Best movies of 1981
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- 28 titles
- DirectorSteven SpielbergStarsHarrison FordKaren AllenPaul FreemanIn 1936, archaeologists and adventurers of the U.S. government hired Indiana Jones to find the Ark of the Covenant before the Nazis could obtain its extraordinary powers.Grade: A+
- DirectorTerry GilliamStarsSean ConneryShelley DuvallJohn CleeseA young boy accidentally joins a band of time travelling dwarves, as they jump from era to era looking for treasure to steal.Grade: A+
- DirectorLawrence KasdanStarsWilliam HurtKathleen TurnerRichard CrennaDuring an extreme heatwave, a beautiful Florida woman and a seedy lawyer engage in an affair while plotting the murder of her rich husband.Grade: A+
- DirectorBrian De PalmaStarsJohn TravoltaNancy AllenJohn LithgowA movie sound recordist accidentally records the evidence that proves that a car accident was actually murder and consequently finds himself in danger.very underrated. Travolta and Nacy allen are great. John Ligthow is creepy.
Grade:A - DirectorIvan PasserStarsJeff BridgesJohn HeardLisa EichhornRichard spots a man dumping a body, and decides to expose the man he thinks is the culprit with his friend Alex Cutter.John Heard gives one of the best performances of all time, Jeff bridges is subtle but great, In this underrated Neo noir.
Grade: A - DirectorBurt ReynoldsStarsBurt ReynoldsRachel WardVittorio GassmanTom Sharky is demoted to vice after a bust goes terribly wrong. He and his team stumble across a mob murder tied to prostitution and government.One of Burt Reynolds best films. Takes the Burt formula but with a darker tone. Supporting characters- Charles durning, Rachel Ward, and Bernie Casey also shine. Gritty cop film that he also directed.
Grade: A - DirectorMilos FormanStarsJames CagneyElizabeth McGovernHoward E. Rollins Jr.A young black pianist becomes embroiled in the lives of an upper-class white family set among the racial tensions, infidelity, violence and other nostalgic events in early 1900s New York City.Amazing design production, James Cagney return to screen, great cast- Howard rollins is breathtaking (nominated for Oscar) and Elizabeth McGovern nominated at 20 also great.
Grade: A- - DirectorWarren BeattyStarsWarren BeattyDiane KeatonEdward HerrmannA radical American journalist becomes involved with the Communist revolution in Russia, and hopes to bring its spirit and idealism to the United States.One of warran Betty best films a great historical epic and romance
Grade: A- - DirectorJohn BoormanStarsNigel TerryHelen MirrenNicholas ClayMerlin the magician helps Arthur Pendragon unite the Britons around the Round Table of Camelot, even as dark forces conspire to tear it apart.A great knight film.
Grade: A- - DirectorIvan ReitmanStarsBill MurrayJohn CandyHarold RamisTwo friends who are dissatisfied with their jobs decide to join the army for a bit of fun.A classic from the 80s one of Bill Murry's best comedies.
Grade: A- - DirectorDesmond DavisStarsLaurence OlivierHarry HamlinClaire BloomPerseus must battle Medusa and the Kraken to save the Princess Andromeda.They do not make enough of this sword and sandle epics. The stop motion animation was ahead of it's time. Great lead performance and a heroes journey. Cheesy, but in a good way feels like a 1950s film in a good way.
Grade: A- - DirectorRichard MarquandStarsDonald SutherlandKate NelliganStephen MacKennaA ruthless German spy, trying to get out of Britain with vital information about D-Day, must spend time with a young woman and her crippled husband.Donald Sutherland is great here one of the best realistic spy movies. Great production design as well.
Grade: A- - DirectorMichael MannStarsJames CaanTuesday WeldWillie NelsonAfter years in prison, ace safe-cracker Frank owns a car dealership and a cocktail lounge, which are fronts for high-stakes jewelry heists. He wants to complete one last big heist for the Mob before he goes straight.Superb engery from Cann at peak of his powers, stylishly directed by mann, an intelligent but simple crime thriller
Grade: A- - DirectorJohn CarpenterStarsKurt RussellLee Van CleefErnest BorgnineIn 1997, when the U.S. president crashes into Manhattan, now a giant maximum security prison, a convicted bank robber is sent in to rescue him.Kurt Russel is awesome as Snake. Harry dean is also good as brain. Great premise, mood, and sets. Smart fun scfi.
