by Allan Fish
Best Picture Apocalypse Now US (7 votes)
Best Director Francis Ford Coppola, Apocalypse Now (10 votes)
Best Actor Peter Sellers, Being There (9 votes)
Best Actress Hanna Schygulla, The Marriage of Maria Braun (9 votes)
Best Supp Actor Melvyn Douglas, Being There (8 votes)
Best Supp Actress Mariel Hemingway, Manhattan (7 votes)
Best Cinematography Gordon Willis, Manhattan (11 votes)
Best Score Jerry Goldsmith, Star Trek: The Motion Picture (7 votes)
Best Short The Plank, UK Eric Sykes (2 votes)
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Can I just say The Plank, while valid as a nomination, was a remake of Sykes’ earlier 1967 mini feature The Plank, with Tommy Cooper, which was FAR better. Feels a bit naff the poor imitation winning…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JyU6SonN6mc
1980
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Best Picture/Director
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The Age of the Earth (Brazil…Glauber Rocha)
Airplane! (US…Jerry Zucker, David Zucker, Jim Abrahams)
Alexander the Great (Greece…Theo Angelopoulos)
Altered States (US…Ken Russell)
American Gigolo (US…Paul Schrader)
Atlantic City (US/Canada…Louis Malle)
The Aviator’s Wife (France…Eric Rohmer)
Aziza (Tunisia…Abdel-Latif Ben Ammar)
Bad Timing (A Sexual Obsession) (US/UK…Nicolas Roeg)
Berlin Alexanderplatz (West Germany…Rainer Werner Fassbinder)
The Big Red One (US…Samuel Fuller)
The Blues Brothers (US…John Landis)
Breaker Morant (Australia…Bruce Beresford)
Bronco Billy (US…Clint Eastwood)
Caught on a Train (UK…Peter Duffell)
The Changeling (Canada…Peter Medak)
Coal Miner’s Daughter (US…Michael Apted)
Confidence (Hungary…István Szabó)
The Contract (Poland…Krzysztof Zanussi)
The Crime of Cuenca (Spain…Pilar Miró)
Cutting it Short (Czechoslovakia…Jiri Menzel)
Czontváry (Hungary…Zoltán Huszárik)
Death Watch (France…Bertrand Tavernier)
Demon Lover Diary (US…Joel DeMott)
Le Dernièr Métro (France…François Truffaut)
Dressed to Kill (US…Brian de Palma)
The Elephant Man (UK/US…David Lynch)
The Empire Strikes Back (US…Irwin Kershner)
The Falls (UK…Peter Greenaway)
Fame (US…Alan Parker)
La Femme Objet (France…Claude Mulot)
The Fog (US…John Carpenter)
Foxes (US…Adrian Lyne)
From the Cloud to the Resistance (France…Jean-Marie Straub, Danièle Huillet)
Germany, Pale Mother (West Germany…Helma Sanders-Brahms)
The Girl with the Golden Panties (Spain…Vicente Aranda)
Gloria (US…John Cassavetes)
The Gods Must Be Crazy (South Africa…Jamie Urys)
The Great Santini (US…Lewis John Carlino)
Gregory’s Girl (UK…Bill Forsyth)
Hamlet, Prince of Denmark (UK…Rodney Bennett)
Heaven’s Gate (US…Michael Cimino)
The Idolmaker (US…Taylor Hackford)
Insatiable (US…Stu Segall)
Inside Moves (US…Richard Donner)
Kagemusha (Japan…Akira Kurosawa)
Kagero-za (Japan…Seijun Suzuki)
The Knight (Poland…Lech Majewski)
The Little Richard Story (US…William Klein)
The Long Good Friday (UK…John McKenzie)
The Long Riders (US….Walter Hill)
Loulou (France…Maurice Pialat)
Melvin and Howard (US…Jonathan Demme)
Mon Oncle d’Amérique (France…Alain Resnais)
The Nest (Spain…Jaime de Armiñán)
One Trick Pony (US…Robert M. Young)
Opera Prima (Spain…Fernando Trueba)
Ordinary People (US…Robert Redford)
Out of the Blue (US…Dennis Hopper)
Panelstory (Czechoslovakia…Vera Chytilova)
Popeye (US…Robert Altman)
Prostitute (UK…Tony Garnett)
Raging Bull (US…Martin Scorsese)
Rapture (Spain…Iván Zulueta)
Raven’s Dance (Finland…Markku Lehmuskallio)
Resurrection (US….Daniel Petrie)
The Return of the Secaucus Seven (US…John Sayles)
Sauve qui peut… (France…Jean-Luc Godard)
The Shining (US/UK…Stanley Kubrick)
Sir Henry at Rawlinson End (UK…Steve Roberts)
Somewhere in Time (US…Jeannot Szwarc)
Spetters (Netherlands…Paul Verhoeven)
Stardust Memories (US…Woody Allen)
The Stunt Man (US…Richard Rush)
Superman II (US…Richard Lester)
The Taming of the Shrew (UK…Jonathan Miller)
Urban Cowboy (US…James Bridges)
Used Cars (US…Robert Zemeckis)
Le Voyage en Douce (France…Michel Deville)
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Best Actor
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Hector Alterio The Nest
Gary Busey Carny
John Cleese The Taming of the Shrew TV
Robert de Niro Raging Bull
Dom Deluise Fatso
Gérard Depardieu Loulou
Robert Duvall The Great Santini
Richard Gere American Gigolo
Anthony Hopkins The Elephant Man
Bob Hoskins The Long Good Friday
Trevor Howard Sir Henry at Rawlinson End
John Hurt The Elephant Man
Tommy Lee Jones Coal Miner’s Daughter
Kris Kristofferson Heaven’s Gate
Gunther Lamprecht Berlin Alexanderplatz TV
Burt Lancaster Atlantic City
Jack Lemmon Tribute
Lee Marvin The Big Red One
Walter Matthau Hopscotch
Tatsuya Nakadai Kagemusha
Jack Nicholson The Shining
Peter O’Toole The Stunt Man
Donald Sutherland Ordinary People
John Travolta Urban Cowboy
Edward Woodward Breaker Morant
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Best Actress
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Victoria Abril The Girl With the Golden Panties
Peggy Ashcroft Cream in My Coffee TV
Ellen Burstyn Resurrection
Geraldine Chaplin Le Voyage en Douce
Catherine Deneuve Le Dernièr Métro
Shelley Duvall The Shining
Jodie Foster Carny
Goldie Hawn Private Benjamin
Isabelle Huppert Loulou
Linda Manz Out of the Blue
Eva Mattes Germany Pale Mother
Mary Tyler Moore Ordinary People
Vanessa Redgrave Playing for Time TV
Gena Rowlands Gloria
Theresa Russell Bad Timing (A Sexual Obsession)
Dominique Sanda Le Voyage en Douce
Susan Sarandon Atlantic City
Romy Schneider Death Watch
Sissy Spacek Coal Miner’s Daughter
Ana Torrent The Nest
Magda Vasaryova Cutting it Short
Debra Winger Urban Cowboy
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Best Supp Actor
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Roberts Blossom Resurrection
Lloyd Bridges Airplane!
