Rain Man (1988)

Rain Man (1988) / United Artists

Directed By: Barry Levinson

Starring: Dustin Hoffman, Tom Cruise, Valeria Golino, & Bonnie Hunt

~ Nominated for 8 Academy Awards & 4 Golden Globes

~ Won 4 Academy Awards including Best Actor/Director, & Picture.

Year	Result	Award	Category/Recipient(s)
1989	Won	Oscar	Best Actor in a Leading Role - Dustin Hoffman
			Best Director - Barry Levinson
			Best Picture - Mark Johnson
			Best Writing, Screenplay Written Directly for the Screen Ronald Bass & Barry Morrow
	Nominated	Oscar	Best Art Direction-Set Decoration Ida Random & Linda DeScenna
			Best Cinematography - John Seale
			Best Film Editing - Stu Linder
			Best Music, Original Score - Hans Zimmer

Plot:

Charlie Babbitt (Cruise) is a successful man who has a beautiful girlfriend by his side, Susanna (Golino). They both go on a lovely trip over the weekend to Palm Springs. Prior though to the trip Charlie finds out that his father that he has never been clsoe to has died. The news changes Charlie's trip to be canceled and then he heads to Cincinnati to settle his father's estate.

The big news is that there is an unknown beneficiary who is inheriting the entire estate worth three million dollars. Charlie finds that his father left him a Buick Roadmaster along with some prized rose bushes. On top of this the person that is inheriting the huge sum is his brother who is autistic and resides in a mental institution named Raymond (Hoffman). This news of a brother is brand new to Charlie who just discovers this during the reading of the will which is a huge secret his father was keeping.

Raymond has a fantastic mind where he can recall basically anyand everything. Where everything is placed in a store to the finest detail is only one area Raymond knows. Raymond is considered a savant by Doctors where especially his knowledge of mathematics is superb especially since he can give someone an answer to a math qusetion without truly understanding it. Raymond has a strict way of life and follows a certain regiment with little emotion. Charlie is determined to get his rightful share of the estate so decides to take his newly found brother on a cross country road trip. This trip will be at the end for both Raymond and Charlie to meet with attorney's to go over everything more in depth. Charlie is looking for the mental institution to take custody fully of Raymond and to take over the funds or at least get a a portion.

Susanna learns of Charlie's plan and is truly angry about it and decides to leave him in Cincinnati and goes her own way. Charlie truly is using his newly found brother on getting a large sum of the inheritance money and truly does not care about anyone or anything else.

This film is very well acted by all the leads and is shows very nice depth for Tom Cruise.

 

Risky Business (1983) There is a time for Risky Business!

Risky Business 1983 / Warner Bros.

Directed By: Paul Brickman

Starring: Tom Cruise, Rebecca De Mornay, Joe Pantoliano, & Richard Masur  

Tagline: There's a time for playing it safe and a time for Risky Business.

~ Nominated for 1 Golden Globe.
                                                Golden Globe

Year	Result	Award	Category/Recipient(s)
1984	Nominated	Golden Globe	Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Comedy/Musical - Tom Cruise

Plot:

It is the early 1980's we have a very slick and polular high school student named Joel Goodson (Cruise). Joel resides in the very posh suburbia of the north shore in Chicago. There is a lot of drama and pressure applied to Joel whom is getting ready to graduate and is not sure where to go after. Although the true pressure is being applied from Joel's parents where is father is assured that he son is attending Princeton where he graduated.

In high school, Joel participates in a program called Future Enterprisers where young people are teamed up to create a small business and be savvy in their knowledge. It seems all things are going right on the outside for Joel in appearances which makes everyone around him thrilled.

It is a weekend and the thrilling part is Joel's parents are finally going away and leaving him by himself. A very tempted Joel wants to live it up in a big way without the pressure around him and have some fun which is highly encouraged by his friends. Miles (Curtis Armstrong) one of Joel's best friend's does a lot of convincing and have some fun and let loose! The first evening of his new found freedom Joel stays at home, plays the stereo super loud, drinks liquor and dances around in a shirt/sunglasses and underwear. Miles on the next day calls a call girl named Jackie (Bruce A. Young) for Joel. However, there is a surprise which is Jackie is a transvestite. Nothing happens between the two though Jackie gives Joel a number of a hot prostitute named Lana (De Mornay) who is promised that he will love and is exactly what he wants.

That night instead of waiting Joel calls Lana and they meet and sleep together. Lana the next morning asks for her normal $300 fee that Joel does not have on hand and departs to withdraw it. While he is away Lana stays at his home and then leaves rather than on waiting. Joel is back with the money and Lana is gone along with his mother's prized Orrefors crystal egg. Joel then gets ahold of Lana and demands the prized item back but are interrupted by the pimp, Guido (Pantoliano). Guido then pissed pulls a gun to Joel. Joel scared out of his whits escapes in his father's Porsche.

Lana stays overnight and with Joel however the egg is not with her and is at Guido's home along with her stuff. While going to school Lana stays at Joel's home. Upon returning home, Joel finds another prostitute named Vicki (Shera Danese) to stay at his posh home. Lana's idea is that she could get her female friend's together and with Joel's male friend's together they could be in business together and make a lot which he turns down right off.

On a night out we see that Joel's father's Porsche ends up in Lake Michigan and other dramatic turns occur. Will Lana and Joel find love, will Joel find his way for his future.....watch this classic 80's movie to find out!

Cocktail (1988) When he pours, he reigns!

Cocktail (1988) / Touchstone Pics.

