Podcast Tag: 1980

Christmas Evil (1980 Holiday Bonus)

In the first of two special holiday episodes for this year, we’re looking back to our season on the films of 1980, to talk about holiday horror movie Christmas Evil. Written and directed by Lewis Jackson and starring Brandon Maggart, Jeffrey DeMunn and Dianne Hull, Christmas Evil was banned and vilified in its initial release but has since become a cult classic.
The Shining (1980 Halloween Bonus)

In the third of three special Halloween episodes this year, we’re looking back to our season on the awesome movie year of 1980 to talk about Stanley Kubrick’s The Shining. Directed and co-written by Stanley Kubrick (based on the Stephen King novel) and starring Jack Nicholson, Shelley Duvall, Danny Lloyd and Scatman Crothers, The Shining opened to mixed response but has since become a horror classic.
Raging Bull (1980 Bonus Episode)

This special bonus episode of our season on the awesome movie year of 1980 features Martin Scorsese’s Raging Bull. Directed by Martin Scorsese from a screenplay by Paul Schrader and Mardik Martin and starring Robert De Niro, Joe Pesci and Cathy Moriarty, Raging Bull was nominated for eight Oscars and won two.
The Empire Strikes Back (1980 Bonus Episode)

This special bonus episode of our season on the awesome movie year of 1980 features Star Wars sequel The Empire Strikes Back. Directed by Irvin Kershner from a screenplay by Leigh Brackett and Lawrence Kasdan and starring Mark Hamill, Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher, Anthony Daniels and Frank Oz, The Empire Strikes Back was the highest-grossing movie of 1980 and helped establish Star Wars as a pop-culture force for decades to come.
1980 Epilogue

In this epilogue to our season on the awesome movie year of 1980, we talk about alternate movies we considered including in all of our different categories this season, and read suggestions from some listeners about which movies they hoped we would cover.
The Fog (1980 Audience Choice)

The finale of our season on the awesome movie year of 1980 features our audience choice pick, John Carpenter’s The Fog. Directed and co-written by John Carpenter and starring Adrienne Barbeau, Jamie Lee Curtis, Tom Atkins, Janet Leigh, Ty Mitchell and Hal Holbrook, The Fog prevailed over two other 1980 horror classics in our audience choice poll.
Cruising (1980 Future Cult Classic)

The twelfth episode of our season on the awesome movie year of 1980 features our future cult classic pick, William Friedkin’s Cruising. Written and directed by William Friedkin (based on the novel by Gerald Walker) and starring Al Pacino, Paul Sorvino, Karen Allen, Richard Cox and Don Scardino, Cruising was met with controversy and criticism on its release but has since been reassessed and appreciated.
Ordinary People (1980 Best Picture)

The tenth episode of our season on the awesome movie year of 1980 features the Academy Awards Best Picture winner, Robert Redford’s Ordinary People. Directed by Robert Redford from a script by Alvin Sargent (based on the novel by Judith Guest) and starring Timothy Hutton, Donald Sutherland, Mary Tyler Moore, Judd Hirsch and Elizabeth McGovern, Ordinary People was nominated for six Oscars and won four, including Best Picture.
Gloria (1980 Venice Film Festival Winner)

The ninth episode of our season on the awesome movie year of 1980 features the Venice International Film Festival Golden Lion winner, John Cassavetes’ Gloria. Written and directed by John Cassavetes and starring Gena Rowlands, John Adames, Julie Carmen and Buck Henry, Gloria tied with Louis Malle’s Atlantic City for the Golden Lion at the 1980 Venice International Film Festival.
The Blues Brothers (1980 Jason’s Pick)

The eighth episode of our season on the awesome movie year of 1980 features Jason’s personal pick, John Landis’ The Blues Brothers. Directed and co-written (with Dan Aykroyd) by John Landis and starring Dan Aykroyd, John Belushi, John Candy, Carrie Fisher and a cast of blues and R&B musicians, The Blues Brothers was the first feature film based on a Saturday Night Live sketch.