1980s Reviews

A Collection of Recent Reviews

Anyone who knows me well knows that I have largely retired from the film reviewing game. While it once served as my central writing focus, and, in fact, probably turned me into the writer I am today, I no longer find it to be my primary interest. Instead, I now plunk away mostly in the…Read more A Collection of Recent Reviews

Film Review: Hellraiser (1987)

Back when video stores were still in vogue, I have distinct memories of passing the 1980's movie Hellraiser. This was due particularly to its distinctive cover, which features its most memorable character, Pinhead. Even at a young age, I remember being transfixed by the image. The pallid skin, evil snarl and, of course, abundance of…Read more Film Review: Hellraiser (1987)

Film Review: Danton (1983)

Directed by Andrej Wajda, the 1983 historical film Danton profiles the fiery revolutionary Georges Danton (Gérard Depardieu), a bombastic, self-proclaimed "man-of-the-people," who was also one of the leading figures in the early stages of the French Revolution. The film is no traditional bio-pic, however, instead solely depicting Danton's spectacular fall-from-grace and persecution by fellow revolutionary…Read more Film Review: Danton (1983)

Film Review: Cruising (1980)

"Ever been porked? Or had a man smoke your pole?" says Paul Sorvino to Al Pacino early in William Friedkin's infamous, 1980's film Cruising. Such an exchange is, in a sense, comical. Yet it also highlights the crassness of Friedkin's film, not to mention its devil-may-care mentality. Depicting the hunt for a serial killer who…Read more Film Review: Cruising (1980)

Film Review: The Mission (1986)

In attempting to sum up a film like 1986's religious epic The Mission, one word comes to mind: schism. Beautiful and ugly, complex and glaringly simplistic, The Mission is a big, powerful and, at times, amazing film. It is also, however, a film at war with itself, never gelling into a fully-realized masterwork. Perhaps it's…Read more Film Review: The Mission (1986)

Film Review: The Living Daylights (1987)

Every James Bond film involves a battle, and not just against a flabby big bad or an impending global catastrophe. Instead, the primary battle of the James Bond franchise is one of relevancy. Each adventure must answer some very big questions. How do you take a dinosaur of a character and make him feel fresh?…Read more Film Review: The Living Daylights (1987)

Film Review: The Running Man (1987)

Watching Arnie when he was in his 80's heyday is a powerful, elemental experience, as it equates to watching the birth of a legend. Of course, tough guys and big bruisers have always occupied the screen, but almost never has cinematic bloodletting been paired with so much affable joy. This quality, which has served the big…Read more Film Review: The Running Man (1987)