Can someone tell me what the best movie of the 80's is?

[glumpy_99]

Probably THE UNTOUCHABLES (1987), not only because in my estimation it is one of the most slam-banging entertaining films ever made (and opinions may vary but Morricone's soundtrack is also one of the best), but also because of its delightfully old-fashioned feel, exemplified by Connery's wonderful old-school performance. It's also distinctive as marking De Palma's first film that really feels like it comes from him, rather than quoting Hitchcock. Plus in a decade where main-stream film-makers were fearful of utilising wide screen filming processes for fear of being butchered by pan and scan for video, De Palma lets it all hang out and takes full advantage of the wide aspect ratio.

Any of the following would also be acceptable (and truth be told there are buckets of films from the 80s that I admire greatly):

A Fish Called Wanda (1988)
Another Woman (1988)
Back to the Future (1985)
Blade Runner (1982)
Body Heat (1981)
Do The Right Thing (1989)
E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (1982)
Hannah and Her Sisters (1986)
Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989)
My Dinner with Andre (1981)
Prizzi's Honor (1985)
Secret Honor (1984)
Sophie's Choice (1982)
Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back (1980)
Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi (1983)
The Fabulous Baker Boys (1989)
The King of Comedy (1983)
The Last Emperor (1987)
The Last Temptation of Christ (1988)
The Mosquito Coast (1986)
The War of the Roses (1989)
Tootsie (1982)
Wall Street (1987)
Who Framed Roger Rabbit (1988)
Witness (1985)
Zelig (1983)

[Stewball]

The Mosquito Coast (1986)

So if I was to single that one out here and condemn it to the fires of hell for being idiotic, I would thus be relegated for derision due to its being idiotic by association?

[ShogunRua]

It's also distinctive as marking De Palma's first film that really feels like it comes from him, rather than quoting Hitchcock.

Phantom of the Paradise (1974)?! And I believe he was quoting Howard Hawks with Scarface (1983), not Hitchcock...

[Gregzilla]

Off the top of my head:

Blade Runner & Good Fellas.

Looking at my ratings as a reminder:

Grave of the Fireflies, Brazil and Full Metal Jacket.

[CMonster]

Goodfellas is 1990. Otherwise it would have topped my list of best movie from the 80's.

[Gregzilla]

Goodfellas is 1990. Otherwise it would have topped my list of best movie from the 80's.

Ah...Well, Make that the best movie of the 90s then

I tend to associate "Come & See" as 1970s for some reason also. But I'd recommend it as well.

[glumpy_99]

It's also distinctive as marking De Palma's first film that really feels like it comes from him, rather than quoting Hitchcock.

Phantom of the Paradise (1974)?! And I believe he was quoting Howard Hawks with Scarface (1983), not Hitchcock...

Got me there! Haven't seen PHANTOM yet but THE UNTOUCHABLES certainly wasn't his first film to lack homage to Hitchcock, plus there was that rather subtle homage included to Eisenstein. Not one of the most insightful comments I've come out with, my apologies!

[glumpy_99]

The Mosquito Coast (1986)

So if I was to single that one out here and condemn it to the fires of hell for being idiotic, I would thus be relegated for derision due to its being idiotic by association?

Not by me...

[Esmerodo]

For fans of fantasy/comedy I vote for Back To The Future (1985). For fans of romance/musicals, I vote for Dirty Dancing (1987). For female fans, it helps that Michael J Fox and Patrick Swayze are both hunks.

[ShogunRua]

For fans of fantasy/comedy I vote for Back To The Future (1985). For fans of romance/musicals, I vote for Dirty Dancing (1987). For female fans, it helps that Michael J Fox and Patrick Swayze are both hunks.

I've heard women say they like Swayze. But Michael J Fox? That's a new one.