After a little bit of a hiatus, the 100 Project is back, and we're talking 1983. In real-time, I was turning 12 in '83. So, yeah, Oscar-type movies weren't really on my radar. That's the case for all of this decade, really. What makes '83 sort of a bastard child is that my cinematic travels over the last decade or so haven't taken me back to this particular year all that often. The result is that there is only one movie on this list that I didn't see within a year of its release. My opinions on these movies has changed over the years, but it's pretty clearly the most "little boy" list so far. Still, the top 3 movies here are serious contenders for my final top 100. Let's see what all that means.
My Top 10 Movies of 1983
- According to my Letterboxd account, I've seen 52 movies released during 1983.
- For the first time in The 100 Project, a documentary and a movie that was not released in theaters make the cut (same movie).
- To the best of my recollection, I only saw two movies in theaters that year. Only one of them made the list.
10. Wild Style
This is the one movie that I didn't see way back when, but only recently. Still, the nostalgia factor is off the charts, as is the sheer fun factor. It's better than it should be, but not as good as some would have you believe. By most accounts it's the first full-length feature based on hip-hop culture. As such, it has achieved icon status. (Full review)
9. Star 80
Mama Dell rented this movie and just had it lying around near the VCR. One day, while she was at work, I popped it in and promptly had my mind blown by a terrifying Eric Roberts. If you don't know, this movie tells the story of Dorothy Stratten (Mariel Hemingway), a playboy playmate who was brutally murdered by her abusive husband. Yup, Roberts plays that guy. He owns it and makes this an unforgettable and visceral experience.
8. Sleepaway Camp
Ahhh, slasher flicks. This one has the distinction of being one of very few that I actually saw with my father. By now, I had seen Friday the 13th, a couple sequels, and a few others. We were going along having a good time letting this film's nuttiness wash over us and then it happened. We got one of the most iconic, and iconic endings in horror movie history. I don't think we spoke much about it, though. If you've seen this you'll understand why that might be an awkward conversation for a teenager and his barely-there dad.
7. The Making of 'Thriller'
As a standalone, Michael Jackson's Thriller remains the top music video ever made, in my eyes. It's fourteen minutes of horror infused, pop music magic. It ends this 'making of' doc in its entirety. That alone might be enough to earn it a spot on this list. However, I'm also enthralled with all the behind the scenes stuff. Whenever this would air on MTV, back in the day, I would watch every minute of it, again and again.
6. Return of the Jedi
It's impossible to put into words, the amount of anticipation I had walking into the theater for this one. I was still reeling from seeing The Empire Strikes Back three years prior. By the time I walked out of the theater, I was certain Star Wars was the greatest movie trilogy of all-time. It had completely and thoroughly told the saga of the Skywalker family. There wasn't anything left to tell. Or so, I thought.
5. National Lampoon's Vacation
This is one of those movies I watched on HBO a hundred times, back in the day. Watching Chevy Chase's dim-witted Clark Griswold try to get his family to Walley World at all cost was the highlight of any day. His comic timing was impeccable, the gags are just the right kind of stupid, come rapid-fire. The unsung Beverly D'Angelo is nearly as good. She grounds the movie with a fantastic performance of her own.
4. Trading Places
Eddie Murphy was fast becoming the biggest draw in Hollywood and Dan Aykroyd was another bankable SNL star. The two together produced this bit of magic about two guys from opposite sides of the tracks who, well, traded places. Of course, having Jamie Lee Curtis only helped. Rawwrrr! Enough of that. To this day, it remains loads of fun. It's also the reason why, at least a thousand times throughout the months of December and January, I will look someone in the face, smile, laugh, and say "Merry New Year."
3. Videodrome
A friend and I discovered this late one night while I was spending the night at his house. If you're at all familiar with this film, you understand why we were perplexed, yet intrigued. It was like nothing either of us had ever seen before. I watched it several times over the next year and came back to it as an adult. It's still amazing. (Full Review)
2. Scarface
The first time I saw this, I was mesmerized by Al Pacino's performance. In the years and dozens of viewings since, I've come to realize it's an over-the-top scenery chewing piece of work. However, that doesn't change how entrancing he is. More important than that, the film crystallizes the possibilities and hazards of achieving the American dream for people starting with inferior tools for the job.
1. A Christmas Story
To lead with a cliche, my love for this film knows no bounds. My experiences weren't exactly the same as the people in this movie, but the feelings and emotions were. The way Ralphie, his brother, and his friends carried on rings true to my childhood. The way his parents behave, believe it or not, feels familiar to the way I've approached the holidays as a parent. There are lots of anxieties that come with trying to provide something special for your little ones. This movie taps into this. Again, the particulars of my life are different, but the notion of doing your best no matter the circumstances are the same. On top of that, it's just funny. All of these are reasons why I return to watch this movie every year. Christmas just wouldn't be the same without it. (Movies I Grew Up With: A Christmas Story)
Honorable Mention: Risky Business, D. C. Cab, Blue Thunder, Psycho II
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