THE ULTIMATE 1980s FILM: The WINNER...
After a week of battle between 9 genre winning titles, the votes are in!
This has arguably been my favourite contribution to the Coil platform – the series would never have existed without your participation. After all, there is no winner without online community votes.
Speaking of which, I thought I'd run a few statistics by you:
Total number of films:
Actor featured the most:
Actress featured the most:
Director featured the most:
Most successful director with most Oscars:
Films nominated for Best Picture: MISSISSIPPI BURNING, RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK, E.T. THE EXTRA-TERRESTRIAL, OUT OF AFRICA, WITNESS, PLATOON, FATAL ATTRACTION, RAIN MAN (winner of Best Picture), WORKING GIRL
Total votes:
Most popular genre by votes:
Film with the most standalone votes:
Total Twitter impressions:
Genre with the most impressions:
The Ultimate 1980s Film as voted by the online community is...
Thank you to all who participated. Your support on this series has been outstanding.
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Posters featured in the header can be found on IMDB.
Film Language: mise-en-scene view
Can you pitch an idea for a film in 30 words or less?
With all creative writing tasks there are conventions to address. With a , you need to be succinct and leave the reader wanting more.
On the one hand audiences just aren’t that attentive anymore, instead salivating over a viral-like headline to appease them before seeking out their next hit. On the other, we seemingly don’t have time to allow a story to simmer before we become engaged enough to care what happens beyond the first ten minutes of a film. Add to that, studio executives receive hundreds of screenplays each day, there’s just no way of getting through them, even with script readers on their books to help sift through them all.
That’s where a logline comes into play. Based on the strength of the logline will determine if your screenplay even gets a look-in.
A typical logline is devised into three key areas:
1) Protagonist
2) Goal
**3) Antagonist
**
**Here, try this one:
**An overprotective clownfish must leave the safety of his reef and brave the open ocean to rescue his missing son who is captive in a dentist’s aquarium.
I’m sure you recognize it from Finding Nemo. Notice how the protagonist has been assigned an adjective?
Protagonist: ‘overprotective clownfish’
Goal: ‘rescue his missing son’
Antagonist: ‘open ocean’ and the ‘dentist’
In line with my recent blog posts to determine The Ultimate 1980s Film, how about this one: A whip-cracking archaeologist struggles to locate the long lost Ark of the Covenant before the Nazis can find it and use its magical powers to conquer the world.
Protagonist: ‘whip-cracking archaeologist’
Goal: ‘locate the long lost Ark of the Covenant’
Antagonist: ‘Nazis’
In this particular logline, there are additional stakes, as it would seem the world is in danger!
To break loglines down further, you will have noticed that protagonists are defined by a noun, as well as assigned an adjective. The verb is designed to instil a sense of forward momentum or action for the hero.
The following logline is from my sample title, Elvis Lives. Try breaking it down into its key components:
An ageing singer must defeat three alternate versions of himself from different time periods in a fight to the death or lose his soul to the Devil.
Unsolicited material will be rejected! Another reason to highlight the importance of a logline for screenwriters is to safeguard you and the studios from theft or fraud. You can’t just submit a screenplay to a studio executive on the basis you think it’s great and they’ll read it. Then expect them to give you untold fortunes to have it made and released to box office breaking records.
Case Study 1: James Cameron has been accused in the past of ‘stealing’ the story to The Terminator, as expressed by the article.
*As if Cameron didn’t learn from this lesson, there are clear references from multiple films in his behemoth, Avatar and subsequent lawsuits that followed upon its release.
*
Case Study 2:
How about, The Matrix? Did you like that? Pretty cool original piece of science fiction, right? According to Sophia Stewart, she claimed the filmmakers stole the idea from her film treatment, The Third Eye, which also cites reference to Cameron once more with regards to The Terminator.
Case Study 3:
I’m certain there are many of you who enjoyed Coming to America. Did you know it was originally titled ‘King for a Day’? Original writer, Art Buchwald won his case against Paramount Pictures and was awarded $150,000 after successfully arguing the theft of his script.