Bryan Brown Breaker Morant
Michael Caine Dressed to Kill
Scatman Crothers The Shining
Matt Dillon My Bodyguard
Denholm Elliott Bad Timing (A Sexual Obsession)
Scott Glenn Urban Cowboy
Levon Helm Coal Miner’s Daughter
Judd Hirsch Ordinary People
Timothy Hutton Ordinary People
Michael O’Keefe The Great Santini
Gottfried John Berlin Alexanderplatz TV
Joe Pesci Raging Bull
Jason Robards Jr. Melvin and Howard
Philip Stone The Shining
Jack Thompson Breaker Morant
Joe Turkel The Shining
Max Von Sydow Flash Gordon
Sam Waterston Hopscotch
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Best Supp Actress
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Eileen Brennan Private Benjamin
Leslie Caron The Contract
Beverly D’Angelo Coal Miner’s Daughter
Eve Le Gallienne Resurrection
Elizabeth McGovern Ordinary People
Brigitte Mira Berlin Alexanderplatz TV
Helen Mirren The Long Good Friday
Cathy Moriarty Raging Bull
Ornella Muti Flash Gordon
Charlotte Rampling Stardust Memories
Pamela Reed The Long Riders
Cecilia Roth Rapture
Diana Scarwid Inside Moves
Mary Steenburgen Melvin and Howard,
Barbara Sukowa Berlin Alexanderplatz TV
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Best Cinematography
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Nestor Alamendros The Blue Lagoon
John Alcott The Shining
Nestor Almendros Le Dernièr Métro
Ralf D. Bode Coal Miner’s Daughter
Michael Chapman Raging Bull
Teo Escamilla The Nest
Angel Luis Fernández Rapture
Freddie Francis The Elephant Man
Takao Saito, Shoji Ueda Kagemusha
Xavier Schwarzenberger Berlin Alexanderplatz TV
Michael Seresin Fame
Gordon Willis Stardust Memories
Vilmos Zsigmond Heaven’s Gate
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Best Score
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John Barry Inside Moves
John Barry Somewhere in Time
Elmer Bernstein Airplane!
Ry Cooder The Long Riders
John Corigliano Altered States
Pino Donaggio Dressed to Kill
Dominic Frontiere The Stunt Man
Michael Gore Fame
David Mansfield Heaven’s Gate
John Morris The Elephant Man
Alex North Carny
Michael Nyman The Falls
John Williams The Empire Strikes Back
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Best Short
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Act of God <https://vimeo.com/27758131> (UK…Peter Greenaway)
Diskzokej <https://vimeo.com/54998187> (Czechoslovakia…Jiri Barta)
Fish Heads <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rg6fQ565AGY> (US…Bill Paxton and Billy Mumy)
The Fly https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8IeeJpAghVg (Poland…Farenc Rofulsz)
Larisa <http://vimeo.com/36939216> (USSR…Elem Klimov)
Le Menage <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P_inAjU0-Ik> (France…Marc Caro, Jean-Pierre Jeunet)
Making The Shining https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=12Uos7zOWLs (UK/US…Vivian Kubrick)
Mickey Mouse Disco <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AhhQ6QH4t2I> (US…Norman Ferguson, David Hand)
Mr. Krueger’s Christmas <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8tMuSVVljg8> (US…Keith Merrill)
The Music of Eric Zann <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xeMNDhTWJ-o> (US…John Strysik)
Nocturne <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6143hgZ2_fQ> (Denmark…Lars von Trier)
Rhubarb Rhubarb <http://veehd.com/video/4747826_Rhubarb-Rhubarb-1980-Eric-Sykes-R-I-P> (UK…Eric Sykes)
Werner Herzog Eats His Shoe https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9KjMc8HlUn4 (US…Les Blank)
Best Picture: Berlin Alexanderplatz
Best Director: Rainer Warner Fassbinder (Berlin Alexanderplatz)
Best Actor: Burt Lancaster (Atlantic City)
Best Actress: Ellen Burstyn (Resurrection)
Best Supporting Actor: Michael O’ Keefe (The Great Santini)
Best Supporting Actress: Eve le Gallienne (Resurrection)
Best Cinematography: Xavier Schwarzenberger (Berlin Alexanderplatz)
Best Score: Elmer Bernstein (The Great Santini)
Best Short: Larissa (Klimov)
The 1980 Hall of Fame: Berlin Alexanderplatz; The Shining; The Elephant Man; Atlantic City; Ordinary People; Raging Bull; Kagemusha; The Great Santini; Stardust Memories; Breaker Morant; Somewhere in Tine; Airplane!; The Last Metro
Notes: Elem Klimov’s short about the life of his wife the great Russian director Larisa Shepitko (The Ascent) who died before her time in a tragic car accident, is uniquely moving. Kudos to Joel for including this in his shorts line-up.
I went off the list for Elmer Bernstein’s stirring and lyrical score for THE GREAT SANTINI, which is one of the famed composer’s most beautiful compositions.
Sam, when I saw that listed I knew I had to. I haven’t watched it yet, but I suspect it will be near or at the top of my list when I do.
Yay for ‘Apocalypse Now’ winning those awards, as well as Mariel Hemmingway for ‘Manhattan’.
Best Film: The Shining
Best Director: Stanley Kubrick, The Shining
Best Actor: SO TOUGH! John Hurt – The Elephant Man
Best Actress: Felisa González – El Zapato Chino
Best Supp Actor: Joe Pesci – Raging Bull
Best Supp Actress: Cathy Moriarty – Raging Bull
Best Cinematography: TIE! The Elephant Man and The Shining
Best Score: The Shining
Best Short: Making ‘The Shining’ by Vivian Kubrick
Top 5 of 1980:
1. The Shining
2. The Elephant Man
3. Raging Bull
4. Airplane!
5. ‘Breaker’ Morant
Berlin Alexanderplatz is technically a 14 hour televised mini-series. Thus I will be excluding it from my list.
Best Picture: Raging Bull
Top Five: 1. Raging Bull 2. The Shining 3. Kagemusha 4. Heaven’s Gate 5. The Elephant Man
Like 1979, my top two picks stand out over the field. I should really just claim a Best Picture tie, but will suck it up and choose only one (flipping a coin as I write this).
Maurizio, BERLIN ALEXANDERPLATZ was also shown as a theatrical release on German movie screens in the year of it’s release, in two long parts. That fact to me signifies it is most eligible to be cited. This will be corroborated by Allan, who also has this as his #1 pick of the year. Regardless, I can’t argue with any of your choices on your excellent list.
Never heard of it being shown theatrically in Germany. I know they tried it in NYC for a very brief period 2 or 3 years after the fact. Regardless, it’s structure and intent is that of a miniseries IMO. And for the 1980’s wasn’t Heavens Gate #1 on those decades list…
Maurizio, it did show in Germany, this is a fact. But I respect what you are saying, and understand it’s form may keep others from citing it. It’s a question of perception–I feel it qualifies, you don’t. But we are apparently in agreement that either way it is still a great work, which for me is more than fair enough.
Certainly great. No doubt about that.
Top Five:
1. The Shining
2. Kagemusha
3. Raging Bull
4. The Elephant Man
5. The Empire Strikes Back
For a while I was thinking that if anyone voted for Heaven’s Gate I’d vote for Cannibal Holocaust, but I thought better of that idea — mind you, Cannibal Holocaust is one of 1980’s best films — and no one has gone for Gate yet. I don’t hate Gate but I don’t rate it very highly either. A vote either for that or for C.Holocaust has an epater le bourgeoisie attitude to it that I’d actually respect either way.
Best Picture: The Shining
(Runners-up: Kagemusha, Cannibal Holocaust, Atlantic City, Raging Bull)
Best Director: Ruggero Deodato, Cannibal Holocaust
Best Actor: Tough choice again; mine’s DeNiro
(Runners-up: Lancaster, Nicholson, Nakadai)
Best Actress: Rowlands
Supporting Actor: Pesci
Supporting Actress: Didn’t see her name in either category so I’ll put Shelley Duvall here for The Shining.
Cinematography: Alcott
(runners-up: Zsigmond, Saito/Ueda)
Score:Tempted to tap Riz Ortolani for Cannibal Holocaust but Williams is just too strong — the Imperial March cannot be denied.
