Patrick Swayze Top Ten

1) Dirty Dancing (1987) - perfect for this kind of role

2) Ghost (1990) - again, great to counter balance a female star

3) Red Dawn (1984) - from his sensible elder brother period

4) The Outsiders (1983) - see above

5) Roadhouse (1989) - JG can't compete

6) Point Break (1991) - masterpiece - his career went into freefall after this

7)  North and South (1985) - forgotten now but a big deal in its day

8) Donnie Darko (2001) - a rare decent credit post 1991

9) Blood Brother episode of MASH (1981) - great ep, good credit

10) Skatetown USA (1979) - put in for fun 

It's so weird how his luck turned so much after he became a star. The booze, I assume. Chasing the money. Hollywood not believing him. He should've made musicals. 

Movie review - "Second Thoughts" (1983) *

 Excuse my French but f*ck this movie and f*ck Larry Turman for directing it and Barry Spikings for investing in it for EMI Films. Craig Wasson has a fling with Lucie Arnaz who decides to abort so he kidnaps her. It's played as a drama.

Nice views of Santa Fe and the actors do their best but the film can get stuffed. 

It is fun to see Larry David pop up as a lawyer. 

Movie review - "The Elephant Man" (1980) ****1/2

 This movie feels forgotten now but one time it was a big deal. Crucial to David Lynch's career. Beautifully shot and handled. Some Hollywood touches - night porter villain for instance - but it works dramatically. Perfect acting, from Anthony Hopkins' decent doctor and Wendy Hiller's empathetic nurse to John Hurt's sensitive work. Splendid make up.

One of the best things EMI Films and Mel Brooks ever did. And Lynch. 

Movie review - "Can't Stop the Music" (1980) **1/2

 Gosh. Big. Splashy. Warm hearted. Very community minded. Dumb. No conflict - n opposition. Too many characters. Great feel of friendship and camraderie. Too many old dames at the end. But the movie just wants to entertain.

Goldcrest Films Top Ten

 1) Chariots of Fire (1981)

2) Escape from New York (1981)

3) Local Hero (1983)

4) Another Country (1984)

5) The Killing Fields (1984)

6) White Mischief (1987)

7) Dance with a Stranger (1985)

8) Absolute Beginners (1987)

9) Cal (1984)

10) The Ploughman's Lunch (1982) 

Movie review - "Memoirs of a Survivor" (1981) **

 On one hand I can see how this got greenlit - classy writer, interesting book, promising director. Julie Christie signed on.

But it's so dull. England in economic collapse but everything is messy and shabby rather than dramatic. Christie watches things. A young girl roots a guy. There's visions of a Victorian era house. 

The movie went on and on. At first I was forgiving but then I became annoyed because it's so doggedly un commercial.

This should've been done for TV if that. I felt like I was in a festival audience watching it. Trying to stay awake.

Movie review - "Drake of England" (1935) **

 George MacDonald Fraser gave this a dismissive review in his book on historical movies. It's got the costumes and sets but isn't very good - Matheson Lang is too old and laid back for Drake. The drama isn't personalised, not really. 

Nice photography. Impressive production values. But dull

It's based on a historical pageant play and feels like it. There's scenes were people march though and music plays. It doesn't dramatise what's going on.

Lost money and no wonder. Dull. Goes through the greatest hits.