During the lockdown of 2020, Shane went hard into the past and found minor and major classics.
2020 was a harsh year for everyone. People around the world had to deal with some form of setback whether it was health, work, or family-related due to the unprecedented pandemic we find ourselves living in. It’s no surprise that in such a year we all looked for an escape. When I’m feeling stressed I like to escape the real world in a dark movie theater. Unfortunately, we couldn’t really make it to a theater this year, which is why I spent so much time diving into some of my blind spots and I’m glad I did. Here are some of my favorites.
Honorable Mentions: The War Room, The Stuntman, Local Hero, Blue Collar, Body Heat, Paris, Texas, American Ninja 2: The Confrontation, Ninja III: The Domination, The Hidden
10. The Last Detail (dir. Hal Ashby)
Making a film in the 70s must have been a wild time. Can you imagine making a film with Jack Nicholson, Otis Young, and Randy Quaid as they travel up the east coast drinking and causing trouble? The Last Detail is a comedy/drama about two naval men who are ordered to escort a young prisoner upstate to serve a sentence. Of course, they decide to show him a good time along the way. First, it’s crazy to see Quaid this young on film and he’s actually really good. But this film is Nicholson’s all the way. He’s front and center for the entire film and you can practically feel his charisma oozing off of every frame. I’m always a sucker for a good road movie and this one had me from the very start. A near-perfect film by Hal Ashby featuring some of the best work Nicholson has ever put to the screen.
9. Do the Right Thing (dir. Spike Lee)
What more can be said about a film as important and transcendent as Do the Right Thing? All I can say is I cannot believe it took me so long to catch up to this film and I’m glad I finally did. It certainly lives up to all the hype. Long live Spike Lee and NYC films.
8. The Candidate (dir. Michael Ritchie)
The Candidate follows Bill McKay, a candidate for US Senate, who is running with virtually no chance of winning so he says and does things that most politicians would never come out and say. It’s another film made in the 70s that seems tailor made for the time in which we are living in today. Definitely worth a watch if you even if you only have a passing interest in American politics. Also, Robert Redford is about as charming as he’s ever been in this, one of his best performances.
7. LA Wars (dir. Tony Kandah)
LA Wars is cut from the same cloth as Action USA. It was a direct to video action knockoff that received the Vinegar Syndrome treatment this year. It’s another film that features ludicrous action sequences and arguably even more ludicrous line deliveries. This would make a perfect double feature with Action USA.
6. Action USA (dir. John Stewart)
I truly cannot believe this is a real movie. Created by a group of stunt guys as an excuse to blow things up, crash a ton of cars, and fall from ridiculous heights, it’s a sight to see. This was the only movie of 2020 that I watched twice in one sitting. It’s bonkers, ridiculous, and insane, and exactly the type of escapism I needed in 2020.
5. The Hot Rock (dir. Peter Yates)
The Hot Rock is one of the films I had the most fun watching in 2020. It’s a smart and witty caper that follows the exploits of Robert Redford and his band of criminals while they attempt to steal a diamond, more than once. Cleverly written, brilliantly acted and totally rewatchable; The Hot Rock gets a high recommendation from me.
4. The Silent Partner (dir. Daryl Duke)
My man Elliott Gould never ceases to amaze me with his 70s output. The Silent Partner is a tense, unnerving film concerning a bank heist and the spiraling results. Performances were outstanding, particularly Gould’s and Plummer’s. Engaging white knuckle suspense throughout and a great film to watch during the holidays. Also, super young John Candy is always a bonus.
3. The Deer Hunter (dir. Michael Cimino)
The Deer Hunter is one of the best films about war I have ever seen. It’s a simple story chronicling three friends, living in a small Pennsylvania steel town, who go off to Vietnam and the impact that war has on their lives. The film opens on an impressive 51-minute wedding scene. It’s a striking flex of filmmaking power; spending that much time in one sitting. The director, Michael Cimino, expertly sets up the main characters, their friendships, the small town motivations, and a glimpse of what could be a bright future. The film ultimately follows the men off to Vietnam and back to the states to reintroduce them back to civilian life. The acting all around is phenomenal, particularly all three leads. DeNiro, Walken, and Savage all bring a nuanced and upsetting aspect to their performances that I couldn’t look away from. The scenes involving Russian roulette are nerve-wracking and provide a direct symbol for the horrors of violence in war. This film is a scathing portrait of not only the Vietnam War but war in general. If a man goes off for war, does he ever come back the same?
2. A Face in the Crowd (dir. Elia Kazan)
Not sure there’s a more relevant film to have watched in 2020 than Elia Kazan’s A Face in the Crowd. The film follows Lonesome Rhodes as he ascends from jailhouse drunk to radio stardom and eventually television and beyond. It’s a terrifying depiction of how fame leads to power and how that power corrupts and distorts reality. It features a mesmerizing and downright scary performance from Andy Griffith. He’s charismatic, charming but ultimately too egocentric for his own good. The final scene is as haunting as anything I’ve seen all year. An incredibly prescient film, A Face in the Crowd begs to be rediscovered during this strange time we live in now.
1. The Swimmer (dir. Frank Perry)
Sometimes a film reaches out and just hits you in the chest. The Swimmer was one of those films for me in 2020. It’s about the existential crisis of growing old and losing everything. I won’t go into plot machinations as this film works best going in blind. Just fire up the film and let it wash over you. A masterpiece of modern cinema.