vintage harrison

Just cuz.

via hf & ij

1982 in cinema: a post by dan braun

1982: the year which re-defined a decade – as well as modern cinema – and encapsulated our society, as well as the direction it was heading in.

48 Hrs. – The launch of a new cycle of both the buddy and the cop film.

Blade Runner – The template of the modern-day sci-fi thriller.

Come Back to the Five-and-Dime, Jimmy Dean, Jimmy Dean and Diner – What’s old is new again: heyday-era Woolworth’s and the neighborhood coffee-and-a-burger spot as places for reminiscing, bonding, growth and attempting to make sense of it all.

E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial and Poltergeist – Chronicles of the then-relatively new realities of suburban life in America: the sense of community – and of a seeming safe haven torn asunder.

Fast Times at Ridgemont High and Porky’s – The teen coming-of-age comedy meets SoCal surfing and shopping mall culture – and synthesizes the period-era (1950s), teen coming-of-age comedy with a decided 1980s influence.

First Blood – Vietnam and Reagan-era revenge meet and merge.

Gandhi – The story of a man of simple means achieving greatness within an epic setting – and the return of a cinematic era.

Night Shift and Tootsie – Dreaming and desire and trying to carve a niche within and outside of accepted societal 'norms.'

Sophie’s Choice – Being haunted by one’s past – and being confronted by difficult decisions which need to be made.

Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan – A modern-day classic resumes in its re-birth – and the contemporary blockbuster continues taking shape.

what about daryl?: a guest post by karen g.

I remembered the other day, while discussing some Hollywood celebrities and movies with a friend, one name that hardly ever comes up in conversation (at least not for me) – Daryl Hannah.  It was then that a new discussion began and I realized that often-forgotten Hannah has worked with some of the most influential directors of our time. 

How is it, that an actor who has worked with the likes of Oliver Stone and Ron Howard, has managed to fly so perfectly under the radar (for the most part anyway – Daryl was arrested on several occasions for protesting environmental issues, most recently in 2011, she was arrested in front of the White House for her opposition to an oil pipeline that would run from Canada to the U.S. Gulf Coast).

I wondered, why, with her resume, she’s someone who is so easy to forget?  Daryl has been in some of my favorite movies growing up (who didn’t love Splash?! We had a mermaid stomping around New York City for heaven’s sake!!! Amazing!) 

Looking at her career I realize that she has been quite fearless in transforming herself (whether playing a ditsy hairstylist, a sadistic hit man or even a New Wave-styled replicant in a futuristic world).  It was then that I decided to take the liberty to list some of Daryl’s more memorable roles.  You’ll be surprised who she’s worked with!

The Fury (1978) - Brian DePalma

Blade Runner (1982) - Ridley Scott

Splash (1984) - Ron Howard

Wall Street (1987) - Oliver Stone

Steel Magnolias (1989) - Herbert Ross

Dancing at the Blue Iguana (2000) - Michael Radford

Kill Bill Vol. 1 & Vol. 2 (2003 / 2004) - Quentin Tarantino

if you have ghosts: unconventional love

Love it or hate it, Valentine's Day is nigh, so why not celebrate with some unconventional love stories?

Here is a list of film favorites from If you have ghosts

Unconventional people in unconventional situations, in unconventional love.

1.) Harold and Maude:

Harold: Maude?
Maude: Yeah?
Harold: [pulls the stamped coin from the arcade out of his pocket] Here.
Maude: A gift!
[reads the engraving]
Maude: "Harold loves Maude."... and Maude loves Harold. This is the nicest gift I've received in years.
[she throws the stamped coin into the water]
Harold: [gasps, bemused]
Maude: So I'll always know where it is.


IYHG: There it is.

2.) Badlands: Kit and Holly.

A beautiful film with an ugly story.

3.) Ed Wood: Ed and Kathy.

4.) Blade Runner: Roy and Pris, Deckard and Rachael.

Certainly, a story with the nature of humanity and definition of life as its primary concerns would include the experience of and ability to love at its core.

5.) Ladyhawke: Navarre and Isabeau.

This film has unfortunately been somewhat overlooked. I hadn't seen it in years, then my mom recommended it for this list. Made sense, so, I recommend it too. Try to ignore the, as many others have already observed, inappropriate and dated musical score. I was going to put Cat People (1942) in this spot originally, then decided that I don't necessarily consider it a love story in its entirety. Interestingly, I still ended up with a movie featuring people who inconveniently turn into animals.

Non-Cinema

It just feels right, closing the list with these two.

Doctor Who (Tennant-era): The Doctor and Rose.

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