274 of 1001 Movies: Down By Law (1986)

I've watched a few Jim Jarmusch movies by now, and while I can appreciate it I also can't help but feel something is keeping me from getting into them as I would hope. Broken Flowers was great, and I can see the value in Dead Man, but once you watch Down By Law then you may be less enthused with Dead Man. I know about I'm about to sound "film dumb", but I can't get into black and white very well after the method of using black and white became an artistic choice, and not just an automatic default. Jarmusch though chose a great cast to lead this film, which keeps it alive with characters at least.

Summary: DJ Zack and Jack, a pimp, both end up in prison. They were framed, but didn't really care enough to fight it. It seems they feel their lives were bound to catch up with them. When an Italian immigrant, Roberto, gets locked away with them they begin plotting how to escape. Roberto has some distracting eccentrics they utilize. Anyways, their journey from the prison to their escape will be a learning experience for these guys as well.

254 of 1001 Movies: The Decline of the American Empire (1986)

French Canadians do a movie just like the French do, well almost, except not as sophisticated. The Decline of the American Empire though is a movie that at one point during it's year was the highlight of award shows. I just felt like I was watching a more sexed up and less interesting version of The Big Chill. I know you're asking what The Big Chill has to do with this, but I couldn't help but the vibe of this movie reminded me of that movie.

Summary: Friends gather together to prepare for an evening together. Much of their conversation revolves around their sexual encounters and experiences. Remy, Pierre, and Claude are preparing dinner while the ladies are out and about chatting. The three reveal their own sexual affairs and preferences. Diane, Louise, and Dominque gather to discuss their encounters as well, and everything they hope or believe their significant others aren't doing. When they all gather for dinner at the end of the day though some awkward revelations are made that stir up trouble among the couples and friends.

238 of 1001 Movies: Top Gun (1986)

While watching Top Gun I got to say I was disappointed. I had hear a lot about it, but upon watching the only thing that stuck with me was the song "Danger Zone." It is the one thing in this movie that never left me. Undeniably though this is one of Tony Scott's pivotal works in his career, and completely opposite of anything you would see his brother, Ridley Scott do. There is a lot of 80's music, some hardcore love scenes, and many sunset scenes. If there is one director I can see that Tony Scott inspired though it would be Michael Bay.

Summary: Maverick is a young and arrogant student at the flight school for the top in the class. Maverick and Goose who are best friends find themselves at the top of the class, but Maverick's daring stunts in the plane flying do threaten his career in the Navy and graduating if he continues to act up. One of his instructors, Charlie, a woman who is to teach them in class, he finds himself falling for. Charlie also finds herself attracted to Maverick, but their relationship is a bit controversial considering their roles. She finds herself not only teaching him in class though, but wanting to see him out of class.

422 of 1001 Albums: Elvis Costello and The Attractions' Blood and Chocolate

Some Elvis Costello songs are good where as others were a bit rougher. With this one it seems that Costello puts the roughest songs to get through at the beginning, and puts his better stuff about halfway to the end of the album. Costello has an unique style, and maybe I just wish he would go back to more of that 50's rock and roll that matches his flare so well musically.

History: This album was a return for Costello to his usual backing group, The Attractions. The album reached #16 on the charts, and was a success with critics who reviewed the album. Costello even used his nickname for some of the album, Napoleon Dynamite. You may associate this name with the 2004 movie, but Costello believes they stole it from him though it's been denied. The singles that were released from this album struggled to chart.

408 of 1001 Albums: Big Black's Atomizer

Big Black definitely sounds like an innovative punk band for 1986. It isn't as reminiscent of what we associate with the genre as The Clash or Ramones are. Thankfully, if you get the album there is a note included with some versions explaining the songs. The shaky sounds and distorted vocals are staple of this album though, and provide it with a certain appeal for some fans.

History: Big Black's Atomizer is an album that is popular with critics. In 1986 the lyrics of the album caught the public's attention with the particular violent content, which includes discussing being set on fire  like in Kerosene. The band had some struggles though with the album, like their record label going behind their back's to market. On top of that the band just doesn't seem naturally kind to all fans anyways, even taking a jab at fans who bought the CD format of the music because one member was personally against the digital format.

