Readers’ Top 10 films for 1986

Press, 24 December 1986, Page 12

Readers’ Top 10 films for 1986

It is good to see that there are sufficient cinema-goers with the discernment to choose that fine English comedy of manners, “A Room With a View,” as their favourite film for 1986, and also to have spent the time to write and tell me so. Basically, their judgement showed good taste (in as much as it was very similar to my own favourites), and there were really only two surprises in our readers’ choice of the Top 10 for 1986: 1. “A Room With a View.” 2. “Kiss of the Spider Woman.” 3. “Aliens.” 4. “Ruthless People.” 5. “Out of Africa.” 6. “Jagged Edge.” 7. “Crocodile Dundee.” 8. “The Hitcher.” 9. “Teen Wolf.” 10. “Hannah and Her Sisters.” Of these 10, it is beyond my comprehension how “Teen Wolf” managed to get in there; and while Rutger Hauer’s “The Hitcher” is excellent in the field of sadistic trillers, it certainly would not have been rated among my Top 10, Our readers’ poll, however, is designed to give everyone who cares a chance to express their opinions, and as such, these choices are more than valid.

A pity though, for this means the near miss from inclusions for films like “Plenty,” Woody Alien’s “Purple Rose of Cairo,” or “The Shooting Party.” “The Colour Purple” also missed out.

Despite being a late

contender, it was good to see Paul Hogan’s “Crocodile Dundee” make the list, but whatever happened to “Footrot Flats” which deserved to be there just as much?

Richard Scheib was one of those people who nominated “The Hitcher.” He says: “I like this because it was calculated towards one singular purpose — that of frightening people, of making people imagine the worst, and then producing it. The pure calculatedness of it was stunning.” Richard also included a list of the Worst 10 films, plus his best actor, best screenplay, best director, etc. He certainlydeservesadoublepass to any cinema of his choice. Another film which aroused some differences of opinion was “9>/ 2 Weeks.” A double pass to M. D. Saddler for agreeing with me that it was "The worst film that I saw during the year ... A complete waste of time and money ... Another piece of American nastiness.”

Another perceptive review is Amanda J. Common’s comment on “Legal Eagles,” which she put among her favourites, but went on to say: “Good but not outstanding. Incorrectly marketed as a comedy — more of a dramamystery with some brilliant lines. Lacks the essence of comedy apparent in 'Room With a View’ and ‘Crocodile Dundee’.”

P. Oakley says that “ ‘Crocodile Dundee’ has a maturity and classiness missing from recent comedies and remains consistently about nice

people doing heart-warm-ing, unanticipated things. Hogan’s laconic star quality before the cameras is no more important to the film than his sure touch of just how far to go that makes me happy to accept the outrageous.”

C.E.G. Moisa had more to say about the standards of the cinemas than the films: “It seems that all three chains that put on films in the city and the suburbs employ the services of incompetent sound engineers. They spend thousands of dollars on sound systems, but give very little attention to the design of the cinemas’ heating or air-condition-ing systems. Silences are very important to serious directors in invoking dramatic impact or to create a mood. In cinemas like the Regent 1 (downstairs), the Savoy complex and the Academy, these silences are often ruined by rattlely air conditioning, or humming heating systems.” “Aliens” cannot be forgotten, and Paul Letham, of Ashburton, said: “This movie flashed past in front of my eyes so quickly I know I’ll have to see it again. The special effects were excellent and the over-all atmosphere quite different from the original ‘Alien’.” Lyndon Bowden talks about the onslaught of the video, and the disappearance of cinemas. He says, however, that “cinemas still hold the element of surprise by releasing most new movies first, but the margin is narrowing. Why don’t the distributors

make the most of this asset and promote their new releases with conviction? Or how about cutprice 5 p.m. sessions rather than cutting them out all together ... Times certainly are changing when you realise that the Avon is now the city’s last surviving theatre with upstairs and downstairs seating ... It’s promising to see the opening of the Metro and at least three potential blockbusters (‘Aliens,’ ‘Crocodile Dundee’ and ‘Footrot Flats’) to liven up the industry.”

I would like to thank again the many people who help each year in compiling the readers’ list of Top 10 films, and for their comment. Would the seven people quoted about get in touch with me as soon as possible so that we can arrange double passes to cinemas of their choice.

I will be going on holiday at the end of the year, so this will have to be arranged before then.