Comments on: Top Secret! I Love the 80s

By: Johanna

Johanna — Mon, 02 Feb 2009 23:50:14 +0000

I liked Vampire in Brooklyn because I thought Murphy made a surprisingly good magnetic vampire.

And yeah, Dan, I’m not eager to run out and watch The Accused again, let alone own it. But Tucker, that I’d like to see again, and its story of corporate striving seems well-suited to the 80s.

By: Dan Coyle

Dan Coyle — Mon, 02 Feb 2009 21:48:23 +0000

Also kind of stretching it: Tucker: the Man and His Dream, and Ordinary People?

By: Dan Coyle

Dan Coyle — Mon, 02 Feb 2009 21:47:14 +0000

Wait, The Accused? A good film, and a film of the 80s, but it’s also a deeply disturbing story about rape. Under an “I love the 80s” banner, the cognitivie dissonance is kind of astounding.

By: David Oakes

David Oakes — Mon, 02 Feb 2009 16:51:59 +0000

Sorry, Tim, I wasn’t being clear. Being a concert film, “Raw” is in a different class, and a totally different side of Murphy. Both it and a thetrical film would be neccessary to encompass his ouvre, and hence the 80s. (Harlem Nights would be superfluous, except that it has Richard Pryor, and really, what more reason do you need.)

TP and 48H are Eddie Murphy playing Eddie Murphy, while Golden Child is the culmination of actual acting and character growth that was hinted at in BHC. Bowfinger should probably match it if not excced it, but I simply refuse to accept “Hollywood insider” movies on their own merits. Too self-indulgent, like books about writers.

Vampire is no Golden Child, or even BHC. Though it is better than Coming to America. Actually it is CtA, but with Wes Craven directing. I am not sure they even had to get new scripts. (Full disclosure, I actually enjoyed Dracula 2000 on an intellectual level.)

By: Tim O'Shea

Tim O'Shea — Mon, 02 Feb 2009 14:23:41 +0000

Heh, Draper Carlson wins…again.

Looking at that cast I am shocked–Angela Bassett!?!
http://amazon.imdb.com/title/tt0114825/

Directed by Wes Craven…also featuring Joanna Cassidy (among several other talented actors)

Never saw it, but now I have a morbid curiosity to drive by the car wreck.

By: Johanna

Johanna — Mon, 02 Feb 2009 12:30:46 +0000

I guess I shouldn’t be surprised no one has mentioned Vampire in Brooklyn.

By: Tim O'Shea

Tim O'Shea — Mon, 02 Feb 2009 07:23:51 +0000

David, I didn’t explain myself clearly enough for you. I meant I understood including Raw in the above list, but saw no reason to include Golden Child. They are both on the list, I saw a reason for one, not for the other. That’s all.

We’ll have to agree to disagree, I guess, as I enjoyed Trading Places, 48 HRS, Bowfinger and Beverly Hills Cop far more than I ever did Golden Child.

By: The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad! » Comics Worth Reading

The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad! » Comics Worth Reading — Mon, 02 Feb 2009 01:21:48 +0000

[...] I had an advance copy, and since I watched Top Secret! yesterday, I figured I’d go ahead and complete the Zucker/Abrahams/Zucker trilogy (memorably [...]

By: David Oakes

David Oakes — Sun, 01 Feb 2009 21:52:08 +0000

“Golden Child” may just be Eddie Murphy’s best theatrical film. (“Raw” is a concert film. It’s like trying to compare “Richard Pryor: Live” to “Brewster’s Millions”. Meaningless.) Damning by faint praise to be sure, but there you go.

It also features Charles Dance, who could even make “Last Action Hero” look good. Really what we need is a “I [Heart] Charles Dance proping up some supposedly Bankable Star” DVD collection.

By: Johanna

Johanna — Sun, 01 Feb 2009 20:30:35 +0000

Oh, I’m glad you like them! Variety keeps me more interested — talking about only one thing would bore me. And that doesn’t make for good writing.

By: Tim O'Shea

Tim O'Shea — Sun, 01 Feb 2009 19:53:45 +0000

I was so hoping you would leave the “complimentary copy” info off, just to see people blow a gasket.

In what universe would anyone want to see Golden Child again? Raw? Sure. But Golden Child?–I think I enjoyed Leonard Part VI more.

Staying Alive? The horrible Saturday Night Fever sequel–how did that film even stay on the DVD in the burning process? Is some secret plot by Tom Cruise to revitalize John Travolta’s 1980s lackluster film catalog–where’s Perfect then? :)

But Top Secret? The Ford Pinto scene makes this film a classic, if nothing else. And I want to own that giant phone some day.

I love when you deviate from comics reviews, Johanna. I appreciate all your reviews, but to gain insight into your other likes/dislikes (as well as KC’s and the rest of the CWR gang, of course) is a bonus.

By: Caster

Caster — Sun, 01 Feb 2009 17:13:34 +0000

I didn’t know whether to gawk at the YouTube video or laugh…