I’ve provided some links of cases whereby lawsuits were filed against studios (many more continue to be filed):
Case Study 4: The Purge
Case Study 5: Pirates of the Caribbean
Case Study 6: G.I. Joe: Retaliation
Case Study 7: Zootopia
Will your amazing logline lead to a sale? If your logline catches the attention of the reader then there’s a chance they’ll request to read your entire screenplay… well, I tell a lie, they’ll likely read the first ten pages if you’re lucky and then they’ll dump it in the trash. Of course, if it’s really good then they’ll flick to the end to see how it finishes. If they like it at that point then you’re in with a shout!
How to copyright your work: The WGA (Writer’s Guild of America) is a registry database to establish completion dates of your work. Once registered you are given a numbered certificate as proof of ownership of the written material, which can then serve as a legal document in court. As such, the document should be stored safely should the need arise whereby you are required to submit the date and time of recording.
The registration is valid for five years, which can be renewed for an additional five year period upon expiration.
A logline serves as your pitch to anyone important enough to make your film into a reality. Beyond the pitch, you need a killer script. But that’s for another day, another blog.
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For subscribers, there's more...
THE ULTIMATE 1980s FILM: Part 10 – The Final
The day has arrived to reveal all the finalists competing for your vote to become known as the ultimate 1980s film.
The journey to get to this juncture has been as much difficult for me in having to deliberate and toil over the ones that never quite made it into the top 10, as it was for some of you having to choose between favourites in the same category.
To all of you casting votes and walking alongside me as we approach the conclusion to this series, I want to say thank you! You have made a tougher than expected process a heck of a lot easier. The sheer amount of time it takes to produce the subscriber related videos that have gone with some of the parts to this series is exhausting. Not to mention the time put into the research that has preceded the creation of the series blog. This is especially since I've been back in the classroom these past two weeks (feels like six!), which has been extremely challenging.
For me, film is as much a category deserving of recognition as any other written piece across any platform, and your visits to the likes of Seth's posts such as the one he did on Tenet, and Nick's observations on Three Great Movies from the Last Five Years... means a great deal. Long may all that continue fellow creators, readers and followers!
PLEASE USE THE FORM AT THE END TO CAST YOUR VOTE. IT'S AS EASY AS 'CLICK AND SUBMIT' – Thank you!
Now, on with the show! The line up is as follows:
FATAL ATTRACTION
The thriller genre kicked off the series with Fatal Attraction demonstrating the dangers of adultery. Rising divorce rates in the late 1970s and 80s provided the context for this film to resonate with the audience.
TRADING PLACES
Incredibly close, with one vote separating the winner from Coming to America and National Lampoons Vacation. Reagan's economic policy spurred on the nation to seek out their fortune, giving rise to the yuppie culture and connecting with audiences in need of a rags to riches narrative.
RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK
A runaway winner, and a worthy one too. What's so great about the hero in this instance is the fact that Indiana Jones is not a professional operative, but instead a college professor with a hobby in artefacts. The moment they made him some sort of secret ops agent in the last instalment is when the magic of his character dissipated! Spielberg's finest films were from earlier on in his career... or is that one up for debate too?!
GHOSTBUSTERS
The title I guess everyone was scratching their heads over as to why it hadn't featured in previous rounds. It was always going to appear, but the difficulty was where. I was happy to see Big Trouble in Little China and Rain Man give a good fist of it, but a giant marshmallow summoned to destroy the city only to be taken down by a team of unlikely heroes ran away with it in the end!
BACK TO THE FUTURE
A few contentious decisions it would seem when picking the winner out of this category. While Back to the Future won outright, other titles might feel slighted by virtue of being a more rounded as a genre piece. However, BTTF remains a timeless classic, resonating with spectators for its ability to connect with all ages.
THE GOONIES
Hey you guys! The most popular genre with the most engagement saw a very tight race with the gang just about edging out One Eyed Willy for the treasure and a run to the final. This one could quite as easily ventured into the action adventure genre if it wasn't so heavily based on a gang of teenagers.
A NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET
This round split the majority featured in the top ten. For a time there were about five films at one stage tied! 'One, two, Freddy's coming for you...' and boy did he! Freddy Kruger beat them all out in the end to take home the crown of best 80s horror. It competes with Hellraiser for launching the most sequels and setting in motion the age of the franchise.