Grade: A- - DirectorSam RaimiStarsBruce CampbellEllen SandweissRichard DeManincorFive friends travel to a cabin in the woods, where they unknowingly release flesh-possessing demons.Bruce Springsteen is great here, classic low budgget horror film, it's creepy, sadistic, has some black humor.
Grade: A- - DirectorSidney LumetStarsTreat WilliamsJerry OrbachRichard ForonjyA New York City narcotics detective reluctantly agrees to cooperate with a special commission investigating police corruption, and soon realises he's in over his head, and nobody can be trusted.One of the most realistic cop movies ever
Grade: A- - DirectorJohn GlenStarsRoger MooreCarole BouquetTopolSecret service agent James Bond is assigned to find a missing British vessel equipped with a weapons encryption device and prevent it from falling into enemy hands.One of the Best bond films of the Moore era, solid set up, good action, fun film.
Grade: B+ - DirectorsTed BermanRichard RichArt StevensStarsMickey RooneyKurt RussellPearl BaileyA fox named Tod and a hound named Copper vow to be best friends forever. But as Copper grows into a hunting dog, their unlikely friendship faces the ultimate test.I think this is one of the most underrated Disney films. The animation and music are great. The voice cast- with Kurt Russel is good and it was a dark kid's film.
Grade: B+ - DirectorJack FiskStarsSissy SpacekEric RobertsSam ShepardA divorcee with two sons has an affair with a young sailor passing through her Texas town in 1944.Sissy is great and was nominated for golden globe. Eric Roberts gives a sweet tender performance unlike his other roles. An interesting twist. Amazing production design bombed at box office
Grade: B+ - DirectorUlu GrosbardStarsRobert De NiroRobert DuvallCharles DurningA worldly ambitious monsignor clashes with his older brother, a cynical Los Angeles homicide detective who is investigating the brutal murder of a young prostitute.Great lead performances by Robert De Niro and Tommy lee jones. Charles Dunning as always is good. Great attention to detail, use of music, costumes, car, and atmosphere. However, the film does not focus enough on its plot which can be frustrating.
Grade: B+ - DirectorSteve GordonStarsDudley MooreLiza MinnelliJohn GielgudAlcoholic billionaire playboy Arthur Bach must marry a woman he does not love, or he will be cut off from his $750,000,000 fortune. But when Arthur falls in love with a poor waitress, he must decide if he wants to choose love or money.Grade: B+
- DirectorWalter HillStarsKeith CarradinePowers BootheFred WardDuring a routine exercise, a team of National Guardsmen are threatened by angry and violent locals.Fred Ward and Powers Booth both give solid performances in this underated Walter hill thriller/ war film.
Grade: B+ - 1981–19831h 36mTV-147.5 (330)TV EpisodeDirectorRod HolcombStarsWilliam KattRobert CulpConnie SelleccaThe Pilot episode of the series. School teacher Ralph Hinkley meets FBI agent Bill Maxwell on a field trip to the desert, where they are met by a UFO that gives them a mission and a red costume with amazing powers. The new team must then use those powers to thwart a conspiracy.TV movie
Grade: B - DirectorsKathryn BigelowMonty MontgomeryStarsWillem DafoeJ. Don FergusonRobert GordonTrouble ensues when a motorcycle gang stops in a small southern town while heading to the races at Daytona.grade: B
- DirectorFriz FrelengStarsMel BlancStan FrebergJune ForayBugs Bunny hosts an award show featuring several classic Looney Toon shorts.first Looney Tunes/Merrie Melodies film with a compilation of classic shorts produced by Warner Bros. Animation. When the full shorts are shown and not just acts of it is where this film thrives.
Grade: B