196 of 1001 Movies: Children of a Lesser God (1986)

Why are the women directors all so far from the 80's? Anyways, Randa Haines has put together quite an intriguing, emotionally, stirring movie. William Hurt is a strong actor in whatever he does, and while he might be very character actor in nature, I could see him being the Ryan Gosling of his day. He has great chemistry with Marlee Matlin in this very insightful romance that also immerses you in the world of the deaf.  I hadn't saw a movie like it before, and appreciated the unique plot line.

Summary: James arrives as a new speech teacher at a school for the deaf. Once there he meets some hesitant students who have their own reasons for remaining silent. There is also a janitor who works the school who gets James' attention. He is also determined to get her to speak despite her lifelong stance against speaking and just being her own silent world. James falls in love with her in the middle of his pursuit though, but Sarah is hesitant to get into a relationship unless he can accept her comfortableness not speaking.

182 of 1001 Movies: Ferris Bueller's Day Off (1986)

With The Breakfast Club and Ferris Bueller's Day Off, and among other writing credits, John Hughes shows he just knows how the teenage mind works, and instead of bashing or throwing off on it for being a different generation than his he instead commends a lot of the aspects of the fun of just being a teenager. To be honest, a lot of teen movies don't capture the true identity of being a teen anymore. They focus on all these very warped aspects that make it look as depressing as it is being a teenager. When I was a teen I didn't need to have a pity fest with the movie I was watching, I wish instead I just made myself live in a realm for a few hours where being a teen was actually cool, and not everyone had to look really pretty and hot, but for some reason you all still really despised authority.

Summary: Ferris wants a day out of school, so the best way to do that is fake sick and get his parents to believe him. There is one adult though who isn't going to be quite as easy to get rid of though, his principal, Mr. Rooney. He is now set up outside his home looking for proof that the days he's been absent are all lies. Ferris though is out living it up, and even persuades his friend Cameron to get out of his sick bed and join him, and makes a plan to get his girlfriend out of school so they can all live it up in the city for one day.

171 of 1001 Movies: Caravaggio (1986)

Upon reading about Derek Jarman and finding out that he has been known in the avant garde world, I wasn't too excited, but Caravaggio is a little different than avant garde thankfully. If you're looking to what a historical account about Caravaggio then this might not be the best place to look though unless you plan on getting an encyclopedia and reading along as you go about the guy just to see what is fictional and non-fictional in the story. Lots of the movie are ideas about why he might have murdered and reacted in his relationships as he did since there probably will never be a 100% truth to it.

Summary:  17th century painter, Caravaggio, is unique in what he does and draws attention to himself even as a young man. A Vatican member takes him under his wing and has him painting, but his constant rebelling brings a lot of negative attention. Caravaggio carries on relationships with his models, both male and female, and incites a lot of jealousy between them, especially the dating couple he dates as well. His painting also are religious in nature, but he poses prostitutes and others who bring controversy to the style of paintings he does.

124 or 1001 Movies: Blue Velvet (1986)

I wasn't sure what to expect from Blue Velvet since I'd only heard of David Lynch's name with Twin Peaks, and I had never seen it. I expected this to be an odd movie though it turned out to be much weirder than anticipated. Now I can enjoy odd movies, and I like quirky characters, but there was something about this movie that just didn't come together to form likable characters, but instead people just thrown into a very odd situation who already seem a bit a off to begin with.

After Jefferey discovers an ear severed in his backyard he decides to begin investigating himself on where it might have come from. With the help of a friend he has made, Sandy, they single in on an apartment rumored to be known to be filled with horrors. Dorothy is in residence there, and also works as a singer in a nearby nightclub. Jefferey sneaks in one night though to find that she might be a victim of a violent kidnapper that lives with her, Frank. Jefferey becomes intent on solving the crime himself, and rescuing the woman in the house from the crimes within.