 7, 2015 [3 favorites]
I kind of went down a rabbit hole with this. Some of these you probably already have on your list but I included them anyway because I'd feel bad if you guys missed them. The categories are lifted from IMDB, although I took a few liberties here and there.
The Big Easy [Crime, Drama, Romance]
The Right Stuff [Adventure, Drama, History]
Mask [Biography, Drama]
Some Kind of Wonderful [Drama, Romance (high school)]
Desperately Seeking Susan [Comedy, Drama, Madonna]
Stand by Me [Adventure, Drama] Bonus: young Wil Wheaton and River Phoenix, among others
The Lost Boys [Comedy, Horror]
Pretty much anything Jim Jarmusch has done, although I'm partial to Mystery Train [Comedy, Crime, Drama, Tom Waits] and Down by Law [Comedy, Crime, Drama, Tom Waits]
River's Edge [Crime, Drama, Keanu Reeves and Crispin Glover]
The Outsiders [Crime, Drama]
Escape from New York [Action, Sci-Fi]
Eating Raoul [Comedy (although more accurately a black comedy)]
WarGames [Sci-Fi, Thriller]
Strange Brew [Comedy]
After Hours [Comedy, Crime, Drama]
Bull Durham [Comedy, Romance, Sport]
Heavy Metal [Animation, Adventure, Fantasy]
Rock 'n' Roll High School [Comedy, Music, the Ramones] (Technically released in 1979 but I'm including it because it's close enough and on the "mandatory for any decade" film list)
Ladies and Gentlemen, the Fabulous Stains [Comedy, Drama, Music]
This Is Spinal Tap [Comedy, Music]
Willow [Action, Adventure, Drama, Fantasy(?)]
Pink Floyd: The Wall [Animation, Drama, Musical]
Time Bandits [Adventure, Comedy, Fantasy]
The Thin Blue Line [Documentary] but anything else by Errol Morris is great
Seconding these as some of my favorite 80s movies:
Valley Girl
Repo Man
Buckaroo Banzai
Alien(s)
posted by stefanie at 3:38 PM on October 7, 2015 [1 favorite]
The Big Easy [Crime, Drama, Romance]
The Right Stuff [Adventure, Drama, History]
Mask [Biography, Drama]
Some Kind of Wonderful [Drama, Romance (high school)]
Desperately Seeking Susan [Comedy, Drama, Madonna]
Stand by Me [Adventure, Drama] Bonus: young Wil Wheaton and River Phoenix, among others
The Lost Boys [Comedy, Horror]
Pretty much anything Jim Jarmusch has done, although I'm partial to Mystery Train [Comedy, Crime, Drama, Tom Waits] and Down by Law [Comedy, Crime, Drama, Tom Waits]
River's Edge [Crime, Drama, Keanu Reeves and Crispin Glover]
The Outsiders [Crime, Drama]
Escape from New York [Action, Sci-Fi]
Eating Raoul [Comedy (although more accurately a black comedy)]
WarGames [Sci-Fi, Thriller]
Strange Brew [Comedy]
After Hours [Comedy, Crime, Drama]
Bull Durham [Comedy, Romance, Sport]
Heavy Metal [Animation, Adventure, Fantasy]
Rock 'n' Roll High School [Comedy, Music, the Ramones] (Technically released in 1979 but I'm including it because it's close enough and on the "mandatory for any decade" film list)
Ladies and Gentlemen, the Fabulous Stains [Comedy, Drama, Music]
This Is Spinal Tap [Comedy, Music]
Willow [Action, Adventure, Drama, Fantasy(?)]
Pink Floyd: The Wall [Animation, Drama, Musical]
Time Bandits [Adventure, Comedy, Fantasy]
The Thin Blue Line [Documentary] but anything else by Errol Morris is great
Seconding these as some of my favorite 80s movies:
Valley Girl
Repo Man
Buckaroo Banzai
Alien(s)
posted by stefanie at 3:38 PM on October 7, 2015 [1 favorite]
OH AND
Documentary:
Paris Is Burning (1990), good companion piece to Madonna: Truth or Dare (1990) [Also quite LGBT]
The Decline of Western Civilization (1980)
Various Art:
Koyaanisqatsi (1982), Powaqqatsi (1988)
LGBT (+HIV/AIDS):
Longtime Companion (1989)
And The Band Played On (1993)
Torch Song Trilogy (1988)
Kiss of the Spider Woman (1985)
Taxi Zum Klo (1980) [Another recent rewatch, so good!]
Wigstock: The Movie (1995)
The Celluloid Closet (1995)
posted by late afternoon dreaming hotel at 3:43 PM on October 7, 2015
Documentary:
Paris Is Burning (1990), good companion piece to Madonna: Truth or Dare (1990) [Also quite LGBT]
The Decline of Western Civilization (1980)
Various Art:
Koyaanisqatsi (1982), Powaqqatsi (1988)
LGBT (+HIV/AIDS):
Longtime Companion (1989)
And The Band Played On (1993)
Torch Song Trilogy (1988)
Kiss of the Spider Woman (1985)
Taxi Zum Klo (1980) [Another recent rewatch, so good!]
Wigstock: The Movie (1995)
The Celluloid Closet (1995)
posted by late afternoon dreaming hotel at 3:43 PM on October 7, 2015
Sci-fi:
The Last Starfighter
posted by mandolin conspiracy at 4:22 PM on October 7, 2015 [1 favorite]
The Last Starfighter
posted by mandolin conspiracy at 4:22 PM on October 7, 2015 [1 favorite]
Awesome action thrillers: Sneakers, Burglar, Jumping Jack Flash, Beverly Hills Cop, Fletch, if you can get more into the 90's: the Game is amazing.
posted by Toddles at 6:53 PM on October 7, 2015
posted by Toddles at 6:53 PM on October 7, 2015
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