All Angel Heart fans out there. Where do you rank Angel Heart in a list of the best movies of the 1980's. Feel free to post your list of your 10, 20, 50, 100 favorite films of the 80's decade.
What do you think was better than Angel Heart. What do you think was equal to Angel Heart?
The 80s were a golden age for movies in a lot of ways. If I really sat down and started ranking all the great films from that time, I don't think Angel Heart would be anywhere near the top, and I love this movie.
shareThe 80's had many films that are now considered classics and favourites. Claiming something "The Best" is always subjective and it depends on what you connect with. Haven't seen 'Angel Heart' in quite some years and while visually arresting, I have never considered it to be one of my favourites from this decade. Prefer to watch '9 1\2 Weeks'-86 with Mickey Rourke and an 80's gem that I would rate higher than 'Angel Heart'.
shareOverall the 80's was, in my opinion, a lousy decade for movies. It was dominated by generic feel-good fluff, completely mindless paint-by-the-boxes action films, and teen-oriented sex comedies and slasher movies. There were some exceptions, however, Angel Heart being one of them. The early 80's also gave us two of my favorite sci-fi films, The Thing and Blade Runner.
Other films from the 80's that I greatly admire include Manhunter, The King of Comedy, Full Metal Jacket, Fatal Attraction, and Radford's adaptation of Orwell's 1984. Not sure if The Shining, The Long Good Friday, The Ninth Configuration or The Elephant Man qualify, as they were released in 1980 but made in 1979.
So Angel Heart is certainly one of my top films from the 80's, but overall, it's a very short list compared favorites from the 1960's and 1970's.
Overall the 80's was, in my opinion, a lousy decade for movies. It was dominated by generic feel-good fluff, completely mindless paint-by-the-boxes action films, and teen-oriented sex comedies and slasher movies.
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I agree that the 80's, was the start of a grand flux of popcorn\blockbuster entertainment; but there were also ground breakers and original films too, in that they weren't rehashes like today. Film technology was still developing and in inceptive phases. SFX could still be considered awesome, as each new SFX laden film that came out had something new to witness and filmmakers had some wonderful fresh faces and excellent talent, (old & new), to work with in the acting arena and gave us something different......Debra Winger, Kathleen Turner, Mickey Rourke, Kevin Bacon, Tom Hanks, Sigourney Weaver, Cher, Holly Hunter, Jodie Foster, Tom Cruise, Glenn Close etc and Streep's finest decade, IMHO. Even the teenage, John Hughes style films, had plenty of value and still do.
There was also much charm and even a sprinkling of naivety and the foreign market had plenty of excellent films on offer also. I can't agree that it was "lousy".
wonderful fresh faces and excellent talent, (old & new), to work with in the acting arena and gave us something different......Debra Winger, Kathleen Turner, Mickey Rourke, Kevin Bacon, Tom Hanks, Sigourney Weaver, Cher, Holly Hunter, Jodie Foster, Tom Cruise, Glenn Close etc and Streep's finest decade, IMHO
Seems to me that many of the names on your list just prove my point......Cher and Tom Cruise...
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I suppose it depends on what you are looking for in a film, what you connect with and what your expectations are. Cher and Tom Cruise have their detractors; but to single them out from the other names I listed, in an attempt to prove a point, is subjective and maybe a tad pompous.
I enjoy many films from the earlier eras; but I also like to see film as representative of the era in which they were made and I don't feel you may have dug deep enough into the 80's, perhaps. The earlier part of the 80's, still had a feel of the 70's imbued into them, then like you have mentioned, popcorn entertainment started to take over in droves; but I still find they have a certain charm and magic, that is lacking in today's films. Since I was a teenager during the 80's, I may be a tad biased and see a nostalgic value in them.
he earlier part of the 80's, still had a feel of the 70's imbued into them, then like you have mentioned, popcorn entertainment started to take over in droves
Since I was a teenager during the 80's, I may be a tad biased and see a nostalgic value in them.