SAMUEL-Not trying to bust balls here…
BUT…
Shelly Duvall was listed, rightfully, in the LEAD ACTRESS scroll. It’s nice that you think so much of her to honor her with your top choice… However, she is MOST DEFINATELY a LEAD performer in THE SHINING…
Dennis, I can only plead exhaustion when I overlooked her spot on the list. Wouldn’t rank her ahead of Rowlands, though. So change my vote for Supporting Actress to La Gallienne for Resurrection.
pic – The Empire Strikes Back: The Special Edition (US (1997)…Irwin Kershner)
director – The Elephant Man (UK/US…David Lynch)
actor – Robert de Niro Raging Bull
actress – Goldie Hawn Private Benjamin
supp actor – Joe Pesci Raging Bull
supp actress – Mary Steenburgen Melvin and Howard
score – John Williams The Empire Strikes Back
short – Mickey Mouse Disco (US…Norman Ferguson, David Hand)
Short film is actually a tie, as I voted last-minute for Asparagus, which often made me cringe (could’ve done without the shitting/fellating of vegetables) but was just as often beautifully rendered. Since my vote was late though, you can leave results as is, if desired. I was mostly worried about having no film clear 2 votes – didn’t realize The Plank received more than one.
Last-minute additions:
Short: Larisa
Actress: Susan Sarandon, Atlantic City
Feature: Raging Bull
2. The Shining
3. Berlin Alexanderplatz
4. The Return of the Secaucus Seven
5. The Empire Strikes Back
Short: At week’s end, I’ll break any ties or pick freely if possible.
Director: Martin Scorsese, Raging Bull
Actor: Robert De Niro, Raging Bull
Actress: We are getting into a period where I really haven’t seen the “acting” films of each year. I’ll try to watch 1 or 2 big nominees this week so I can vote. Right now I don’t feel qualified.
Supp. Actor: Joe Pesci, Raging Bull
Supp. Actress: Barbara Sukowa, Berlin Alexanderplatz
Cinematography: Freddie Francis, The Elephant Man (wow, what a hard year to choose)
Score: John Williams, The Empire Strikes Back
Screenplay: John Sayles, The Return of the Secaucus Seven
Editing: Thelma Schoonmaker, Raging Bull
Ensemble: Günter Lamprecht, Claus Holm, Hanna Schygulla, Franz Buchrieser, Brigitte Mira, Karlheinz Braun, Roger Fritz, Gottfried John, Barbara Sukowa, Günther Kaufmann, Ivan Desny, Volker Spengler, Vitus Zeplichal, Barbara Valentin, Berlin Alexanderplatz
Line: “No, Luke. I am your father.” (Apocalypse Now)
(runners-up: “Here’s Johnny!” from The Shining and “You never got me down, Ray.” from Raging Bull)
Use of Music: Raging Bull
Scene: Stalking Wendy up the stairs, The Shining
new award:
Location: The Overlook Hotel, The Shining
Picture: Kagemusha
Director: Akira Kurosawa, Kagemusha
Actor: Robert De Niro, Raging Bull
Actress: Sissy Spacek, Coal Miner’s Daughter
Sup. Actor: Jason, Robards, Melvin and Howard
Sup. Actress: Shelley Duvall, The Shining
Cinematography: Freddie Francis, The Elephant Man
Here we go into another decade, but, really, it’s still the 70s. The winner, for me, is utterly 70s, yet is still the best film of the 1980s. But my second place choice smacks completely of that decade and of the decades hence. Meanwhile, the film that won the lead Oscar in 1980 is still impressive to me. It should have hit an insurmountable wall; yet, people were just not ready for the one we KNOW should have won and, even though that Scorsese classic sported so many pluses, it could not surmount the ultimate winner, another VERY GREAT movie that had an equally impressive pedigree (and, in its own suburban way, was equally brutal). And we’re not even BEGINNING to talk about the Kubrick movie with which so many film fans are obsessed! I have now decided not to put a limit on each category, so you‘ll see them go over six entries (though not more than ten, I promise). Still, I have the films that have not been included on Allan’s list in all caps. By the way, the original song category this year was insane! Links are provided for each of my choices (click on the titles), but SO MANY possibilities were left off! Check ’em out (and try and recall or imagine a time when movie songs actually HIT the charts)! But, as for the top categories…they seemed obvious to me. However, with the screenplay selections, I went my own unique way:
PICTURE: RAGING BULL (followed by, in descending order): The Empire Strikes Back, Ordinary People, The Shining, The Stunt Man, Kagemusha, The Elephant Man, Berlin Alexanderplatz, The Long Riders, Heaven’s Gate, Coal Miner’s Daughter, ONE TRICK PONY, INSIDE MOVES, Altered States, Fame, Airplane!, The Long Good Friday, Breaker Morant, FROM MAO TO MOZART: ISAAC STERN IN CHINA, AGEE, Used Cars, Stardust Memories, Atlantic City, The Blues Brothers, Superman II, The Big Red One, Out of the Blue, THE GREAT SANTINI; PLAYING FOR TIME, The Changeling, CARNY, Bad Timing (A Sexual Obsession), Bronco Billy, Dressed to Kill, FATSO, Melvin and Howard, The Ninth Configuration, My Bodyguard, The Last Metro, Resurrection, Rude Boy, Return of the Secaucus Seven, THE LIFE AND TIMES OF ROSIE THE RIVETER, MCVICAR, URBAN COWBOY, NINE TO FIVE, Foxes, THE FOG, THE LATHE OF HEAVEN, Popeye, Gloria, THE IDOLMAKER, THE DOGS OF WAR, BRUBAKER, PRIVATE BENJAMIN, The Gods Must Be Crazy, A SMALL CIRCLE OF FRIENDS, SOMEWHERE IN TIME, FOOLIN’ AROUND, American Gigalo
DIRECTOR: Martin Scorsese, RAGING BULL (2nd: Stanley Kubrick, The Shining, followed by: Robert Redford, Ordinary People; Irvin Kershner, The Empire Strikes Back; Richard Rush, The Stunt Man; David Lynch, The Elephant Man)
ACTOR: Robert De Niro, RAGING BULL (2nd: Timothy Hutton, Ordinary People, followed by: Gunter Lamprecht, Berlin Alexanderplatz; Jack Nicholson, The Shining; Tommy Lee Jones, Coal Miner’s Daughter; Peter O’Toole, The Stunt Man; John Hurt, The Elephant Man; Bob Hoskins, The Long Good Friday; Robert Duvall, The Great Santini; Dom Deluise, Fatso; John Savage, Inside Moves)
ACTRESS: Sissy Spacek, COAL MINER‘S DAUGHTER (2nd: Theresa Russell, Bad Timing (A Sexual Obsession); followed by: Ellen Burstyn, Resurrection; Mary Tyler Moore, Ordinary People; Shelley Duvall, The Shining; Susan Sarandon, Atlantic City; Linda Manz, Out of the Blue; Vanessa Redgrave, Playing for Time; Debra Winger, Urban Cowboy; Gena Rowlands, Gloria; Goldie Hawn, Private Benjamin)
SUPPORTING ACTOR: Joe Pesci, RAGING BULL (2nd: Donald Sutherland, Ordinary People, followed by: Levon Helm, Coal Miner’s Daughter; Matt Dillon, My Bodyguard; Judd Hirsch, Ordinary People; Scatman Crothers, The Shining; Gerritt Graham, Used Cars; Michael O’Keefe, The Great Santini; Joe Turkel, The Shining; Roberts Blossom, Resurrection)
SUPPORTING ACTRESS : Cathy Moriarty, RAGING BULL (2nd: Eva Le Gallienne, Resurrection, followed by: Elizabeth McGovern, Ordinary People; Pamela Reed, The Long Riders; Beverly D’Angelo, Coal Miner’s Daughter; Charlotte Rampling, Stardust Memories; Dolly Parton, Nine to Five; Diana Scarwid, Inside Moves)
CINEMATOGRAPHY: Freddie Francis, THE ELEPHANT MAN (2nd: Vilmos Zsigmond, Heaven‘s Gate, followed by: Michael Chapman, Raging Bull; Takao Saito and Shoji Ueda, Kagamusha; John Alcott, The Shining; Gordon Willis, Stardust Memories; Michael Seresin, Fame)
SCORE: Dominic Frontiere, THE STUNT MAN (2nd: John Williams, The Empire Strikes Back, followed by: John Morris, The Elephant Man, Ry Cooder, The Long Riders; John Corigliano, Altered States; John Barry, Inside Moves; Elmer Bernstein, Airplane!)
