My Choice for the Best Films of 1981

Since information for this entry took a while to compile, I will simply list the films in my order of preference without commentary.

On a personal note, I hope my friend Moviezzz who has or had a great blog called Moviezzz (http://www.moviezzz.blogspot.com). I really enjoyed his review of a concert from the Go-Gos in Northhampton, Mass., earlier this summer. Moviezzz has alas not posted a new entry since June! That girl band was actually very popular in 1981 due their hit record "Vacation," which featured the mega-hit of the same name.

One film from the class of 1981, "Time Bandits" (dir. Terry Gilliam) will screen in a 35-mm print at the Carolina Theatre in Greensboro, NC, tomorrow night.

Last year, my friend Blake Lipscomb and I 'sweded' the film "My Dinner with Andre" which was shown at part of a sueded film festival at The Shadowbox Cinema in my hometown of Roanoke, Va., where we filmed our version of "Andre." Ironically, the actual film, which is set in New York, was filmed at an abonded hotel in Richmond, Va.

Here is the list:

1) "Atlantic City" (dir. Louis Malle)

2) "The Gods Must Be Crazy" (South Africa. dir. Jamie Uys)

3) "Das Boot" (Germany. dir. Wolfgang Petersen)

4) "An American Werewolf in London" (dir. John Landis)

5) "The Road Warrior" (Australia. dir. George Miller)

6) "Body Heat" (dir. Lawrene Kasdan)

7) "Prince of the City" (dir. Sidney Lumet)

8) "Raiders of the Lost Ark" (dir. Steven Spielberg)

9) "My Dinner with Andre" (dir. Louis Malle)

10) "Blow Out" (dir. Brian DePalma)

Status Update- Getting Ready to Remake My Dinner with Andre!

My good friend Tony (pse) and I are apparently getting ready to remake "My Dinner with Andre," but we are going to have our own script and it will be a ten-minute film.

We are currently scouting locations in and around Roanoke, Va. Ironically, much to my surprise, I found out the actual 1981 film was shot at the old Jefferson Hotel in Richmond, Va., even though the film takes place in New York.

There are apparently "My Dinner with Andre" action figures for sale on the Internet, but I couldn't find any images. The screenplay by Andre Gregory and Wallace Shawn, who are also the only two actors in the film, is for sale through outlets like amazon.com as well.

"My Dinner with Andre" was directed by Louis Malle, and it has developed a cult following. Amazingly enough, The Criterion Collection has also introduced a full second dvd of 'extras' to go along with the film!

We will be conducting the shoot so that we can hopefully have it screened at the Shadowbox Cinema in Roanoke as part of their 'sweded film series.'