Top-Ten Cathartic ’80s Film’s
These film’s are Cathartic to me, I was born in 1979. I saw all of these by age 10.
1) Fast Times at Ridgemont High (1982) Directed by Amy Heckerling and penned by future Director Cameron Crowe (based on his book).
It was a gem that had something for everyone to relate to (HIGH SCHOOL). Rock music, a staple in Crowe’s writing (was there from day one). This film features one of the best soundtracks (Tom Petty, Jackson Browne, Led Zeppelin) on celluloid. It was cathartic for me due to the handling and discovery of male-female relations. High School? That would be 10 years later for me, but this film got me ready. I am also not sure a film features more future Oscar-winner’s with lead roles played by Forrest Whitaker, Sean Penn (Spiccoli) and Nic Cage in a small role. Keep your eye’s on a wonderful performance from Jennifer Jason Leigh (Oscar-Nominee) as the youthful (naive, Freshmen, supposed to be). I don’t want to spoil it, but I will say, (being from Hawaii I have to) “ALOHA, Mr. Hand.”
2) Stand by Me (1986) Directed by Rob Reiner.
Four pre-teen’s go on the search for another young boy who is missing. Based on Stephen King’s short-story THE BODY, it’s adaptation into a Feature-film garnered an Oscar-nod. This was the birth of a legend and a legacy by the name of River Phoenix. The tragic loss of River in 1993 would bring new meaning to this film. For me, the cathartic nature lies in the friendship of Chris (Phoenix) and Gordie played by Wil Wheaton. As they grow threw the film, they are faced with coming of ages moment’s, with no one but each other to rely on. The major scenes that made River one of the best actor’s ever (he’d be acting with SINDEY POITIER by age 19) break my heart, as I’ve had the same talk’s with my close friend. We have swapped the role’s in real-life (too many time’s). A film that can get inside and open you up the only word is Cathartic.
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3) When Harry Met Sally (1989) Directed by Rob Reiner.
The big question, does sex ruin a friendship between a man and a woman? In an Oscar-Nominated Screenplay penned by Iconoclast Nora Ephron, this gem of a movie makes you laugh, dance and cry. If you have Billy Crystal as Harry and Meg Ryan as Sally and Iconoclasts like Reiner and Ephorn at work, what is cathartic? For me, I have been lucky to have many female friend’s. I almost (almost) see this film from both sides. If you are lucky enough to have a Sally, be a Harry, take the blessing and answer the question or not? LOL. Cathartic reason #2, I have a Sally, but life does not end like the movies?
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4) Say Anything (1989) Directed by Cameron Crowe
What a premise, the so-called loser ask’s out the prettiest girl in school. The ’80s teen movie that would revolutionize the genre one last-time after John Hugher’s had laid the standard with The Breakfast Club, Sixteen Candles, etc.. Filled with poignant scene’s including my favorite where Lloyd discusses dating with his female friend’s, this scene I have lived for 25 years! Cathartic? It’s all about Lloyd’s line “I asked.” Here is a top-notch writer moving into Directing and the “Crowe” style eventually showed us the money Jerry!
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5) Risky Business (1983) Directed by Paul Brickman.
Just take those old record’s off the shelf, wait; Rebecca De Mornay was my Cathartic moment. As the great Paul Thomas Anderson of Boogie Nights said in CNN’s At the Movies “We got Joel (Tom Cruise) and his friend’s doing what they do, women got Tom Cruise in his underwear.” So, fair-trade and please, listen to Curtis Armstrong (Booger from of Revenge of the Nerds) for an iconic speech about how we all need to “say WT…to create freedom, freedom creates opportunity and opportunity creates your future.” Also, stellar soundtrack, known for Bob Seger, Phil Collins and includes Muddy Waters.
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6) Porky’s (1981) Directed by Bob Clark.
Cathartic reason? Slim Shady (Eminem) put it best “we ain’t nothing but mammals…” The estimated budget of $5 million grossed $136 million a controversial and overlooked ’80s gem. Especially in a year when INDIANA was not just a State. Material is handled respectfully, Blame my older brother.
7) The Breakfast Club (1985) Directed by John Hughe’s.
There have been thousand’s of article’s, list’s and million’s of discussions about this movie. For me, I was five and my hero’s the Fraser Boy’s (my babysitters) had kept me from it. It was rated R. I saw this and developed my first Movie crush Molly Ringwald (she was 16, now over 50). Hey, it is Cathartic to discover The Princess Claire played by MOLLY! She was said to be writer-director John Hughe’s Muse and they obviously lit her differently. All I knew then was, who’s she???? I still crush, but she is 12 year’s older than I am, so no harm no foul to forever admire Claire’s Celluloid beauty.
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8) The Lost Boys (1987) Directed by Joel Schumacher.
Kiefer Sutherland, who was doing a damn fine job coming out of Father Donald’s shadow was an epic Vampire. In the best movie made with and in the ‘era of the Two Corey’s, Haim and Feldman (Feldman also stars in Stand by Me). First Horror movie to not scare the …. out me and that is cathartic. This horror flick had more than just senseless killing like Freddie or Jason. It had a point. For me, I remember all my first film’s from a Genre. Cathartic and Stand By Me and lost boys led to a 32 year liking of Kiefer!
9) Young Guns (1988) Directed by Christopher Cain
Kiefer Sutherland, Emilio Estevez, Charlie Sheen, as an all-too young film-lover I knew these guys from their other work’s (thanks to cable and insomnia). Westerns were what my Dad and Grandpa watched. Looking back, (of course) I did not know The Duke, Henry Fonda, Ward Bond, Jimmy Stewart or directors like John Ford and Howard Hawkes. I did fall in love with the genre and again it was Kiefer! Cathartic. Also a rare case the sequel works.
10) Born on the 4th of the July (1989) Directed by Oliver Stone Stone’s Oscar-winning (Director) film about the way the U.S. and many citizen’s crapped on returning Vietnam Veteran’s set’s the tone for one of Tom Cruise’s Best Performance’s (yes, he used to be an Actor). My Dad is a Vietnam Veteran, so the cathartic-nature is explained in one word; Father. I do remember being in the lobby of the Harbor Twins and Dad pulled me aside and said “You will see stuff you won’t understand, but NEVER EVER spit on a Soldier in uniform.”
