1980s

The Beginner's Guide: Joe Dante, Director
The Beginner’s Guide: Joe Dante, Director

In this beginner’s guide we look back at the career of director Joe Dante, focusing mostly on his iconic 1980s hits.

National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation isn't the finest Xmas movie you'll ever see, but it's disarmingly heartfelt at times.
NATIONAL LAMPOON’S CHRISTMAS VACATION: The Holidays Gone Awry

National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation isn’t the finest Xmas movie you’ll ever see, but it’s disarmingly heartfelt at times.

PARIS, TEXAS: European Art House Meets The Great American Road Movie in Stunning Fashion
PARIS, TEXAS: European Art House Meets The Great American Road Movie In Stunning Fashion

Paris, Texas readily evokes a bit of the ruggedness of the Old West, reflecting the degradation of this vast country as much as the austere beauty.

TRUE STORIES: Criterion Resuscitates David Byrne’s Lone Masterpiece
TRUE STORIES: Criterion Resuscitates David Byrne’s Lone Masterpiece

With Criterion’s Blu-ray, True Stories will satisfy old fans and find new ones, just as every generation eventually discovers the Talking Heads.

DISTANT VOICES, STILL LIVES: An Extraordinary Debut Released On Its 30th Anniversary
DISTANT VOICES, STILL LIVES: An Extraordinary Debut Released On Its 30th Anniversary

Terence Davies’ 1988 debut Distant Voices, Still Lives, newly rereleased by Arrow Academy, deserves to be treasured as one of the great British films.

Conjuring Dread: The Ghostly Legacy of THE CHANGLING
Conjuring Dread: The Ghostly Legacy Of THE CHANGELING

The Changeling has built up a devoted club of admirers and its influence on films such as The Ring and Annabelle have seen it reclaimed by many as the grandfather of the Conjuring Universe.

“Fifty Minutes And Counting”: Time & MIRACLE MILE

An overlooked film at the time of its release, Miracle Mile looks at the Cold War when it was waning, examining the destruction man is capable of when he thinks the end is near.

EXCALIBUR: Is This The Best King Arthur Movie?
EXCALIBUR: Is This The Best King Arthur Movie?

Offering a backstory to the infamous tale of Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table, Excalibur excels in its fantastical showcase delivering a story that is still fresh and grand today.

In Defense of SUMMER OF '84, A Bold Punctuation To The Triteness Of 80’s Nostalgia
In Defense of SUMMER OF ’84, A Bold Punctuation To The Triteness Of 80’s Nostalgia

Summer of ’84 may have been passed over as a cheap Stranger Things knockoff, but there is surprising depth to it if you look beneath the surface.

The Enigma of the Sequel: Why Did They Make 2010?
The Enigma of the Sequel: Why Was 2010 Made?

Where Kubrick’s 2001: A Space Oddysey was visionary and original, 2010: The Year We Make Contact failed to compete with the monolith that casts quite a shadow.

Interview With The Directing Team RKSS Of SUMMER OF 84
Interview With The Directing Team RKSS Of SUMMER OF 84

We spoke with directing team RKSS (François Simard, Anouk Whissell and Yoann-Karl Whissell) of Summer Of 84 about their favorite 80’s films, and the process of casting and creating the film.

DAUGHTER OF THE NILE: An Underseen Drama Is Winningly Restored
DAUGHTER OF THE NILE: An Underseen Drama Is Winningly Restored

Daughter of the Nile is a prime example of the underseen gems that we are privileged to finally have access to thanks to distributors like the Cohen Film Collection. You might have to dig a little deeper to find them, but when you do, you are rewarded with something special.

THE SERPENT AND THE RAINBOW: 30 Years Later
THE SERPENT AND THE RAINBOW: 30 Years Later

A classic horror film of Haitian voodoo and zombies, The Serpent and the Rainbow continues to scare and delight viewers with its historical relevance and impressive details.

30 Years Later: BROADCAST NEWS & Being The Smartest Person In The Room
30 Years Later: BROADCAST NEWS & Being The Smartest Person In The Room

Shawn Glinis provides his personal retrospective of James L. Brooks’ classic comedy Broadcast News on its 30th anniversary, showing us how the film’s understanding of the world colors his own.

The Nominated Film You May Have Missed: DEAD POETS SOCIETY
The Nominated Film You May Have Missed: DEAD POETS SOCIETY

In our latest entry of The Nominated Film You May Have Missed series, we discuss the 1989 Robin Williams drama Dead Poets Society.