SHORT: FISH HEADS (Bill Paxton and Billy Mumy) (2nd: Diskotej (Jiri Barta), followed by: Act of God (Peter Greenaway); Making The Shining (Vivian Kubrick); Werner Herzog Eats His Shoe (Les Blank)
FURTHER:
ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY: Robert Zemeckis and Bob Gale, USED CARS (2nd: Bill Bryden, Steven Smith, Stacy Keach and James Keach, The Long Riders, followed by: Bo Goldman, Melvin and Howard; Paul Simon, One Trick Pony; John MacKenzie, The Long Good Friday; John Sayles, Return of the Secaucus Seven; John Guare, Atlantic City; Christopher Gore, Fame)
ADAPTED SCREENPLAY: Valerie Curtin and Barry Levinson, INSIDE MOVES (2nd: Paul Schrader and Mardik Mrtin, Raging Bull, followed by: Alvin Sargent, Ordinary People; Alfred Doblin and Rainer Werner Fassbinder, Berlin Alexanderplatz, Christopher DeVore, Eric Bergen and David Lynch, The Elephant Man; Jonathan Hardy, David Stevens and Bruce Beresford, Breaker Morant; Richard Rush, The Stunt Man; Lawrence Kasdan, Leigh Brackett and George Lucas, The Empire Strikes Back; Jim Abrahams, David Zucker and Jerry Zucker, Airplane! (I know…it’s nominally original, but it’s really based on the 50s classic ZERO HOUR))
DOCUMENTARY: FROM MAO TO MOZART: ISAAC STERN IN CHINA (Murray Lerner); Agee (Ross Spears) ; The Life and Times of Rosie the Riveter (Connie Field)
NON-ENGLISH LANGUAGE FILM: KAGEMUSHA (Akira Kurasowa, Japan) (2nd: Berlin Alexanderplatz (Rainer Werner Fassbinder (Germany), The Last Metro (Francois Truffaut (France))
ART DIRECTION: THE SHINING, Heaven’s Gate, The Empire Strikes Back, The Elephant Man, Kagemusha, Popeye
COSTUME DESIGN: THE ELEPHANT MAN, Kagemusha, The Empire Strikes Back, Somewhere in Time, Heaven’s Gate, Popeye
EDITING: RAGING BULL, The Empire Strikes Back, Ordinary People, Fame, The Long Riders, The Blues Brothers
SOUND: RAGING BULL, The Empire Strikes Back, Fame, Altered States, The Long Riders, Coal Miner’s Daughter
ORIGINAL SONG: “Out Here On My Own” from FAME (music by Michael Gore, lyrics by Leslie Gore) (2nd: “How The Heart Approaches What It Yearns” from One Trick Pony (music and lyrics by Paul Simon), followed by: “On The Road Again” from Honeysuckle Rose (music and lyrics by Willie Nelson); “On The Radio” from Foxes (music by Giorgio Moroder, lyrics by Donna Summer); “Looking for Love” from Urban Cowboy (music and lyrics by Wanda Mallette, Patti Ryan and Bob Morrison); “Nine to Five” from 9 to 5 (music and lyrics by Dolly Parton); “Late in the Evening“ from One Trick Pony (music and lyrics by Paul Simon); “Is It Okay If I Call You Mine?” from Fame (music and lyrics by Paul McCrane))
SCORING FOR A MUSICAL/ADAPTATION SCORING: Paul Simon, ONE TRICK PONY (2nd: Harry Nilsson, Popeye)
SPECIAL EFFECTS: THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK (2nd: Altered States)
MAKEUP: THE ELEPHANT MAN (2nd: Altered States)
Ooh, nice to see some love for Barta. Have you seen his ’86 version of The Pied Piper? I’m a big fan of that one.
I haven’t seen that, but I’ll try and find it now. I was totally captivated by this year’s short by him! Thanks for introducing me to it!
Here we go: http://www.fandor.com/films/the_pied_piper_of_hamelin
1980 is one of the most interesting years for me, personally, as it’s one that’s seen my affections change drastically as my tastes changed as I grew. Always, as a teenager and young adult, I had been washed over by the visual audacity of Scorsese’s daring work on RAGING BULL. The use of the hand-held camera, the black and white photography, the extreme close-ups in the most intense moments…
Yet, as I grew, my tastes started to shift and I started to understand the genius of being audacious while maintaining polish on the surface. In the case of this particular year, I grew away from what would seem the obvious and risky work of a young director trying to make good on his promise from previous works in the 1970’s, that harked in one of the great film-makers to emerge, and, instead, honed in on a master director, so ahead of everyone else on the planet, who was slowly bowling me over with his slick simplicity. It took several viewings of his offering from 1980 to make me realize he was being far more audacious and creative than anyone. All this, and more, without setting off all the pops and whistles his younger contemporaries were…
Sometimes the youth have to stand aside and let the old masters show ‘em how it’s done…
Soooooooooooooooooooooooo…
BEST PICTURE: THE SHINING
Top 5: 1. The Shining 2. Raging Bull 3. Ordinary People 4. The Elephant Man 5. Atlantic City
A horror film puzzle on top of a puzzle on top of a puzzle, Kubricks kinda-sorta adaptation of Stephen Kings pot-boiler horror masterpiece is even better than the book and, with Stanley at the helm as director and co-screen-writer, the pulpy text of the best-seller takes on far deeper themes of reincarnation, moral wrestlings of the soul and questions the very ideals of existentialism. Looking at THE SHINING again and again, you realize that what Kubrick is doing in what seems to be a simple way is anything but and the whole show twists and turns and folds over again and again till you’re left shouting out in horrifically hysterical madness…
Like all of Kubrick’s films, THE SHINING begs for repeat viewing where you catch something you never noticed the time before and continue to notice things with every viewing after. Replete with symbolism involving racism, the prosecution of the Native Americans, conspiracy theories in both politics and secret organizations, religion and the questions involving death and the afterlife, THE SHINING reveals itself as one of Stanleys unequivocal masterworks and it’s a film that gets better and better every time you see it. To me, this is the supreme masterpiece of 1980.
DIRECTOR: Stanley KUBRICK (The Shining)
Runners Up: Martin Scorsese (Raging Bull), David Lynch (The Elephant Man), Louis Malle (Atlantic City), Bruce Beresford (Breaker Morant)
Are we kidding here? In comparison to Kubrick, Scorsese’s foray into daring looks like film-school fodder. Sure, there’s Marty’s unflagging attention to detail and his work in the boxing ring is the, now, textbook example of how you shoot a prize fight…
But, Kubrick gets wild with his use of the steadi-cam and takes his camera into places you’d never dream of. The low camera angles as Danny rides his “big-wheel” though the massive corridors of the Overlook Hotel, the unnerving use of sound as the tricycle goes from hard floor to carpet-hard floor to carpet, the eerie incandescence of the midnight lanterns on snow as the ax wielding Jack chases his son into the hedge maze, the crashing of the blood ocean onto the white tiled floors as it gushes from the open elevator doors. These images weren’t just thrown together for the fuck of it. Kubrick is playing us like a violin and he knows exactly what scares us… Basically, he’s playing up to our own fears of the unknown that plague us everyday in our regular thinking… To Kubrick’s credit as a brilliant director, he also pulls one of the all-time great performances, a signature piece, from the ever reliable, always interesting Jack Nicholson who conquers ever scene he’s in front of the camera.
Borrowing his visual style from the photographic work of Diane Arbus, Kubrick is able to unsettle with the simple grotesquery of little girls in white-n-blue dresses and a helicopter tracking shot that acts like evil following Jack to his place of destiny. This is a film director going all out without ever questioning his abilities and knowing he’s the one they all bow to in the end.
When the smoke clears and film is an ancient art-form, those that study it will realize and know THE SHINING for the absolute masterpiece it is…
Rightfully, one of the 5 greatest horror films in history and, yet, so much more.