DIRTY DANCING
Overwhelming is what I would describe the results of this one. Though fewest voted – perhaps saying something about my readership, or people's care for the romance genre – in either case, Dirty Dancing is a firm favourite of the category. There's a documentary out there about the hardship of trying to get this film made – good job someone eventually took the plunge as it was a monster hit!
DIE HARD
Eliot Ness gave a good fight against John McClane, but it was ultimately the one-man underdog that came out on top in this round. You can never put a good man down even when he fails to bring a pair of shoes to a gunfight. Once touted as a vehicle for Frank Sinatra, Die hard arguably not only made Bruce Willis's career, but became the movie to influence a change in the action genre.
You know what to do! Please choose from the list and submit your vote. Your participation is greatly appreciated.
https://forms.gle/MkgBkbsWRcxhoB7q9
Check back next Sunday where I will reveal the winner and declare The Ultimate 1980s Film!
If you would like to check out each part of the series then please click on their links (please note, voting for these rounds has closed):
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Posters featured in the header can be found on IMDB.
THE ULTIMATE 1980s FILM: Part 9 – Wildcard!
This week is about all those films that fell between the folds of each genre being disputed. It's only right that they too are afforded a fair crack at the title.
We're here to put a microscope over the eighties classics to determine which of its fine products will go through to the final and compete with other genre winners.
As always, your participation is greatly appreciated by casting your vote via the form at the end of this article for each round. It will be interesting to see how the community stacks up against my personal choice. If you're unsure then take a look at their respective trailers and pick one – it's all in good fun. I will reveal the winner of the online community choice in each of the following week's genre rounds. **You can find the winner of last week's genre – action- at the end of this article.
**
I apologise in advance if any of the films you thought are deserving of being included in each list are not featured.
Each film is accompanied with a trailer and a short blurb about the narrative. No spoilers in this one folks! In no particular order:
Stand By Me (Reiner, 1986)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jaiZ6ZQoO-Y
This coming-of-age drama trails after four friends on a hike to find the body of a missing boy. Told as a flashback, the narrator evokes a time of nostalgia and loss during a time of innocence. The boys are 12 and missed the category of the teen genre, hence it's inclusion here.
The Princess Bride (Reiner, 1987)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WNNUcHRiPS8
Director, Reiner makes the list once more, this time for a fairytale-like narrative that's as much action-packed as it is ingenious in it's humour. I was asked if this should have appeared in the romance genre... it has pirates, giants and torture. Romance? Inconceivable!
Gremlins (Dante, 1984)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gd20j2Hb-0Y
Gizmo is a unique creature. Cute and compassionate. But there are rules to abide by, and ones that should come with risk assessment forms to sign! It doesn't like bright lights. Don't ever get it wet. But most of all, you shouldn't feed it after midnight. Horror? Comedy? Fantasy?
Rain Man (Levinson, 1988)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w5oGOhPcyvw
Charlie has a brother he never knew existed until his father passes and the details are exposed during the settling of the estate. Unhappy that the bulk of the trust is given to Raymond, an autistic man, Charlie kidnaps him to gain control of money. This one is touching and funny. How many toothpicks fell to the floor? Ask Raymond! Want to take down a casino? Take Raymond with you!
Mississippi Burning (Parker, 1988)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SUtlJwfNEtI
Thought provoking and chilling. This drama has outstanding performances and a narrative that will get under your skin such is the crime being investigated by our two FBI agents tracking the disappearance of three civil rights workers.
Big Trouble in Little China (Carpenter, 1986)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bmug65rbHh0
This one packs a punch! Martial arts, ancient sorcery and monsters. What a combination... Oh, and not to mention Kurt Russell on top form, helping to bring laughs and thrills as a trucker who gets caught up in a case of mistaken identity and a subsequent gauntlet to rescue his friend's fiancée! It's all in the reflexes!
Pale Rider (Eastwood, 1985)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SGzz3hh1jHc
A group of small-time gold miners befriend a gun-slinging preacher who looks to help them fend off a property owner hellbent on driving them out of town. Referencing the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse, Eastwood stars and directs in this action-tale as the title character armed with a strong piece of hickory!
Ghostbusters (Reitman, 1984)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wQAljlSmjC8
And you thought I left this out from the Super Sunday Showdown series?! How could I? Is this a comedy? Supernatural horror? I couldn't quite pin it down into one of the conventional categories hence its position here. Any Gozer-worshippers in the house?
