Back To The Future
This truly Immortal Classic, released in 1985 and almost instantly becoming one of the most beloved works in the history of cinema that still retains its enormous popularity today, works so well because in spite of the sci fi / time travel elements, has at its core a moving, touching, and yet for its time incredibly ORIGINAL story that transcends all known boundaries of critical dissertation. That along with a number of engaging comedic performances helped along by lighthearted dialogue and the wonderful â80sâ vibe that helped propel so many films of that decade to greatness. It could have turned out different: Eric Stoltz was originally cast as Marty McFly and filming commenced with him for a month, during which time he either ignored or was unable to fulfill director Robert Zemeckisâ wishes for a more comic type performance and was playing McFly almost âstraightâ as if he were in a serious drama along with pissing off several members of cast and crew. Finally, he was fired (with only snippets of the footage featuring his performance ever seeing the light of day) and Michael J. Fox (whom Zemeckis had wanted for the role all along) was finally able to convince the producers of Family Ties to free him up a bit and allow him to still do the show and do the movie all at once (a majorly grueling ordeal that showed his dedication to getting the opportunity), with much of the characterâs hilarious exasperation probably stemming from the fact that Fox was just so damn TIRED on set but winning viewers over with one of the most goofy and likable teen characters ever. The story of course was a pitch artistâs dream: Wanna be teen rock star McFly who comes from a borderline pathetic white trash family winds up traveling back in time to when his own parents were teens and messes up their first meeting which in turn threatens his own existence, then must work to straighten them out and get the two of them together while finding a way back home. Helping him out along the way is the equally iconic character of Doc Brown, an older, dyed in the wool mad scientist and inventor of the time machine who happens to be the kidâs best friend (a weird type of relationship even back then thatâs completely negated by the chemistry between the two actors) and played to the hilt and lovably so by Christopher Lloyd, another in the long line of badass character actors who many find it baffling that he has never even been nominated for an Oscar, much less won. The two make a great team, both here and in the sequels, and manage to carry the whole thing off seamlessly with their peerless interaction and comic timing. But thereâs other performances to be savored here as well: Lea Thompson as McFlyâs mother who develops a crush on her future son is cute and innocent while also being naughty and bad at the same time; Crispin Glover as George McFly (an iconic turn in its own right), McFlyâs bumbling ass of a dad who scores major comic points in both his older incarnation (laughing like a asshole at a Honeymooners rerun) and younger version as well, all while managing to be convincingly likable and charismatic while also being so embarrassingly awkward and dorky almost to the point of making us wince. A shame because the notoriously eccentric Glover was also said to be difficult to work with, before completely rebelling and burning his bridges with the producers by refusing to return for the sequels and then suing when stock footage from the first featuring him was reused for Part 2. And then thereâs Thomas F. Wilson (an actor whoâs popped up in so many character parts in films that youâd never recognize him from his most iconic role) as Biff Tannen, still to this day the most well known and remembered âbullyâ character in the history of movies, getting the concept of the tough talking yet emotionally insecure control freak asshole perfectly down pat, and making such an impact that his participation in the sequels (even playing different characters) was pretty much a given, complete with a trio of teen henchmen, two of which (Billy Zane and Casey Siemaszko) went on to become major stars themselves. Another overlooked contribution comes from Claudia Wells as McFlyâs girlfriend Jennifer (sloppily replaced by Elisabeth Shue in the sequels) playing the type of girlfriend weâd all like to have with limited screen time: beautiful, protective, comforting, and warm, not at all like the broad caricature Shue made her into. As said, the 80s feel that makes it so comforting to those today that grew up during that time is epitomized by Huey Lewisâ theme songs The Power Of Love and Back In Time. In short, this is the type of film that requires no second viewing to grasp what makes it great and why we love it, as everything, up to the make the audience stand up and cheer final showdown with Biff to the emotionally charged final victory for Marty in saving himself (and his brother and sister) from being erased from time (complete with his own victory jam) to the wild final minutes that set up the next sequel (where the intricacies of time travel theories would take precedence over the story) to the overall confidence and verve displayed by Zemeckis in the directorâs chair and he and Bob Gale as screenwriters, the whole thing is what it is: The Perfect Blockbuster, The Ultimate Crowd Pleaser, and a movie destined to be passed down in the centuries to come as a must watch for all who prefer to be entertainedâŚ
10/10