LEAD ACTOR: Robert DENIRO (Raging Bull)
Runners Up: Jack Nicholson (The Shining), Timothy Hutton (Ordinary People), Robert Duvall (The Great Santini), Burt Lancaster (Atlantic City)
The toughest category and, yet, I will hold back and give credit where it’s due. First off, it’s a daunting and painful thing for me to have to deny young Timothy Hutton the top slot (and, he is, most definitely, the LEAD performer) with his quietly effecting work as a teenager in the grip of depression and hysteria in ORDINARY PEOPLE. It’s a performance that, were it any other year, would have won my vote in a heartbeat as I consider his work in this film one of the finest examples of suffering emotions I have ever seen. He’s heartbreaking and triumphant.
However, BEST IS BEST and two men in the field are, literally, killing themselves for the top slot.
Jack Nicholson gives one of his three great signature turns (for the record, the other two are CHINATOWN and ONE FLEW OVER THE CUCKOO’S NEST) as the former alcoholic reeling into psychopathic insanity when otherworldly forces force him to face his horrifying true identity. Unnervingly funny, Nicholson has a veritable field-day coming slowly unwrapped and I take umbrance to those who say he’s playing it over-the-top from scene one. Watch carefully and you’ll see the slow descent of his mind take place as he unravels with every instance in the film. A text-book example on how to play a total psychotic, the performance has grown in stature so much that it cannot be denied as one of the true greats of the 80’s.
But…
DeNiro is the victor as the sacrifices the actor makes to BECOME middleweight champion Jake Lamotta go beyond just the mindset. Losing a whopping 45 pounds to get himself into perfect physical condition for the boxing moments, he then explodes to an enormous 250 pounds to show us Jake at his most slovenly and inescapably disturbed. From his precision in the boxing sequences (the best ever filmed) to his on again-off again erratic and animalistic outbursts of verbal and physical abuse, there is just too much detail in the performance to think it’s anything other than a juggernaut turn that begs consideration. I have had harsh words for this actor both before and after RAGING BULL (I think he’s one of the biggest sell-outs in modern film acting), but, for this film, he’s hit every single nail on the head. I may not like Jake LaMaotta, actually I despise the guy, but no one can argue that DeNiro BECAME Jake Lamotta…
LEAD ACTRESS: Ellen BURSTYN (Resurrection)
Runners Up: Mary Tyler Moore (Ordinary People), Sissy Spacek (Coal Miner’s Daughter), Shelly Duvall (The Shining), Gena Rowlands (Gloria)
It would be so easy to throw this to the gutsy and ballsy turn of Rowlands, violently charging in GLORIA. I could talk about Mary Tyler Moore giving it everything she’s got to wipe away our memories of Mary Richards and Laura Petrie and succeeding with her intense denial in ORDINARY PEOPLE. Shelly Duvall truly slams a miraculous performance into the path of Stanley Kubrick, easily the most physically challenging role of the top 5, and remains hysterical for almost the complete 3 hour running time of THE SHINING…
It would be easy for me to throw it to any of the 4 runners-up…
However, if I did that, I would not be pointing everyone towards the little seen and beautifully rendered turn of Ellen Burstyn in the often forgotten (but, no less great) RESURRECTION. As the car-accident victim turned reluctant faith healer, Burstyn is all about timidity till she’s forced to stand her ground against opponents questioning her faith and the convictions in which she presents her gift. It’s a quietly touching and humane performance that brings a sense of lived-in reality to something so questionable and debated. Once you see it you’ll know there is nobody on the roster to match her. It’s a pity so few have seen this remarkable little gem.
SUPP. ACTOR: Joe PESCI (Raging Bull)
Runners Up: Donald Sutherland (Ordinary People), Anthony Hopkins (The Elephant Man), Micheal O’ Keefe (The Great Santini), Bryan Brown (Breaker Morant)
Pesci is a whirl-wind of foul-mouthed, east coast depravity that he’s funny to the point of laughing out loud. As Jake LaMotta’s put upon brother/manager Joey, it’s the supporting turn of the year as he slowly sees his brother for the animal he is and braces for the explosive outbursts that harden even the toughest hearts. He’s a true New Yorker in every inflection, verbal assault and physical movement he makes and this turn will inform every other performance he will give us from 1980 on. A mini-masterwork from a, then, unknown.
SUPP. ACTRESS: Eva le GALIENNE (Resurrection)
Runners Up: Diana Scarwid (Inside Moves), Helen Mirren (The Long Good Friday), Cathy Moriarty (Raging Bull), Mary Steenburgen (Melvin and Howard)
How Ellen Burstyn coaxed one of the grand dames of the Broadway stage back into acting after years of retirement is almost as fascinating as the film she makes her return in. As Burstyn’s all-knowing and accepting Grandmother, Galienne is the halo that hovers over Gods chosen voice on earth. Bordering on the divine, she’s an old soul with so many memories that she not only convinces us that something from beyond is taking place but informs us that sometimes miracles can really happen. Her moments on the porch with Burstyn are a tour-de-force of gentility and wisdom and Burstyn herself has said it was the greatest experience she ever had with a fellow thespian.
PHOTO: Stanley KUBRICK-assisted by John Alcott (The Shining)
Runners Up: Takao Saito, Shoji Ueda (Kagemusha), Nestor Almendros (The Last Metro), Freddie Francis (The Elephant Man), Vilmos Zsigmond (Heavens Gate)
Cough! Sputter! Cough!
Only one of the 10 best cinematographers in the history of American film shot THE SHINING and it’s almost ridiculous to think you could cull 4 others to make up the nominations in the category. With THE SHINING, Stanley gets elegant all the while running rampant with his new toy (the steadi-cam) and takes us where so few photographers have ever taken us. Moving from high to low shots, vista master shots and starting the whole ball rolling with one of the greatest, extended aerial shots of all time, his eyes are the evil following the lonely care-taker to his appointment with soulful destruction. The camera, itself, is the ever present specters that haunt the Overlook Hotel.
MUSIC: John MORRIS (The Elephant Man)
Runner Up: Walter/Wendy Carlos (The Shining)
The tinny piano that signifies the lost innocence of David Merrick’s angelic mother and, constantly, reminds us of the human being she always though he was, Morris’s score quietly gets under your skin in delicate motifs that betray the horrors of prejudice/discrimination and dig deep into a soul that is fighting to get out and show itself. Touching and eerie at the same time, it perfectly defines the period of the film without ever sounding of the time.
Only Carlos’s primordial chants and ghostlike chimes for THE SHINING come close.
“Are we kidding here? In comparison to Kubrick, Scorsese’s foray into daring looks like film-school fodder.”
Your hyperbole is getting absurd Dennis. Kubrick may be in the running for greatest (American) director ever (something which I wholeheartedly agree with), but he’s not some god that stands heavens apart from everyone else. Raging Bull is every bit as accomplished as The Shining… cinematically and directorial wise.
Yeah, I agree. It IS getting a little over the top. By the way, Wendy Carlos did the score for THE SHINING with Rachel Elkind. And they only did two tracks–and the title track is an adaptation of an ancient chant (“Dies Irae,” I believe). But most of that score is classical music from Bartok, Penderecki and the like.
Oh, and it’s John Merrick who is the lead character in THE ELEPHANT MAN. David Merrick is a producer of stage, I believe.
You say toe-MAY-toe. I say toe-MAH-toe.