Beetlejuice (Burton, 1988)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GuyNP-XyFHs
Another entry flirting with the dimensions of horror and comedy, Beetlejuice marks perhaps Burton's finest film – care to argue that one? Keaton plays the titular character whose name spoken three times summons him to 'life'. Beetlejuice, Beetljuice, Beetlejui...
Over the Top (Golan, 1987)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l_qa_mLrQmY
Stallone plays a trucker who looks to mend the relationship with his son of whom he's estranged from. On the way, they bond over arm wrestling! Yes, this is a film about arm wrestling and it's awesome! Lincoln Hawk's a long shot, but when he turns his thumb in, don't bet against him!
Please choose from the list and submit your vote. Your participation is greatly appreciated.
https://forms.gle/bkgmnWVHJbvnsBQ2A
Check back next Sunday for the results of the online community choice, and for *the final!*
The winner of the online community vote for the 'action' genre: RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK
Are you a content creator, but not getting paid for the time and effort of your work? Why don't you give Coil a try? It's an ad-free experience with lots of exclusive features. You can sign up to the platform for just $5 a month and start earning today.
Posters featured in the header can be found on IMDB.
THE ULTIMATE 1980s FILM: Part 8 – Action
The genre has a universal tongue that excites the audience with high impact stunts and pyrotechnics, giving us more bang for our buck!
We're here to put a microscope over the eighties classics to determine which of its fine products will go through to the final and compete with other genre winners.
As always, your participation is greatly appreciated by casting your vote via the form at the end of this article for each round. It will be interesting to see how the community stacks up against my personal choice. If you're unsure then take a look at their respective trailers and pick one – it's all in good fun. I will reveal the winner of the online community choice in each of the following week's genre rounds. **You can find the winner of last week's genre – cop- at the end of this article.
**
I apologise in advance if any of the films you thought are deserving of being included in each list are not featured.
Some Rationale For Being Included On The List
The action genre is unlike any other whereby any spectator understands the two sides pitted against each other within the narrative. There is predominantly one concept at play – good vs bad. The costumes would often give clues with lighter colours suggestive of innocence, while darker colours offer the opposite, allowing us to clearly root for the hero.
Often, overtly heroes would be outnumbered, but never outclassed, by the opposition and come face-to-face with the main villain of the piece to conclude the narrative to leave the spectator with an ear-to-ear grin, hollering for more.
Action and action / adventure films offered the spectator immense satisfaction for their over the top violence and our need to have the hero rescue the damsel in distress, or save mankind from evil doers. The genre helped to align our moral compass to the side of good, and helped to shape our beliefs to fit in with western ideals.
Each film is accompanied with a trailer and a short blurb about the narrative. No spoilers in this one folks! In no particular order:
Commando (Lester, 1985)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LstTppLtJ8U
John Matrix is ex-special forces looking to rescue his daughter who is taken from him during a siege on his mountain retreat. If ever there was a definition of a one man army then he is it! Schwarzenegger plays the hero with a distaste for peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, and armed with a duffel bag full of one liners. What were you expecting?
Red Dawn (Milius, 1984)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mRTzUHmx9ZA
Who'd have thought you'd be able to invade the U.S.?! The Soviet Union and it's Cuban allies that's who! When NATO is disbanded, it's up to high school friends to form a rebellious front to fend off the invasion and take back their country. Patrick Swayze and Jennifer Grey together for the first time, assisted by an array of 1980s mega young stars taken by surprise when the first enemy soldiers parachute down onto their school grounds to kick off the action in the first reel. WOLVERINES!
Top Gun (Scott, 1986)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xa_z57UatDY
Pete 'Maverick' Mitchell is gunning for the TOPGUN trophy on getting the chance to train at the Naval Fighter Weapons School. It gets very real for Maverick, when he's put to the test in a series of life and death dogfights featuring some incredible aerial stunts – no CGI planes in this one folks! Will the list of call-signs such as Goose (poor fella), Iceman and Viper, Top Gun serves up the need for speed. It was either this or Iron Eagle – remember that one with Louis Gossett Jr.? That one came out in the same year and was overshadowed by Cruise's volleyball match.
