Thinking About Movies From My Youth

I watched a lot of movies when I was kid. Still do. My tastes tended to be slightly darker. This will be a regular feature. Enjoy my friends...

Over The Edge (1979)

Families move to a new development in the suburbs of Denver called New Granada. But city planners are late in building recreational resources for the kids. What happens? Drugs, sex, vandalism, Van Halen, Cheap Trick, death, anarchy and juvi. It was Matt Dillon's first time on screen and apparently Kurt Cobain's favorite movie.

 

 

The Parallax View (1974)

Warren Beatty stars as a journalist trying to expose a dark, shadow organization that recruits political assassins (and patsies). Born out of the deserved and obvious paranoia following the assassinations of the Kennedys, MLK and others. I love a good conspiracy movie. Beatty is great here.

 

 

Bugsy Malone (1976)

I love gangster movies. But give me one where the gangsters are kids dressed up in suits, carrying whipped cream-filled machine guns, starring Jodi Foster and Scott Baio, with music by Paul Williams and directed by Alan Parker. Done. Awesome. Big part of my days spent indoors.

 

 

The Warriors (1979)

"Warriors, come out and playee-yay." As Jay-Z would say, "What more can I say?" Gangs in NY try to unify and then all hell breaks loose when their leader gets one in the coconut. The Warriors, a small gang, are wrongfully accussed and fight all night to get to safe ground. Favorite parts? The narrating DJ throughout the movie. We only see her mouth and mic. And of course the colorful uniforms of each gang. The names and dress remind me of the gangs of the five points in Scorcese's "Gangs of New York". Starring lots of unknowns and a few actors that tried to kill Eddie Murphy in 48 Hours.

  

 

The In-Laws (1979)

For me, hands-down, one of the funniest movies ever made. Peter Falk as a wackadoo CIA agent who enlists a dentist (and soon to be in-law) Alan Arkin into an intricate plot to get a Latin dictator. Pure genius every minute. And it doesn't hurt that there is a "Mr. Hirschhorn" character. One of my all time favorite movies.

 

 

Logan's Run (1976)

Fun, slightly cheesy 70's sci-fi. Hot future people of the 23rd century live in a world of pure pleasure. Only problem is you have to die young. Those that don't want to, well, they "run". Logan is a policeman who chases those runners. Until he becomes one himself. Good grilled cheese. Can watch this 100 times.

  

 

The Long Good Friday (1980)

Bob Hoskins stars as London's prime gangster. But forces are out to get him and things are not going his way. He has 24 hours to fix it. Love the accents, Helen Mirren as his girlfriend and the cameo by a young Pierce Brosnan at the end.

  

 

Executive Action (1973)

Way before Olive Stone's "JFK" this film guessed at the why and how of the JFK assassination. Starring Burt Lancaster and a bunch of old recognizable codgers as the conspirators. Another of the great paranoid 70's conspiracy movies. My Dad loved this one.

 

 

The Little Girl Who Lives Down The Lane (1976)

Jodi Foster was so prolific an actress in the 70's it's really hard to compare to anyone else these days. Especially at her young age. This is a freaky little film about a little girl living alone in a New England town. Where are her parents? Well, lots of weird, disturbed and curious neighbors want to know. Just saw this again on the MGM HD channel.

 

 

Thief (1981)

The 80's had lots of style. Good and bad. A lot of the good came from director, Michael Mann. This film stars James Caan as a top notch thief taking down scores and buying watches, houses, cars and clothes. Until the local mob wants a piece of him. Great vibe. If you liked the recent film with Ryan Gosling, DRIVE, notice how much of that vibe comes from this film. Can't forget that Jim Belushi is in a good supporting role either!

 

 

more soon... - JH

Comments

[David Larkin]

I love the long last shot from Long Good Friday of Bob Hoskins in the back seat of the cab, realizing the game is up for good.

[Weegee]

Jason,

Yes, Over The Edge was based on a San Francisco Chronicle article about a rash of youth crime in Foster City, CA in the late 1970s.

[Juepucta]

The recent Gosling movie is 'Drive'. 'The Driver' is a 30+ yr old movie (back in the mold you dig, not too dissimilar from the Caan one listed) with Ryan O'Neal.

-G.

[JoeTalcott]

It is still difficult to walk toward an airplane without hearing the words in my mind "Serpentine Shelly. Serpentine"!