I agree that RAGING BULL is a great film both from a directorial and cinematic point of view. However, the film has lost alot of it’s steam since it’s release in 1980. It’s length seems to bother some (although, not me), and the subject matter, while fascinating, grows monotonous with it’s constant resurgence and repetition (Jake gets jealous, he flips out. Jakes gets jealous, he yells. Jake get jealous, he flips out). This, of course, will either be scoffed at or agreed with depending on the viewer (everyone has an opinion and those opinions should never be deemed absurd hyperbole-we all have our own views and right to them)…
Kubrick is in the running (I agree) as the greatest American director that ever lived (something Scorsese is teter-tottering on, whereas Kubrick seems an absolute given) and, as such, probably should be hoisted into the stratosphere as one of those rare cinematic Gods (God knows we have so few of them) and his work DOES, at times, stand heavens apart from everyone elses (This group made it abundantly clear that BARRY LYNDON is such a type of film). In Scorsese, you have a young director, at the time, giving it his all, satisfyingly working most of the time, but just missing the completely successful brass ring. RAGING BULL has lost some of it’s luster over the years and I’m not the only one that sees it that way, here or in other groups across the net, whereas Kubrick’s THE SHINING seems to gain more and more admirers that think it’s one of Stanley’s top bred dogs. The hyperbole you accuse me of spewing is for a film that shows more and more to the viewer with every television showing, movie-house revival and home video release. It’s a film that is so artistically complex and ingenious that ever detail and brilliant idea about it is difficult to obtain and cull with just a single viewing because there are so many. This has been said about 99% of Kubricks canon and, particularly, about 2001 and THE SHINING.
Furthermore, while we immediate dazzle to the obvious technical and cinematic qualities and details of Scorsese’s film, a film that must take you by the throat, immediately, to keep you with it despite the repugnant subject and main character or die, Stanley’s film works on a slow burn and gradually, majestically, bowls the viewer over with it’s immense intensity and it’s deeply intellectual, psychological themes (a rare thing for what, on the surface, is labeled a mere HORROR film-Stanley’s movie elevated the status of that often maligned genre). That THE SHINING also comes off as a supremely entertaining film while doing all this also trumps the somber beating, almost repulsive enough to keep the casual film-goer from ever looking at it again, that is RAGING BULL.
This is my stance and I think I’m entitled to say it anyway I can to get my view across…
I would never take a pot-shot at you and call your opinion absurd.
But, the proof is in the pudding. If this poll were conducted, say, twenty, even ten years ago, RAGING BULL would probably be topping every ballot and maintaing it’s lauded position as the BEST film of the 80’s that so many critics cited it as in 1990. But, as new generations of film-goers see these films it becomes, more and more, an undeniable toss up between many other films from that decade. Look at the results, here at WITD so far (1pm, Sunday-February 24th)… Kubricks film leads out pack with 5 votes for best picture and the rest of the ballots are made up of a hodge-podge of votes for the likes of, not only RAGING BULL, but Louis Malles ATLANTIC CITY, Kurosawa’s KAGEMUSHA and Fassbinder’s BERLIN ALEXANDERPLATZ.
They’re all over the map in their views with, so far, only one film that seems to be more unanimously agreed upon as a masterpiece: Stanley Kubrick’s THE SHINING. This is not absurd hyperbole but, rather, gaining understanding of one of the most cinematically complex films of our recent movie history. Take a look at the recent documentary, ROOM 237 (which I saw just last week)-an entire, feature-length film discussing the themes and meaning of Kubricks classic and you can see how much more THE SHINING has been milled over, repeat-viewed and discovered as the genius work it is. Something you cannot claim for Scorsese’s film at all.
Funny part of all this is, I ranked RAGING BULL just a hair under Stanleys film; a position I don’t take lightly.
It’s just that, sometimes, angels have to be satisfied with not being called a god despite their gifts to us, the lesser species.
BTW-Maurizio… Did you get my email on BREAKING BAD the other day????
Ok lets try to get through all this together.
I did not receive an email about Breaking Bad in the last few days. But I implore you to watch Enlightened which may be the best show on HBO right now.
“Look at the results, here at WITD so far (1pm, Sunday-February 24th)… Kubricks film leads out pack with 5 votes for best picture and the rest of the ballots are made up of a hodge-podge of votes”
The Shining is only beating Raging Bull 5-3 lol. This is not a slam dunk by any means, but a meager 2 vote lead with many voters like Jon, Shubs, Frank Gallo, Bobby Mac, Mark Smith, etc still to vote.
“That THE SHINING also comes off as a supremely entertaining film while doing all this also trumps the somber beating, almost repulsive enough to keep the casual film-goer from ever looking at it again, that is RAGING BULL.”
I don’t know anyone that has avoided Raging Bull. Every single person I’ve ever known has seen the film. If anything what your arguing can probably be said more about The Shining (though naturally I do not agree). And I’ve watched RB at least 4 times in my life. It’s the final majestically made character study film affiliated with the great 70’s decade of American cinema (well Cutter’s Way is 1981).
“RAGING BULL has lost some of it’s luster over the years and I’m not the only one that sees it that way, here or in other groups across the net, whereas Kubrick’s THE SHINING seems to gain more and more admirers that think it’s one of Stanley’s top bred dogs.”
Raging Bull has lost some of its luster??? Really? Where? I still see a huge block of film lovers declare it the best American film of the 80’s. Just last week I read a poll on some site that had it at number one. I don’t see this backlash your proposing. I need some hard evidence. Lets also remember that The Shining was somewhat maligned when it first came out (unfairly obviously) so it has nowhere to go but up. Raging Bull has pretty much been the Citizen Kane of American film from the 80’s since when…. 1981. Its natural that some minor backlash will develop among natural contrarians of later generations (as has happened with Kane, Bergman, and even Kubrick himself in some circles).
“Take a look at the recent documentary, ROOM 237 (which I saw just last week)-an entire, feature-length film discussing the themes and meaning of Kubricks classic and you can see how much more THE SHINING has been milled over, repeat-viewed and discovered as the genius work it is.”
Yes I’m dying to see this film as well. I have read reviews that say many of the theories are just weird and off the wall though.
I just returned home from the Film Forum and am now preparing my response to Maurizio’s ‘most interesting’ comment on the Oscar thread. Ha!
MAURIZIO-Like I said, toe-MAY-toes vs. toe-MAH-toes.
The facts are that THE SHINING still seems to bring in more new lovers of the film than RAGING BULL does because THE SHINING is repleat with multi-faceted meanings and allusions to other important and interesting themes. That the director of the film is far more revered and, even you’d have to admit, far more microscopically studied than just about any other American director in history, gives the THE SHINING a slight edge IMO.
I mean, c’mon, whether or not you agree with the reading that the people in the documentary ROOM 237 do on the Kubrick classic, it’s telling where the populus stands on these films and their admiration for them when a film like THE SHINING has an entire documentary dedicated to it’s genius. This alone should tell you the popular view is that THE SHINING has emmerged a much more revered and respected film. I’m not a basher of RAGING BULL, far from it (I had it at No. 2 just under THE SHINING), but I am one of the long time lovers of the Scorsese work (one of my favorite American film-makers of all time-for the longest time I thought nothing could beat RAGING BULL for film of the decade) and even I have found it visually arresting but thematically and emotionally redundant. RAGING BULL has alot going for it; superlative performances, tight editing, the supreme depiction of boxing on film and a daring in the visuals and direction that, for many years, saw it vaulted as the best American film of the 80’s. All I’m saying is that it’s over-riding title as the indisputed masterwork of that decade has been challenged since it’s release and that the Kubrick film is one that is heavily competing with it for the top slot.
Again, though, I’d still never bash you in your love for anything by calling it “absurd hyperbole”…
BTW-I re-sent you the BREAKING BAD email (lemme know if you agree with my theories)….
My favorite films of the 80’s are 1. Blue Velvet 2. Raging Bull 3. The Shining 4. Once Upon A Time In America 5. Blade Runner 6. The Vanishing 7. Dead Ringers 8. Cutter’s Way 9. Nostalghia 10. Blow Out 11. The King Of Comedy 12. Ran 13. Fanny And Alexander 14. Das Boot 15. Full Metal Jacket etc….
As you can see I know how great The Shining is. I’m with you on every point Dennis. I just don’t need to knock an equally great film to elevate Kubrick’s. And the hyperbole comment was not meant to be taken so serious. I know you are a passionate guy when it comes to movies.