Midnight Run (Brest, 1988)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=khVFiUShfR8
If you've not seen this then please do yourselves a favour and search it out. Robert De Niro plays a bounty hunter, Jack Walsh, who's after The Duke – an accountant whose stolen a large chunk of money from the mob. Jack has five days to make it happen – it's a midnight run for crissakes, what could go wrong? With the FBI, the mob and another bounty hunter on their trail, Jack and The Duke have their own plains, trains and automobiles adventure packed with thrills and action. You'll want some Chorizo and egg on watching this. You'll see!
Raiders of the Lost Ark (Spielberg, 1981)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XkkzKHCx154
It had to make it on the list at some point, right? Harrison Ford is Indiana Jones, an archaeologist in search for the long-lost ark of the covenant before the Nazi army get their hands on it and wreak havoc on the world. This one is face melting stuff that will have you reaching for the popcorn and giggling with satisfaction
Highlander (Mulcahy, 1986)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=omOZyLmNMJs
Christopher Lambert plays Connor MacLeod, an immortal... unless you lose your head, who competes for The Prize whereby all like him must do battle to the death until there is one left. Sean Connery is his mentor, as the story is told through a series of flashbacks that spans centuries. In the end, 'There can be only one.'
First Blood (Kotcheff, 1982)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IAqLKlxY3Eo
John Rambo, played by Sylvester Stallone, is a Vietnam War veteran looking to reconnect with an old friend only to find out that he passed away a year earlier. Beleaguered, misunderstood and isolated, Rambo is sadistically bullied by a town sheriff and his deputies where he escapes to the mountain forest and uses his combat survival skills to evade capture. There's a lot of heart and drama in this one that's absolutely worth your time.
The Running Man (Glaser, 1987)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pkAN5rGGP1M
Television reality show The Running Man, features criminals 'running' for their lives from professional killers in the hope of winning their freedom. Ben Richards is framed for murder and is entered into the game where he looks to expose the truth and win his life back in an explosive action film starring Schwarzenegger wearing yellow spandex. More killer one liners makes this lots of fun.
Platoon (Stone, 1987)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hGsyEkfjhQk
Oliver Stone lets rip in this one, exposing the horrors of war and the deceit of their superiors. The use of Adagio for Strings is ingenious to tug at our hearts on watching THAT moment. It couldn't have worked anywhere near as well had you not invested in the characters before it happens.
Predator (McTiernan, 1987)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X2hBYGwKh3I
Schwarzenegger really did corner the market with Stallone in the same way Dwayne Johnson holds court today within the action genre. This time, Dutch is part of an elite mercenary rescue team looking to save hostages in Central America. Unfortunately for the team, they didn't count on a crab-like alien monster hunting them down for sport! I was caught in two minds as to whether this should have been categorised as science fiction, but decided to place it here in the end. The obligatory one-liners make it here too, of which, one features in my daughter's movie quotes – watch it and see which line it is.
Please choose from the list and submit your vote. Your participation is greatly appreciated.
https://forms.gle/sFiAXMvckNTfm8AK8
Check back next Sunday for the results of the online community choice, and for part 9 of the series, last round before the final! It's a wildcard mystery round so make sure you visit the post when it's released next Sunday – you're not gonna want to miss that one!
The winner of the online community vote for the 'comedy' genre: TRADING PLACES
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*Posters featured in the header can be found on IMDB.
*
For those of you with a subscription please do continue where I explore a key theory situated around character types...
THE ULTIMATE 1980s FILM: Part 7 – Comedy
No genre is more subjective than comedy, which comes in all forms. From slapstick to dry wit, laughter is earned.
We're here to put a microscope over the eighties classics to determine which of its fine products will go through to the final and compete with other genre winners.
As always, your participation is greatly appreciated by casting your vote via the form at the end of this article for each round. It will be interesting to see how the community stacks up against my personal choice. If you're unsure then take a look at their respective trailers and pick one – it's all in good fun. I will reveal the winner of the online community choice in each of the following week's genre rounds. **You can find the winner of last week's genre – cop- at the end of this article.
**
I apologise in advance if any of the films you thought are deserving of being included in each list are not featured.
