To Live and Die in L.A.

80s Drama
4 Stars

Solid, solid work here. Surprisingly, the Wang Chung soundtrack, which was such a huge selling point when the movie was originally released, both does and does not hold up. Sometimes it sounds like cheese, and sometimes it seems to be proudly holding up the era. Petersen is a little tough to take sometimes with his bowlegged attempt at hip, but Dafoe does not disappoint. This is gritty L.A. filmmaking. Wonderfully shot.

Suburbia

80s Drama
3.5 stars

I was surprised by this film. First, by how stiff some of the acting was. But then, as I got deeper, at how well this film seemed to capture being 14-17 years old, feeling like an outcast and living like one. It's also a solid commentary on early 80s California, not too dissimilar from Repo Man (but not nearly as polished) with great live documentary-style footage of a couple bands of the era. Definitely took me back. Yeah, this is the one with a young Flea. And his rat.

Clean Slate

Coup de Torchon
French
80s Drama
James Thompson
4.5 stars

So much a better Thompson production than The Killer Inside Me, this French film is a scary story about a cop in Senegal who becomes comfortable with killing his foes. Shot very urgently. Highly recommended.

The Tin Drum

80s Drama (borderline 70s/80s)
4 stars

This is actually a stunning film when one considers the scope, although without question it is disturbing. The child who refuses to get bigger is an amazing storytelling device, although the sheer creepiness around it was tough to take. Recommended.

Wrong Is Right

80s Drama
3 stars

A very prescient satire, but the movie is a little tweaked out. Connery good, although would this movie be so highly regarded had 9/11 not gone down?

Miracle Mile

80s Drama
2 stars
L.A. in the 80s. Nuclear war fear. Mare Winningham has a mullet.