....saying that a movie has great special effects is damnation through faint praise (i.e. there's no story, no acting, but it sure is pretty).
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I suppose you would have to take into consideration what film you are referring to and were the effects integral to the plot and did they enhance the narrative: eg) BACK TO THE FUTURE-85. Many films from the 70's and 80's, had had their fair share of essential SFX and those that were just there for a "showcase", to show off the technology of what they could do. I am hard pushed to think of one though. Maybe TRON-82', which I found boring; but since it was a film set inside a computer game, they were still relevant. Can you think of one?
The endless flood of "interminable" superhero movies, that we get bombarded with today and the "overuse" of CGI—which many claim—is it really "overuse"? It wouldn't be "overuse", for those that enjoy, say THE AVENGERS movies and they wouldn't be the same film without the SFX, because they need them.
You can't tell me that Tom Cruise or Tom Hanks or Sylvester Stallone are anywhere near the same caliber as Robert Duvall, Jack Nicholson, Dustin Hoffman, Gene Hackman, Robert DeNiro, or Al Pacino.
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I don't have an issue with any of these actors you have listed. Stallone has also proved himself to be a worthy actor in a few films. It is all subjective. This is where we differ, because I would rate Tom Cruise's performance over Dustin Hoffman in RAIN MAN-88'. I don't care for TOP GUN-86' or COCKTAIL-88' and I would classify those films as "god awful", as you rightly recognised the other high calibre actors have starred in. They have all done their share of "clunkers".
...this isn't a matter of comparing obscure arthouse movies from the 70's with popcorn blockbusters from the 80's, I'm comparing blockbuster to blockbuster.
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My previous comment, was in regards to the "quality" art house films of the 80's, along with "quality" blockbuster films of the 80's. I wasn't intending, to compare them to the quality art house and blockbuster films of the 70's. Quality is quality, regardless of the decade the film was released.
As for "slashers", I happen to love them and the 80's—particularly the early part—offered some of the best.
Below, I have listed plenty of "quality" films from the 80's, (a smattering of BB's), and ones that were some of the best that the decade had on offer. While they may not appeal to all tastes, it may prove that it wasn't such a bad decade after all:
ABOUT LAST NIGHT-86
ALIENS-86
AMADEUS-84
ANGEL HEART-87'
AN OFFICER AND A GENTLEMEN-82
ATLANTIC CITY-81
AU REVOIR LES ENFANTS-87
BABETTE'S FEAST-87
BACK TO THE FUTURE-85'
BETTY BLUE-86
BLADE RUNNER-82
BLUE VELVET-86
BROADCAST NEWS-87
COALMINERS DAUGHTER-80
CINEMA PARADISO-89
COCOON-85
THE COLOR PURPLE-85
COME AND SEE-85
COTTON CLUB-84
CRIMES AND MISDEMEANORS-89
CRIMES OF THE HEART-86
CRIMES OF PASSION-84
CROCODILE DUNDEE-86
A CRY IN THE DARK-88
DANGEROUS LIASONS-88
DAS BOOT-82
DEAD POETS SOCIETY-89
THE DRESSER-83
EDUCATING RITA-83
ELEPHANT MAN-80
EMPIRE OF THE SUN-87
EMPIRE STRIKES BACK-80
ET-82
FANNY AND ALEXANDER-83
FATAL ATTRACTION-87
FRANCES-82
FERRIS BUELLER'S DAY OFF-86
A FISH CALLED WANDA-88
GANDHI-82
GLORY-89
GORILLAS IN THE MIST-88
HANNAH AND HER SISTERS-86
HEARTBURN-86
KARATE KID-84
THE KILLING FIELDS-84
LAST EMPEROR-87
MANHUNTER-86
MASK-85
MAURICE-87
MISSING-82
MOONSTRUCK-87
MY BEAUTIFUL LAUNDRETTE-85
MY LEFT FOOT-89
MY LIFE AS A DOG-87
ORDINARY PEOPLE-80'
OUT OF AFRICA-85
A PASSAGE TO INDIA-84
PLATOON-86
POLTERGEIST-82
PRICK UP YOUR EARS-87
PRIZZI'S HONOR-85
PURPLE ROSE OF CAIRO-85
RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK-81
RAGING BULL-80
RAIN MAN-88
RADIO DAYS-87
RAN-85
REDS-81
THE RIGHT STUFF-83
THE RIVER-84
A ROOM WITH A VIEW-86
RUNNING ON EMPTY-88
SALVADOR-86
SHY PEOPLE-87
SILKWOOD-83
SOPHIE'S CHOICE-82
TERMS OF ENDEARMENT-83
TESS-80
TOOTSIE-82
THE VERDICT-82
WALL STREET-87
WITNESS-85
WORKING GIRL-88
ZELIG-83'
One of the best films ever made , not just in the 80s , but not for those who want their story fed to them on a plate .