Some Rationale For Being Included On The List
Genre films often reflect their time period within their narratives and comedy is no different. When Regan came to power in 1980, he immediately set about to put an end to the gloomy nature of the previous decade. By reinvigorating the economy, he made people dream once more of bigger and better. And so was born the yuppie (Young Urban Professional).
These young people are usually well-paid, working a good profession and living in the city. They would show off their affluence through their 'preppy' appearance and would like to let others know of their success. With a nation on the mend economically, narratives would explore the trappings of success sending clear messages to educate audiences on what they too could strive to achieve with some hard work in a free world.
What's interesting about comedy based films is how the great ones would explore serious subject matter with humour and a good dose of 'heart' to instil positive values on never judging a book by its cover.
Each film is accompanied with a trailer and a short blurb about the narrative. No spoilers in this one folks! In no particular order:
National Lampoons Vacation (Ramis, 1983)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FHThGmVfE3A
The film that introduced us to the Griswold family and redefined the road trip. Clark Griswold wants to spend more time with his two children and wife so embarks on a cross-country expedition to Walley World, America's fun-filled family theme park. Cue a series of mishaps and misadventures that will have you cringing with laughter all the way .... Holiday Ro-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oad!
Plains, Trains and Automobiles (Hughes, 1987)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VWGqGHMO294
“Those aren't pillows!” Another road movie from writer and director John Hughes. Only this time, it pairs two opposites in Neal Page (Steve Martin) and Del Griffith (John Candy) who share numerous vehicles to get to Chicago in time for the Thanksgiving holidays. There's a heartwarming and memorable ending to this one that's always stuck with me.
See No Evil, Hear No Evil (Hiller, 1989)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t_geoGvIuek
Regular pairing, Gene Wilder and Richard Pryor take on the challenge to convince the audience one is deaf and the other is blind in this hilarious caper whereby our hapless duo look to thwart murderous thieves. “Fuzzy wuzzy was a woman.”
Dirty Rotten Scoundrels (Oz, 1988)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ke-v0e3Cd4
A remake of Bedtime Story starring Marlon Brando and David Niven, the film follows two con men looking to swindle a heiress from her $50,000. While Michael Caine plays the suave and sophisticated Lawrence, Steve Martin is the less refined Freddy in need of educating in the art of grifting. A series of laugh out loud moments will have you in tears as it did Martin's character as tables turn and the mentee looks to take on the mentor at his own game. Ruprecht anyone?
The Burbs (Dante, 1989)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qg7RpL3kTBk
Ray Peterson is about to start a week-long vacation, and wants to spend it lazing around the house. Instead of being able to relax, he is urged on by his neighbours who suspect the Klopeks who recently moved in next door to Ray of murder. When old man Walter disappears overnight, Ray and his friends set in motion to prove that skeletons exist in the basement of their new neighbours. Anyone for “Sardine?”
Airplane (Zucker, Abrahams, Zucker, 1980)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=07pPmCfKi3U
With no one else to fly the plane, it's up to Ted Striker, a traumatised war veteran and ex-fighter pilot to navigate through the oddball passenger appearances and a storm threatening to take down the plane whilst trying to win back his girlfriend who is one of the flight attendants. A parody of the disaster film genre, Airplane flies high on the slapstick gags and puns with a terrific cast of cameos and references to many films before it to keep you on your toes.
Coming to America (Landis, 1988)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KFroCRDXw5E
Eddie Murphy plays a prince of a fictional country called Zamunda who goes in search to find a wife in America to the borough of Queens. Concealing his wealth, he lowers his social standing to work at a MacDonald's style restaurant where he falls for the daughter of the owner of his workplace. A fish out of water fairytale that's funny as much as it's sweet.
Trading Places (Landis, 1983)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vEaXAsbvHV4
A social experiment by two Commodity Brokers who hold opposing views on the issue of nature versus nurture sends their top man, Louis Winthorpe III (Dan Aykroyd) into a downward spiral and in his place, a low-class street hustler, Billy Ray Valentine (Eddie Murphy) into their most successful Broker. When the two find out about the deceit, they concoct a plan of their own to get even. Do you short sell frozen concentrated orange or pork bellies?
