Oldies But Goodies #1
I try to sometimes bring back the Oldies but Goodies from my personal collection. The movies nobody talks about anymore but that someone should mention every now and again. That’s the trouble with business–profit determines everything. Where business fails us the culture of memory should help us. Since I’m broke and no one pays me to write I am electing to be the ambassador of movies time forgot–and since I answer to no one and I can’t be fired I might as well do it how I want and when I want. Here’s a look at 1989…from my perspective.
Release Date: 1989 Genre: Drama/Romantic Thriller Running Time: 113 min. Director: Harold Becker Cast: Al Pacino, Ellen Barkin, John Goodman
Take Sea of Love for example. Not the first movie you think of when thinking Al Pacino or Ellen Barkin–not even John Goodman for that matter. But it’s a movie that has it’s place in the world. Back in 1989 this Romantic Thriller had an opening weekend of 10+ million dollars and has grossed over 100 million world wide. Not bad for a movie you probably never heard of before.
Release Date: August 16, 1989 Genre: Comedy/Drama Running Time: 100 min. Director: John Hughes Cast: John Candy, Amy Madigan, Jean Louisa Kelly, Gaby Hoffmann, Macaulay Culkin
Here’s a movie everyone should watch at least once in their lives. Remembering John Candy is always tough since he could have given us so much more. A comic actor rarely mentioned but who deserves his due. Toronto born and one of Canada’s funniest exports. It’s sad that there isn’t enough said to youngsters about how awesome this guy was and what he meant to so many of us growing up in the 80s. A great movie that will take you back to a time where funny could be human and moral while going against the grain of morality. Makes you realize we were far more liberal then in many ways. Uncle Buck--a must see.
Release Date: January 13, 1989 Genre: Action/Drama Director:Graeme Clifford Starring: Christian Slater Steven Bauer Richard Herd Le Tuan Min Luong Art Chudabala Peter Kwong Max Perlich Tony Hawk
There are a few of you my age who will admit to having seen this movie and smiling when you remember watching it as a kid. Gleaming the Cube is the most improbable situation that makes total sense when you watch it. A very young Christian Slater and some cool skateboarding tricks. Didn’t make a whole lot of money but it’s a part of so many people’s lives. I think this is a movie that did better on cable and was seen by more people than we’ll ever truly know.