Directed By: Roger Donaldson

Starring: Tom Cruise, Bryan Brown, Elizabeth Shue, Kelly Lynch, & Gina Gershon

~ Nominated for a Golden Globe in 1987 for "Best Original Song: Kokomo"
 (sung by the Beach Boys)

Plot:

Brian Flannagan (Cruise) being home in New York City and just arriving back from the Army lands himself a bartending job at T.G.I.Friday's. Brian is having a hard time becoming a suave and well put together bartender. Eventually he finds himself a new job opportunity at a bar with his boss Doug Coughlin (Brown). Doug shows Brian the ropes and how to truly wow and dazzle the clients with charm and the right way to become not just another bartender but THE BARTENDER.

"Coghlin's Law" becomes what is known for Doug's messages and tricks of the trade to his new mentor Brian. Doug is working and scheming to one day own his own bar with Brian called: "Cocktails & Dreams." Before the men know it they are moving onward to a very posh and sophisticated bar in NYC. This new venue allows them to show their magic hands with flipping and dazzling patrons over making drinks. Coral (Gershon) sets her eyes on Brian in the club and quickly they find each other atracted to one another and involved.

During a competition Doug bets with Brian that Coral is not in a serious relationship and is easy. Brian firmly believes that what he and Coral have is real. To be the winner of the wager, Doug talks to Coral and says that secrets involving Coral were told by Brian. Being very hurt and angry Coral sleeps with Doug making the bet over and Brian the looser in it. The team of Brian and Doug end by a big fight and the both of them ending their partnership over Coral.

The one good thing from this all is Coral gave good advice to Brain about starting over and making things big in Jamaica. Brian decides now is the time to make the big changes and goes to Jamaica. The plan is to eventually save up enough money to open his own bar. While working and enjoying his new life in Jamaica, Brian meets a lovely aspiring artist/waitress from all places NYC named Jordan Mooney (Shue). Brian and Jordan hit it off in big ways and start to date each other even with the knowledge that she is on vacation and will be leaving soon. Enters in Doug with his new very wealthy wife: Kerry (Lynch). The new couple are now in Jamaica. The dangerous games start back up with Doug in the area with Brian. Doug sees the affection that Jordan has for Brian and vice versa and decides to squash that. Doug bets Brian that he can sleep with the wealthier older woman named Bonnie and they agree and Brian wins. Jordan heads over to see Brian and catches him with Bonnie in bed and decides to be done with him and leaves overnight home to NYC.

Will Brian continue the dangerous path with Doug, perhaps also a business is in site and maybe love as well...will have to see the 80's hot flick for yourself!

The 3 Leading Men of the 1980's

The Leading Men of the 1980's!

The votes are in and the three top leading men that the blog and facebook page deemed as the defining actor's of the 1980's are:

Harrison Ford, Tom Cruise, & Michael J. Fox

These leading men truly hit the silver screen in big ways with major roles in motion pictucres during the 1980's.

"Love Those Classic Movies!" will highlight in articles each leading man as being the definition of what made the 1980's a great decade for films.

Great films that each leading man appeared during the 1980's:

Harrison Ford:

1) Star Wars V - The Empire Strikes Back (1980)

2) Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981)

3) Blade Runner (1982)

4) Star Wars VI - Return of the Jedi (1983)

5) Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (1984)

6) Witness (1985)

7) The Mosquito Coast (1986)

8) Frantic (1988)

9) Working Girl (1988)

10) Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989)

Tom Cruise:

1) Taps (1981)

2) The Outsiders (1983)

3) Risky Business (1983)

4) All The Right Moves (1983)

5) Legend (1985)

6) Top Gun (1986)

7) The Color of Money (1986)

8) Cocktail (1988)

9) Rain Man (1988)

10) Born on the Fourth of July (1989)

Michael J. Fox:

1) Back to the Future (1985)

2) Teen Wolf (1985)

3) Light of Day (1987)

4) The Secret of My Success (1987)

5) Bright Lights, Big City (1988)

6) Casualties of War (1989)

7) Back to the Future II (1989)



Leading Men of the 1980's

The Classic Leading Men of the 1980's

That's right we are highlighting the classic leading men who lit up the screen in the 1980's.

Help me choose who was the true King of the Screen in the 1980's!! Who embodied the best of the 1980's of the 21 in total gentlemen in the running. We will give the Top 3 the title: "Leading Men of the 1980's."

With this we will highlight each leading man with articles here and will do so for our leading men and later for other decades as well. No fear if some of your favorites since the lists are lengthy are not here we will be doing this again!

The following are the gentlemen up for the title of: Leading Men of the 1980's, remember only 3 will walk away with this title and each person can vote for their top 3 and voting starts today!!

And the nominess are:

Kevin Costner

Matt Dillon

Michael J. Fox

Michael Douglas

Ricahrd Gere

William Hurt

Mickey Rourke

Harrison Ford

Kurt Russell

Eddie Murphy

Tom Cruise

Sean Penn

Sylvester Stallone

Rob Lowe

Dennis Quaid

Patrick Swayze

Steve Martin

John Candy

Christopher Reeve

Willem Davoe

Michael Keaton

In Pictures: Michelle Pfeiffer

In Pictures: Michelle Pfeiffer

Here is our 29th installment of this very successful feature to "Love Those Classic Movies!!!" This article is simply an enjoyment via beautiful pictures of our favorite golden age classic stars. Not a lot of writing at all or tid bits or extras just simply as it is stated, "in pictures!" Hope you all enjoy one of the leading ladies that defined the 1980's with her versatility in brilliant film roles and making the 1980's a monumental time for Michelle Pfeiffer. Enjoy as we look back at Michelle Pfeiffer's career through her roles and much more via photos!