Big (Marshall, 1988)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BGDTNhHYJ94
When Josh Baskin can't get on a roller coaster ride because he's too small, he makes a wish on an arcade machine to be big. Waking up in the body of an adult, Josh must navigate his way through the tough city streets and quickly learn what life is like as a grown up. With a girlfriend and a high flying fun job, Josh must make the choice whether to continue this life or go back as a kid again. Raise you hands up if you don't get it.
Brewster's Millions (Hill, 1985)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8wNqNO3jqkk
Based on the novel of the same name, Monty Brewster (Richard Pryor) takes on the challenge of spending $30 million in 30 days in order to claim his true inheritance of $300 million, or else lose all of it. With many clauses and rules in the deal on what he can and can't spend it on, he could take a cool $1 million and walk away. With the law firm handling the transaction, they want Monty to fail, as they will be the beneficiary of the haul. Cue lots of double cross and hilarity in watching Monty go from rags to riches to, well, you'll have to watch it to find out! VOTE FOR NONE OF THE ABOVE!
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**Check back next Sunday for the results of the online community choice, and for part 8 of the series, the 'action / action adventure' genre.
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The winner of the online community vote for the 'science fiction' genre: BACK TO THE FUTURE
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Posters featured in the header can be found on IMDB.
For those of you with a subscription please do continue where I explore a key theory situated around structure...
John Williams
The composer behind many of Spielberg's films, John Williams has established himself as perhaps the godfather of film music.
With 162 composer credits (at the time of writing) and more Oscar nominations than anyone to date (52), it's no surprise then that he also holds the record for the most Oscar wins as a film composer with 5. As if that wasn't enough, he also holds the Guinness World Record for best selling single of instrumental music for, you guessed it, Star Wars (1977).
Securing his first Oscar for Fiddler on the Roof (1971), Williams hasn't looked back. His other four wins are for: Jaws (1975); Star Wars (1977); E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial (1982); Schindler's List (1992).
When looking at his portfolio, his collaboration with Spielberg is staggering, composing 28 of his 57 directing credits. In fact, their first collaboration was for Spielberg's feature film directorial debut, The Sugarland Express (1974), and the rest as they say is history.
While many of his themes are world famous and recognisable, my intention is to shed light onto perhaps lesser known tracks within these films. Jaws became arguably the first film to launch the summer blockbuster craze and has gone on to achieve critical and commercial acclaim. The music is recognisable by its two-note ostinato, thrilling audiences in as much as it's synonymous with the ramping up of anxiety as the silent danger encroaches.
From the film, the track, 'Preparing the Cage' is a personal favourite of mine. It takes the two-note concept and builds in layers to create a piece of music that creates excitement rather than dread or fear. I would often play this track before going in for interviews or any other task that would test my nerves to the hilt. It worked every time in developing confidence to replace my anxiety with focused determination. If you listen to one piece of music from Williams please let it be this.
JAWS: Preparing the Cage
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zUqqAdxLEy0
It offers a triumphant angle with brass and strings working rhythmically, as our heroic trio embark on their final journey together against what I would suggest is the ultimate cinematic villain of all time.
The heroic trio from differing experiences, unique in voice and authority, band together to demonstrate a camaraderie that has the spectator behind them all the way. There is a sense of danger in the repeated notes to remind us of Williams's overall main theme. The build up is designed to position the spectator at the crest of a wave, as we enter the final act of the film.
Having attended Julliard's School of Music, Williams would draw on his skills to create unforgettable pieces situated around classical compositions often featuring the aforementioned ostinati. It's no wonder then that the composer took Carol of the Bells and applied his arrangement to it when scoring Home Alone (1990).
As with 'Preparing the Cage', Williams successfully evokes feelings of excitement and anticipation in creating a piece of music to the 'Setting the Trap' montage sequence where our hero prepares to do battle.
HOME ALONE: Setting the Trap
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rgEP1niScLc
The repeated rhythm begins with a serious tone to herald in a new phase, overcoming his fears to one that's designed to build anticipation and belief. As with the majority of Hollywood storytelling, there is a major plot point at the end of the second act whereby the hero has an 'all is lost moment', as explored by Christopher Vogler's Hero's Journey (which was adapted from Joseph Campbell's The Hero with a Thousand Faces).
