The Essential Eighties Movie Guide

Today we're going to talk about movies. I don't mean just any movies, I'm talking about Hollywood's mini-golden age. That's right, the 'eighties, the age of Ringwald and Sheedy, Estevez and Sheen. You are all laughing now, but that's fine, you're just unenlightened. Once you have been exposed to my list of fifteen absolutely cannot miss movies, well, the cards and letters will just pour in, thanking me for saving your dreary little lives. The following films are not in any particular order and I don't have any thoughts on which you ought to see first, though seeing them all at once might be interesting. At any rate, here we go kids, and as the old joke says, hold onto your hat we may wind up miles from here.

Valley Girl : The one that started it all. My first eighties romantic comedy. Not to mention the finest work Nicholas Cage has ever done, forget Leaving Las Vegas, his portrayal of a New Wave kid with bad hair puts him in the pantheon of eighties greats. I could easily fill the entire column raving about this one, but that wouldn't be fair to the others. So let's...crush...that...fly!

Say Anything : John Cusack, cinematic God or mere mortal with extraordinary talent? You be the judge. You have to love a movie where the hero's main goals consist of becoming a kickboxer and a house-husband, in no particular order. So many scenes, so little time.

Can't Buy Me Love : My first experience with the 'nerd gets the girl' concept of filmaking. This movie crushed a lot of worlds when nerds actually went after girls. The film has it all, though - comedy, romance and biting social commentary as well. The last scene when Amanda Peterson puts on the hat is well worth the price of admission all by itself.

About Last Night : All I can say about this one is that is one of two Rob Lowe movies I can stand to watch (the other being Youngblood). Since I couldn't very well have an eighties list without Rob and I never got to see his home videos, About Last Night gets the nod.