I wasn’t knocking RAGING BULL, just pointing out that the consensus on the film has waned a little since it’s release while the Kubrick has grown in respected stature since 1980. I had RAGING BULL at No. 2, so you can see I rank it almost as high. However, where I differ with you is in the feeling that I think THE SHINING a greater film, closer to masterpiece status than most, whereas RAGING BULL is a great movie, well done, but not on the level of Kubricks labrynthine film.
As for my favorite films of the 80’s???? Hard to list them in order… I know that I think BLUE VELVET, FANNY AND ALEXANDER, CRIMES AND MISDEMEANORS, JEAN DE FLORETTE, THE LAST TEMPTATION OF CHRIST, BRAZIL, THE SHINING and others would make the list… I’d probably go with FANNY AND ALEXANDER for the top slot…
“Kubricks film leads out pack with 5 votes for best picture and the rest of the ballots are made up of a hodge-podge of votes for the likes of, not only RAGING BULL, but Louis Malles ATLANTIC CITY, Kurosawa’s KAGEMUSHA and Fassbinder’s BERLIN ALEXANDERPLATZ.”
Raging Bull now leads 10-6 Dennis. I knew it was too early back on Sunday to make bold predictions on The Shining dominating this poll.
This discussion about Raging Bull is interesting, because to my mind it’s the last of the “consensus classics” – the last film whose place in the canon seems relatively unanimous and assured, year after year. Any contenders after that feel more marginal (supported by some, ignored by others) or controversial; Schindler’s List for example generated a slew of monumental praise but remains very controversial in a way Scorsese’s film – or earlier canonical contenders like Citizen Kane or, eventually (though not for a while) The Searchesrs – wasn’t/isn’t.
Because it ended the New Hollywood era which most critics or historians, whatever their otherwise differing vantage points, consider a semi-golden age its status seems relatively agreed-upon. Since then, among other factors, there’s been more of a divide between movies and films which has colored canonization.
As for The Shining, perhaps in time it will be to horror films what The Searchers is to westerns or Singin’ in the Rain is to musicals. Its cult still feels more of a recent vintage to me though; I recall seeing it celebrated as Kubrick’s best film shortly after his death in Entertainment Weekly which at the time seemed like a very bizarre, even contrarian gesture. It’s become more common in the 13 years since then, but not I think to the point of rivaling 2001 or even A Clockwork Orange in terms of their lodging in the firmament.
Best Picture – Atlantic City
Best Director – Louis Malle (Atlantic City)
Best Actor – Burt Lancaster Atlantic City
Best Actress – Ellen Burstyn Resurrection
Best Supp Actor – Timothy Hutton Ordinary People
Best Supp Actress – Susan Sarandon Atlantic City
Best Picture: The Shining
Berlin Alexanderplatz can be eligible but its form is not cinema but TV. It’s good, but doesn’t count for me.
(Runners-up: The Elephant Man, Raging Bull, Dressed to Kill, Loulou)
Best Director: Stanley Kubrick (The Shining)
Best Actor: Jack Nicholson (The Shining)
Best Actress: Isabelle Huppert (Loulou)
Supporting Actor: Joe Pesci (Raging Bull)
Supporting Actress: Cathy Moriarty (Raging Bull)
Cinematography: Michael Chapman (Raging Bull)
Score: John Morris (The Elephant Man)
Camolas, BA was originally shown on cinema screens, but it is true in America it began on TV.
OK, so here’s my cockblock vote maybe to keep Kubrick from winning YET ANOTHER award from WiTD (is this underhanded, petty and mean-sprited?), but Christ, Kubrick already has four wins under his Steadicam. Are we overcompensating him for the fact that he never won an Oscar?
Film: ‘Raging Bull’ — No. #53 (tied with ‘Rear Window’) on the 2012 Sight & Sound poll, so I refute the assertion that this film has lost its luster over the years. It’s as muscular and relentless as ever. RU: (Consigning this to runner-up status really hurts, but I hate ties), ‘Berlin Alexanderplatz’
Director: Scorsese; Fassbinder (both head and shoulders above the field)
Actor: Robert De Niro RU: Gunter Lamprecht & Edward Woodward
Actress: Shelley Duvall (either ‘The Shining’ or ‘Popeye’, take your pick) RU: Goldie Hawn & Gena Rowlands
S. Actor: Joe Pesci RU: Roberts Blossom & Jack Thompson
S. Actress: Barbara Sukowa RU: Cathy Moriarty & Eva La Gallienne
Photography: Vilmos Zsigmond (Heaven’s Gate); Freddie Francis (The Elephant Man); John Bailey (American Gigolo & Ordinary People)
Mark, Kubrick did indeed win Best Director four times, but he didn’t win Best Picture for A CLOCKWORK ORANGE, so on that front he has won three, which is still quite a few.
Is he WiTD’s winningest director so far?
Mark I believe he is.
And he probably should win in 1999 (and possibly 1987) as well lol. I might switch my vote just for shits and giggles (I kid you not I determined RB over The Shining on the flip of a coin). Kubrick for 6 Best Pictures…. who’s with me!!!!!!
If it was not for THE LAST PICTURE SHOW Kubrick would win in 1971.
As it is he wins for BARRY LYNDON, and after BERLIN wins for THE SHINING.
He is neck and neck with Leone in 1968 for 2001. I am one of the few that does not give him top prize in 1964 for DR. STRANGELOVE, as I have several over him.
He is absolutely one of the greatest of all American directors.
You two are really trying to piss me off, aren’t you? hehe. So WiTD has now coronated Mr. K. the greatest director of all time?!?! I’m sure Eisenstein and Welles and Lang and Ozu will be glad to hear it.
Funny enough Sam I agree with you on Dr Strangelove. But I have ultimately come to the conclusion that his color films are the ones that really elevated his art. Other than Lolita (which is a failure on other grounds) the rest of his pre 1968 films are just really good studio era films and not particularly unique.
Not of all-time Mark! Only among American directors. You know I have Bergman, Bresson, Ozu, Chaplin, Murnau, Renoir and others on top, not to mention the ones you cite.
His “color” films have absolutely elevated his art. I couldn’t agree with more on that vital point!
Eisenstein… perhaps if we were in a university.
Roca, I am diametrically opposed to your view of Kubrick’s work. I would collpase with gratitude to see just one film a year as good as either ‘Lolita’ or ‘Dr. Strangelove’.
I thought you were a great admirer of the ‘Ivan’ movies?
I am. Is that enough for best director ever? Like Griffith he’s mostly an essential part of a course on editing and film theory/history.
Oh, and to pick up on Joel’s custom — Best Line: “Excuse me stewardess, but I speak jive” from ‘Airplane’.
Good picks, this week and last. I instituted the category with high hopes, but each week for whatever reason I find I can only remember the most famous quotes. Don’t have enough of a memory for dialogue, I guess. Or at least I can’t stock an imaginary rotating shelf with examples the way I can with other categories for some reason.
My favorites…
MANHATTAN (Woody Allen to Mariel Hemingway as they ride in a horse drawn carriage through Central Park at Midnight)
MILES: You’re God’s answer to Job. All God would have to do is point at you and say: “I may do alot of horrible things, but I can still make one of these.”
THE SHINING (Jack to Wendy as he backs her up the staircase)
“Wendy, darling, light of my life, I said I wasn’t gonna hurt you. I’m just gonna bash your brains in.”
RAGING BULL (Joey to Jake)
“Try a little more fucking and alot less eating. Then you won’t have to worry about your weight so much and you won’t take shit out on me all the time! Ya fucking nut!”
THE BLUES BROTHERS (as Elwood and Jake drive the “Blue Mobile” through a crowded indoor mall)
Elwood: Ahhhh, look! New Cadillac’s came in!
Jake: Yeah, this fucking mall’s got everything.