What a list rascal! Would add Once upon a time in America and Dekalog, which according to me are two of the finest pieces of cinema art since its inception, not just in 80s but of any era. I agree with you in many respects. I feel nostalgic about 80s music and films. They don't make them like they did in 80s. They just don't.
In response to the OP, I would have to say that Angel Heart is an underrated gem and as a piece of art of the highest quality, it does not belong to 80s or to any era but is timeless. I will not be surprised to see it gathering its cult status more and more fervently as the ages go by, which is true for a piece of art in any medium. The following ages come to appreciate them more than the age they are made in.
Cheers!
You forgot
Near Dark (1987)
Stand By Me (1986)
Blow Out (1981)
The Terminator (1984)
I agree !
Except for a handful of films, the 80s paled in comparison to the 70s.
"You work your side of the street, and I'll work mine"
My top 50 for the 1980s:
1. Amadeus (1984)
2. The Shining (1980)
3. Raising Arizona (1987)
4. The Unbearable Lightness of Being (1988)
5. The Meaning of Life (1983)
6. The World According to Garp (1982)
7. Moonstruck (1987)
8. Gandhi (1982)
9. Aliens (1986)
10. Ghostbusters (1984)
11. Ferris Bueller's Day Off (1986)
12. Airplane! (1980)
13. The Color Purple (1985)
14. Dead Poets Society (1989)
15. This Is Spinal Tap (1984)
16. The Princess Bride (1987)
17. Blade Runner (1982)
18. Mississippi Burning (1988)
19. The Accidental Tourist (1988)
20. Dirty Rotten Scoundrels (1988)
21. Raging Bull (1980)
22. Sophie's Choice (1982)
23. The Big Chill (1983)
24. Brazil (1985)
25. Tootsie (1982)
26. Caddyshack (1980)
27. A Fish Called Wanda (1988)
28. Dangerous Liaisons (1988)
29. The Blues Brothers (1980)
30. Stand by Me (1986)
31. Come and See (1985)
32. Poltergeist (1982)
33. E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (1982)
34. Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981)
35. Das Boot (1981)
36. Cinema Paradiso (1988)
37. The Killing Fields (1984)
38. The Last Emperor (1987)
39. Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back (1980)
40. A Christmas Story (1983)
41. The Elephant Man (1980)
42. The Witches of Eastwick (1987)
43. Parenthood (1989)
44. The Mission (1986)
45. Planes, Trains & Automobiles (1987)
46. Dreamchild (1985)
47. Altered States (1980)
48. My Left Foot (1989)
49. On Golden Pond (1981)
50. Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi (1983)
Angel Heart comes in at #140.
Sorry.
HARUMPH!share
fantastic decade for movies, but Raging Bull is the best hands down
Angel Heart would probably not make my top 20
so many movies, so little time
You can pigeon hole each decade but for me the influence of the great 1970's films ended around 1982. That's when the "80's" started. Mississippi Burning was mentioned once, and that's in my top 5 but no one I don't think has mentioned possibly the best film of the 1980's; Crimes and Misdemeanors.