More from Kirk Ellis
‘Desperately Seeking Susan’: THR’s 1985 Review
On March 29, 1985, Orion unveiled the breezy Desperately Seeking Susan, featuring Madonna’s first starring film role, in limited release. The Hollywood Reporter’s original review, headlined “‘Susan’ introduces new genre: New Wave screwball comedy,” is below: Desperately Seeking Susan could well usher in a whole new subgenre: New Wave screwball comedy. It’s chief — and […]
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‘Lost in America’: THR’s 1985 Review
On March 15, 1985, Albert Brooks unveiled his R-rated, dark road-trip comedy Lost in America in theaters. The Hollywood Reporter’s original review of the Warner Bros. film is below. Lost in America faces an uphill route to its box-office destination. Former Saturday Night Live filmmaker Albert Brooks’ third feature (after Real Life and Modern Romance) is a wry satire of modern-day […]
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‘Red Dawn’: THR’s 1984 Review
On Aug. 10, 1984, MGM/UA unveiled the war drama Red Dawn, featuring Patrick Swayze and Charlie Sheen, in theaters. The Hollywood Reporter’s original review is below. While John Milius‘ Red Dawn casts little constructive light on modern Anglo-Soviet relations, its rising at the height of our present Olympics-inspired patriotism represents a rather shrewd bit of […]
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‘Dune’: THR’s 1984 Review
On Dec. 14, 1984, David Lynch unveiled a divisive 140-minute epic based on Frank Herbert’s sci-fi classic, Dune, to mixed results in theaters. The Hollywood Reporter’s original review is below: Dune is not the masterpiece its adherents have hoped for — but neither is it the disaster its detractors have claimed. Adapted from Frank Herbert’s sci-fi […]
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‘Beverly Hills Cop’: THR’s 1984 Review
On Dec. 5, 1984, the Beverly Hills Cop franchise was born as the R-rated Eddie Murphy film hit theaters, becoming a $300 million-plus earner in its run. The Hollywood Reporter’s original review is below. Paramount can anticipate a healthy box-office arrest from its Beverly Hills Cop. Larcenously full of the high-tech production values one has […]
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‘Back to the Future’: THR’s 1985 Review
On July 3, 1985, Marty McFly skated into American theaters. Back to the Future, directed by Robert Zemeckis, then became a summer box-office win that spawned multiple sequels and propelled Michael J. Fox’s career. The Hollywood Reporter’s original review is below. It’s easy to see why Universal executives were so excited by Back to the Future. […]
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‘The Terminator’: THR’s 1984 Review
On Oct. 26, 1984, a new sci-fi franchise was launched with the U.S. theatrical debut of The Terminator. That same day, The Hollywood Reporter saw the merits in the film, and even hoped for a sequel. Read the original review below: No doubt about it: Arnold Schwarzenegger was born to play The Terminator. In this […]
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