TheRealMattKain

Great lists! I'm a long-time lurker and have always loved your Oscar-rewind posts. A couple of comments: 1980: Even though you mentioned them, I think both CADDYSHACK (one of the finest comedies of the decade) and DRESSED TO KILL (one of De Palma's best) deserve more praise. I'd also like to give a nod to two more of my favorites from 1980: STARDUST MEMORIES (not Allen's best, but a must see for all of his fans) and THE LONG GOOD FRIDAY (saw for the first time a few months ago, really helped lay the framework of the modern gangster movie. Helen Mirren never looked better). 1981: OK, I admit that CHARIOTS OF FIRE doesn't deserve the canonical status that it somehow has and certainly was not the best film of the year. However, I grew up a long distance runner, and I can honestly say that the slow-mo running on the beach scene is as close as I've ever seen a movie come to capturing the euphoria of a runner's high. Yes, the Vangelis song has been overplayed and overused and the scene has been parodied and appropriated (thanks Nike) ad nauseum, but that scene still gives me shivers. And yes, the movie has many problems - it lacks focus, is poorly paced, is a bit stuffy at times, and does a lousy job transitioning through the various time periods. Nonetheless, I still have a soft spot for CHARIOTS OF FIRE and don't think it's nearly as bad as you imply. Other favs from 1981: MOMMIE DEAREST (you mentioned it briefly, but this movie is spectacular), SCANNERS (great stuff from Cronenberg), GREGORY'S GIRL (excellent Scottish coming of age movie with Clare Gorgan of Altered Images - what I imagine a Belle and Sebastian movie being like), MAN OF IRON (not as good as some of Wajda's other stuff - i.e., ASHES AND DIAMONDS, MAN OF MARBLE - but still quality cinema), and DAS BOOT. Personally, I'd have to go with DAS BOOT as the best movie of the year. I get claustrophobic just thinking about it. I always thought RAIDERS was overrated and doesn't hold up over time (I know, blasphemy). Also note that 1980 and 1981 were very exciting years for Hong Kong cinema. The rise of Cantonese language television in the late '70s (through TVB), numerous burgeoning film clubs, a new focus on the social and cultural uniqueness of Hong Kong, and a rash of new directors gave birth to the Hong Kong New Wave film movement. Although overlooked by many Western audiences, 1980 and 1981 saw a wealth of unique and innovative movies from Hong Kong New Wave directors: Patrick Tam's LOVE MASSACRE and THE SWORD, Ann Hui's STORY OF WOO VIET and THE SPOOKY BUNCH, Allen Fong's FATHER AND SON, and Tsui Hark's DANGEROUS ENCOUNTERS OF THE FIRST KIND. 1980 and 1981 were also the years that Jackie Chan and Sammo Hung really started to hold their own as both directors and action choreographers. Jackie directed YOUNG MASTER and Sammo directed CLOSE ENCOUNTERS OF THE SPOOKY KIND in 1980. Both are excellent films that helped set the standard for the changing landscape of Hong Kong action movies. Regardless of whether or not some of these movies would ever be considered Oscar-worthy films, they definitely paved the way for the Hong Kong cinema explosion of the 1980s.

The FireJoeMorgan writers revealed their identities today: http://www.firejoemorgan.com/2008/02/era-of-anonymity-comes-to-end.html http://www.firejoemorgan.com/2005/04/about-us.html Who would have thought that Ken Tremendous writes for the Office? MattKain

On Julio Machado: http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9507E7DA1E31F935A2575BC0A960958260 Looks like he was found guilty and convicted. MattKain

Fitting that my first post would be Mike Birkbeck related... Mike is the current Associate Head Coach of baseball at Kent State: http://www.kentstatesports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=47670&SPID=4468&DB_OEM_ID=11400&ATCLID=605617 MattKain