INSATIABLE (Marilyn Chamber to driver whose car has broken down on the road. They’re attempting to us a hose to ciphen gas from her car to his)
Marilyn(handing the hose to the young driver): You suck this… And I’ll suck on this…
Y’all can keep your Kubricks and Scorseses – this year, there’s a David Lynch film to vote for! an Altman too, though I’m not a big fan of Popeye…
PICTURE: Elephant Man
DIRECTOR: Kurosawa
LEAD ACTOR: John Hurt, Elephant Man
LEAD ACTRESS: Susan Sarandon, Atlantic City
SUPPORTING ACTOR: Peter Boyle, Where the Buffalo Roam
SUPPORTING ACTRESS: Mary Steenbergen, Melvin and Howard
SHORT: not yet…
SCORE: I think this is the Elephant Man, too…
CINEMATOGRAPHY: Freddie Francis, the Elephant Man
Plus bonus picks:
Script: Let’s give this to Airplane!
Music/Sound: I’m inclined to be perverse and name Harry Nilsson for Popeye… or the Elephant Man again, since Lynch is always a master with sound…
Pic- Raging Bull
Dir- Scorsese
Actor- De Niro – Raging Bull
Actress- Sissy Spacek – Coal Miner’s Daughter
Supp. Actor – (Write-in) Christopher Walken – Heaven’s Gate
Supp. Actress- (Write-in) Isabelle Huppert – Heaven’s Gate
(Debatable between supporting and best….however she should be on the list somewhere). One of the best things about the movie.
Cinematography – Zsigmond – Heaven’s Gate
Score- Williams – The Empire Strikes Back
Picture: Ordinary People
Director: Robert Redford (Ordinary People)
Actor: Robert Duvall
Actress: Ellen Burstyn
Sup. Actor: Tim Hutton
Sup. Actress: Cathy Moriarty
Cinematography: Michael Chapman
Score: John Williams
Best Picture: The Elephant Man
Best Director: Robert Redord (Ordinary People)
Best Actor: Robert DeNiro (Raging Bull)
Best Actress: Susan Sarandon (Atlantic City)
Best Supporting Actor: Michael O’Keefe (The Great Santini)
Best Supporting Actress: Mary Steenburgen (Melvin and Howard)
Best Cinematography: Freddie Francis (The Elephant Man)
Best Score: John Corigiliano (Altered States)
Best Short (Act of God)
difficult year tp pick between Raging Bull, Ordinary People and The Elephant Man………….
Best Picture: Raging Bull
Best Director: David Lynch (The Elephant Man)
Best Actor: Burt Lancaster (Atlantic City)
Best Actress: Mary Tyler Moore (Ordinary People)
Best Supporting Actor: Timothy Hutton (Ordinary People)
Best Supporting Actress: Diana Scarwid (Inside Moves)
Best Cinematography: Freddie Francis (The Elephant Man)
Best Score: Elmer Bernstein (The Great Santini) good choice Sam.
Best Short: Nocturne
PICTURE: THE SHINING
DIRECTOR: Stanley Kubrick (The Shining)
ACTOR: DeNiro (Raging Bull)
ACTRESS: Ellen Burstyn (Resurrection)
SUPP. ACTOR: Micheal O’ Keefe (The Great Santini)
SUPP. ACTRESS: Eva le Galienne (Resurrection)
PHOTOGRAPHY: Micheal Chapman (Raging Bull)
MUSIC: Elmer Bernstain (The Great Santini)
Top five for 1980:
1. Heaven’s Gate – Michael Cimino
2. Stardust Memories – Woody Allen
3. Sauve qui peut (la vie) – Jean-Luc Godard
4. The Shining – Stanley Kubrick
5. Berlin Alexanderplatz – Rainer Werner Fassbinder
Best Picture: Heaven’s Gate
Best Director: Stanley Kubrick
Best Actor: Robert De Niro (Raging Bull)
Best Actress: Shelley Duvall (The Shining)
Best supporting actor: Joe Pesci (Raging Bull)
Best supporting actress: Charlotte Rampling (Stardust Memories)
Best Cinematography: John Alcott (The Shining)
Best Score: David Mansfield (Heaven’s Gate)
Nice to see HEAVEN’S GATE getting the recognition it deserves.
So the greatest decades in film history are done with. 80s and 90s, though not necessarily bad, would pale in comparison to 50s, 60s & 70s. Anyway, I’m sure it’d still be fun & darn interesting to continue this excercise even if, presumably, it’d not be as challenging as the earlier decades.
Anyway, please find below my choices for 1980:-
Best Picture: Raging Bull
Best Director: Martin Scorsese (Raging Bull) & Stanley Kubrick (The Shining)
Best Actor: Robert De Niro (Raging Bull)
Best Actress: Theresa Russell (Bad Timing)
Best Supporting Actor: Joe Pesci (Raging Bull)
Best Supporting Actress: Hanna Schygulla (Berlin Alexanderplatz)
Best Cinematography: John Alcott (The Shining)
Best Score: The Shining
Top 10:
1. Raging Bull
2. The Shining
3. Akaler Shandhane/In Search of Famine (dir. Mrinal Sen)
4. Berlin Alexanderplatz
5. Cutting It Short
6. The Aviator’s Wife (isn’t this a 1981 film?)
7. Bad Timing
8. Stardust Memories
9. The Last Metro
10. Altered States
Best Picture: Ordinary People
Best Director: Redford (Ordinary People)
Best Actor: Burt Lancaster (Atlantic City)
Best Actress: Mary Tyler Moore (Ordinary People)
Best Supp. Actor: Timothy Hutton (Ordinary People)
Best Supporting Actress: Mary Steenburgen (Melvin and Howard)
Best Cinematography: Takao Saito, Shoji Ueda (Kagemusha)
Best Score: John Barry (Somewhere in Time)
Best Short: Larissa
Pic- Raging Bull & Berlin Alexanderplatz (tie)
Director- Fassbinder & Scorsese (tie)
Actor- DeNiro
Actress- Burstyn
S. Actor- Pesci
S. Actress- Steenbergen
Cinematography- Zseigmond
Music- Williams
Best Picture-The Shining
Best Director-Stanley Kubrick
Best Actor-Robert De Niro, Raging Bull
Best Actress-Mary Tyler Moore, Ordinary People
Best Supporting Actor-Timothy Hutton, Ordinary People
Best supporting Actress-Susan Sarandon, Atlantic City
Cinematography, John Alcott, The Shining
Best Original Score – John Williams, The Empire Strikes Back
Picture-Raging Bull
Director-Martin Scorsese – Raging Bull
Actor-Robert De Niro – Raging Bull
Actress-Sissy Spacek – Coal Miner’s Daughter
Supporting Actor – Michael Caine – Dressed to Kill
Supporting Actress – Diana Scarwid – Inside Moves
Cinematography – Fred Francis – The Elephant Man
Score – John Williams – The Empire Strikes Back
Short – Making The Shining – Vivien Kubrick
Just watched one of the nominees.
LOL.
My friend’s dad always used to sing this when we were kids, I had no idea of the actual source until now. I will be singing this in my sleep…
Well, I swear there was a link here. Anyway, it was the Fish Heads one.
I’m ready to change my vote to FISH HEADS!!
One of the GREAT videos!
You know part of Barnes and Barnes was Bily Mumy, the young boy star of Irwin Allen’s 60s TV show LOST IN SPACE…?
By the way, do videos now count as short films????
Yeah, definitely – some of the best short films of the 90s were music videos, imo.
Why not!! TV shows are now counted as movies.
Best Picture: ORDINARY PEOPLE
Best Director: Martin Scorcese for RAGING BULL
Best Actor: Robert De Niro for RAGING BULL
Best Actress: Mary Tyler Moore for ORDINARY PEOPLE
Best Supporting Actor: Timothy Hutton for ORDINARY PEOPLE
Best Supporting Actress: Mary Steenburgen for MELVIN AND HOWARD
Best Cinematography: Freddie Francis for THE ELEPHANT MAN
Best Score: Pino Donnagio for DRESSED TO KILL
Best Short N/A