Take a bow, 1980
From Caddyshack to The Shining, Airplane! and The Elephant Man, James Croot finds 1980 was a year filled with memorable movies.
One of the greatest blockbusters of all time is heading back to Kiwi cinemas for special 40th-anniversary screenings this weekend. The Empire Strikes Back is most Star Wars fans’ favourite film, a rollicking, thrilling and emotional rollercoaster of a movie that is filled with exhilarating action sequences, dark drama and genuine surprises.
It is also one of the many memorable and groundbreaking films that were released in 1980 – a prime contender for cinema’s greatest year.
This was the 12 months that gave us American Gigolo, Altered States, Blue Lagoon, Coal Miner’s Daughter, Fame, Flash Gordon, The Fog, The Final Countdown, The Gods Must Be Crazy, Friday the 13th, Heaven’s Gate, The Long Good Friday, Ordinary People, Private Benjamin, 9 to 5, Stir Crazy, Superman II and Xanadu. They all made some kind of cultural impact, many of which still resonate today.
However, we’ve come up with our eight favourite films from that incredible year, naturally including that Star Wars stunner.
Airplane!
Eventually becoming a TV viewing staple, that this parody (also known as Flying High) of the 1957 disaster film Zero Hour! hasn’t become hopelessly outdated (although certainly parts of it have) is down to the sheer number of gags, japes, jokes and puns.
The impressive cast effortlessly seem to keep all the comedic plates spinning, with Leslie Nielsen stealing the show, thanks to his brilliant deadpan responses.
Available to stream on Amazon Prime Video, iTunes, Google Play and YouTube.
The Blues Brothers
Even 40 years on, this anarchic tale is still the gold standard when it comes to musical comedies. Dan Ackroyd and John Belushi are siblings Jake and Elwood, sent on a mission from God to save the Catholic orphanage they were raised in.
What follows are hilarious and toe-tapping encounters with rednecks, vengeful ex-lovers and a cadre of some of the best-ever exponents of soul and rhythm and blues music ever to walk the Earth.
Available to stream on Netflix, YouTube and Google Play.
Caddyshack
While there will be many who will plump for the following generation’s Happy Gilmore as the best golfing movie of all time, this comedian-packed comedy pound-for-pound provides more memorable moments. Chevy Chase is the smooth pro and Rodney Dangerfield the brash upstart, while Bill Murray’s greenskeeper battles the Bushwood Country Club’s resident gopher.
Available to stream on iTunes, YouTube and Google Play.
The Elephant Man
Robert De Niro fans would likely argue otherwise, but surely one of ‘‘the Academy’s’’ great crimes of the 20th century was not awarding John Hurt best actor for his performance as the severely deformed John Merrick in David Lynch’s beautiful, bittersweet drama.
Despite being swallowed up by makeup that took eight hours a day to apply, Hurt delivers a truly spellbinding and heart-breaking turn as the man who just wanted to be accepted into society.
Available to stream on iTunes.
The Empire Strikes Back
From the exhilarating opening battle on Hoth to the tantalising cliffhanger left by the events on the cloud city of Bespin, this is the template that all blockbuster sequels should aspire too.
Not only did it broaden out the Star Wars story, it introduced memorable new characters, upped the humour and romance, and delivered a couple of emotional punches that really left a mark. I’ve seen it so many times I can just about recite the script by heart.
Available to stream on Disney+, iTunes, Google Play and YouTube.
Raging Bull
A black-and-white sports biopic that’s more about what happens outside the ring than in it? Martin Scorsese’s stunning drama certainly wasn’t what boxing fans, excited by another potential Rocky, were expecting. Instead of Sylvester Stallone’s plucky pugilist, there was Robert De Niro’s ‘‘monster’’ Jake LaMotta, a man whose selfdestructive and obsessive rage, sexual jealousy and animalistic appetite destroyed his relationship with his wife and family.
Available to stream on iTunes, YouTube and Google Play.
The Shining
It seems the only person who wasn’t a fan of Stanley Kubrick’s adaptation of Stephen King’s novel was the author himself. Jack Nicholson is frighteningly great as the recovering alcoholic and aspiring writer seemingly driven crazy by the isolated surroundings of the Overlook Hotel. Filled with haunting imagery, this is what a real horror movie looks, sounds and feels like.
Available to stream on iTunes and Google Play.
Somewhere in Time
Part of the period’s obsession with time travel (see also The Final Countdown and 1979’s Time After Time), this was a rare non-Superman outing for Christopher Reeve. He plays a young playwright who becomes obsessed with a woman (Jane Seymour) in a photograph at the hotel where he is staying. The only problem is the portrait was taken 70 years earlier. Hopelessly romantic, but with a real sting in its tail, it also features a truly haunting score by John Barry.
Available to stream on iTunes, YouTube and Google Play.
The Empire Strikes Back is screening now in select cinemas nationwide.