57. The Abyss (1989)
Influential, how? Computers can do characters now...
It lasts just 75 seconds, but needed eight months of work. The 'Pseudopod', which snakes out of the ocean to explore an underwater oil platform was the first ever example of digitally animated CG water.
This being James Cameron, that wasn’t enough. He had the gliding alien water-tentacle replicate Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio’s face, making it also the first ever realistic CG character.
“That's the movie,” says Cameron. “You go down to confront the aliens and all they do is hold up a mirror and show you how fucked up you are.”
Money shot: Cameron thinks the giant wave is even more amazing than his CG tentacle. He’s right.
58. Do The Right Thing (1989)
Influential, how? Fighting the power.
No fake uplift, no clean-cut message, heaps of style: Spike Lee slammed home his take on racism with Public Enemy-enhanced pizazz, granting every character their reason to exist and liberating black cinema as he went.
Money shot: Mookie and Pino debate race. Direct-to-camera racial slurs follow, capped by Samuel L Jackson’s generation-defining slap-down.
59. Sex, Lies And Videotape (1989)
Influential, how? Here come the Sundance kids.
Miramax paid $2 million for Steven Soderberg's Sundance-pleasing voyeurs-and-video debut. They made back over 20 times their investment, in the process setting the blueprint for a new wave of US independent cinema.
Money shot: Ann (MacDowell) turns the camera on perpetual peeper Graham (Spader). And Graham... turns it off.
60. Batman (1989)
Influential, how? The cinema of synergy.
Tim Burton’s Batman was no mere movie. It was a lunchbox, a book, a comic book, two soundtracks, a toy town…
The multinationals of the ’80s created a climate in which movies could be sold through multiple media, thus recouping the costs and then some.
“Cereal manufacturers and fast-food companies were looking over my shoulder the whole time,” Burton fretted. “It was quite horrifying.”
Money shot: The Bat-plane pauses in silhouette over the Moon. Would make a great badge...
Comments
avoidz
Apr 3rd 2009, 14:41
Great article; one of your best. Thanks!
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filmgeek27
Apr 5th 2009, 10:58
Great feature. I have to admit to not buying the magazine for a few months now (I've just been clicking on to the website) but after that I'm going to go out and get this issue
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waldolydecker
Apr 17th 2009, 9:44
Oops! Your "Room at the Top" still is in fact a scene from Clouzot's "Les Diaboliques", starring Simone Signoret and Vera Clouzot - another influential film, no doubt. How could you forget "Rebecca", "Laura", "Singin' in the Rain", etc. Your list is interesting however, but quite a few of the contemporary titles quoted are worthless and will be forgotten in 10 years from now. Wanna bet? See you in 2019!
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WisdomPersona
Apr 17th 2009, 14:40
For the most part, a great list. However, why choose "Mean Streets" as the film that 'plugged in the jukebox'? "American Graffiti" had far more pre-recorded songs, and was released three months earlier. What gives?
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horrorfilmx
Apr 17th 2009, 17:43
Interesting article, but you mention that "Star Wars revolutionised CG visual effects". Star Wars had no CG visual effects, at least not until Lucas redid it decades later. That's why the original Star Wars looks so much more real than all the CGI junk that followed it, and why a generation raised on video games considers it "dated" and "cheesy" --- because they have to grounding in reality any more.
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futureman
Apr 18th 2009, 4:02
Good article but s didn't Superman bring about synergy? They completed a whole series of movies before the first Batman. I was also surprised there was no mention of the movies that influenced the sequel.
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Apathygrrl
Apr 18th 2009, 18:11
I'm actually surprised to find that the original King Kong isn't on your list.
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daveman14
Apr 19th 2009, 2:02
Great list but I'm surprised you left off Trip to the Moon by Melies as it is the first narrative film in history.
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Asterix
Apr 19th 2009, 3:03
Awesome article, but..... Why "Cableguy" (1996) and not "Back to the Future" (1985) (a family movie - the most influential travel time movie)? Why "Batman" (1989) and not "Superman - the movie" (1978) (You can believe a man can fly!...perfectly - the first comic book adaptation of all time)? And, where's the Godfather?????????
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grantmccall
Apr 19th 2009, 4:14
I'm quite surprised that the first feature film ever made isn't in this list: The story of the kelly gang - It's an Australian film, 60 minutes in length.It precedes "Birth of a nation" by 9 years. Oh well, us Aussies usually get left out of most important lists. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Story_of_the_Kelly_Gang
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grantmccall
Apr 19th 2009, 4:15
I'm quite surprised that the first feature film ever made isn't in this list: The story of the kelly gang - It's an Australian film, 60 minutes in length.It precedes "Birth of a nation" by 9 years. Oh well, us Aussies usually get left out of most important lists. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Story_of_the_Kelly_Gang
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heidavey
Apr 19th 2009, 20:08
You're first film is 7 years too late - "Traffic Crossing Leeds Bridge" is widely regarded as the first film, that was followed by "Roundhay garden scene" both in 1888 - http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0343112/ http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0392728/
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Jawsphobia
Apr 22nd 2009, 16:26
In the Blade Runner blurb, neon noir, looks more like a typo of the proper term neo-noir than a play on words. And although Blade Runner has some neon in it it is not wall-to-wall at all.
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ciaraosullivan
Aug 17th 2012, 17:10
I'm surprised that you left out Who Framed Roger Rabbit.
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ciaraosullivan
Jun 13th 2013, 14:11
No mention of Le Voyage dans la Lune?
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