Kevin undergoes his cycle from the hero's journey to take on the burglars. The music plays a vital role in establishing Kevin's courage to see his arc through, as we step over into the final act of the film. The repeated motif of the ostinati with percussion allows for Kevin's transition from 'down and out' into one that has the spectator anticipating in excitement a battle that turns out to be in the vein of a Tom and Jerry cartoon. The notes are playful and the wind instruments chime in to offer a fantastical element to proceedings along with a feeling of hope, or belief. A belief that Kevin experiences, overcoming his 'all is lost moment', much like the trio in Jaws before preparing that cage.
Williams' first collaboration with Spielberg is worth mentioning in that it really did start a 'romance' between the two colleagues that still exists today. Made during the 1970s, the film explores a couple trying to outrun the law. That in itself is very much capturing the zeitgeist of the time where society was being positioned to conform to authoritarian rule. A mistrust of authority from the events of the 1970s is manifested not only in the narrative, but that of the film's main music theme.
THE SUGARLAND EXPRESS : Main Theme
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nCnq0QfXWac
There are sombre notes to reflect the characters' struggles. The harmonica is a 'lonely' instrument in so much that it tends to be associated with generating feelings of sadness or defiance in the right context. Our hero is on the back foot with seemingly the entire state police force in pursuit as she looks to reclaim her son who is about to be placed into foster care. The strings crescendo, even for a brief moment to offer the spectator a feeling of hope for the hero in dark times. There's a sense of triumph against authority in the arrangement.
Header image by Felix Mooneeram
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For those with a subscription, please continue where I discuss Vogler's The Hero's Journey.
PROJECT POWER (2020)
Brisk pacing and well-staged action set pieces makes this a fun-filled popcorn film in the vein of the X-Men, demonstrating Netflix’s own power to play with the big boys and hold their own.
Directed by the duo team of Henry Joost and Ariel Schulman, both most famous for the Catfish documentary, Project Power gives them an opportunity to cut their cloth thanks to Netflix taking a chance on providing a platform for less mainstream fare. Written as an original piece by relative newcomer Mattson Tomlin (The Batman), the film is a vehicle that showcases the talent of the trio, which have another feature announced based on the best-selling video game Mega Man.
A new drug in the form of a pill called Power gives its user untold abilities that lasts for five minutes. Cue a series of impressive action sequences involving some inventive superhuman powers to get the excitement levels up. Unfortunately, some pills might have an adverse effect resulting in death. A tough pill to swallow for some!
Jamie Foxx plays Art, an ex-army ranger experimented on and in search of his missing daughter who has been kidnapped by shadowy villains. His investigations lead him to a vulnerable teenager Robin, played by Dominique Fishback who turns in an impressive ‘mainstream’ performance. Robin is a pusher looking to sell on these power pills on the streets of New Orleans. She also plays as an informant for New Orleans Police detective, Frank (Joseph Gordan-Levitt). Frank’s not exactly clean, taking the drug himself to give him an edge, or at least to even the odds against the criminals he goes after hopped up on power. When tasked to locate and apprehend Art who is believed to hold the source to the power, it leads to our trio facing off and in need to band together.
There’s just enough breathing space between the action set-pieces to allow the performances of the three main characters to crackle with enough chemistry to make you care for them and their quest. While the setting of the final act is a somewhat overused, it should not detract from the spectacle being offered up to its audience. There are also shards of social commentary explored in the relationship between Art and Robin, as well as Frank’s damnation of the handling of the tragedy in New Orleans some years back.
Dominique Fishback gives the audience a fleshed-out character that’s tough and vulnerable, playing the teenager caught behind county lines. A prominent feature in todays society, the term explores how vulnerable school children can often become prey to drug dealers looking for pushers to sell their ‘merchandise’ to people within their community.
A diverse cast adds weight to Netflix’s values as a platform far ahead of Hollywood and keeping big studios on their toes. Do you need to see this on the big screen? No, but then home entertainment systems today are giving their consumers value for their money. Should you see it? If a mix of action, drama and science fiction are your thing then you could do a lot worse!
Project Power is out now on Netflix
VERDICT: *3/5*
Director: Henry Joost and Ariel Schulman
Writer: Mattson Tomlin
Cast: Jamie Foxx; Joseph Gordon-Levitt; Dominique Fishback; Amy Landecker
Company: Netflix
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Header image by Giorgio Trovato
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