AUGUST 28, 1987

Full News Archive

• Headline: 'Hamburger Hill' Depicts Vietnam Combat. Impact: The emotional detachment of war films like 'Hamburger Hill' led to generations being desensitized to real conflict. As a result, future filmmakers felt compelled to up the ante, resulting in a wave of increasingly absurd action movies where the lead can survive a 10-story fall—only to return for the sequel.. Fact: Did you know that 'Hamburger Hill' was actually a nickname for a real battle? Apparently, it was less about the food and more about the carnage. Bon appétit!.
• Headline: Exploring 'Rosary Murders' with Donald Sutherland. Impact: The 'Rosary Murders' sparked a trend of priests being depicted in film as anything but holy. This paved the way for countless 'murder mysteries' featuring clergymen, creating a world where no one could trust their local pastor, leading to a significant drop in church attendance. Who knew confessions could be so bloody?. Fact: Fun fact: Donald Sutherland once played a character who was a killer. Shocking, I know! He really knows how to pick his roles, doesn't he?.
• Headline: Michael Caine in '4th Protocol' Thriller. Impact: The tension between British agents and Soviet spies in '4th Protocol' helped to fuel the Cold War paranoia, leading to a global market for spy gadgets. This ultimately resulted in the invention of the selfie stick, because obviously, we needed to document our espionage adventures.. Fact: Did you know that this movie was based on a book by Frederick Forsyth? Because, you know, nothing says 'gripping espionage' like literature that also requires a thesaurus!.
• Headline: Film: 'Maid to Order,' Starring Ally Sheedy. Impact: The enchanting tale of 'Maid to Order' reinforced the idea that rich people can magically solve their problems with a little sprinkle of fairy dust. This led to a decline in realistic portrayals of service workers in film, as everyone started to believe that a wave of a wand could pay off student loans.. Fact: Ally Sheedy's fairy godmother must have been a real slacker—she only turned her into a maid and not a billionaire. Talk about setting the bar low!.
• Headline: Film: John Sayles's 'Matewan'. Impact: John Sayles's 'Matewan' brought attention to labor struggles, inspiring countless activists and labor unions. Ironically, it also led to the misconception that miners were just a bunch of guys who loved to sing, resulting in a boom in coal-themed musicals.. Fact: Did you know that 'Matewan' is based on a true story? Because nothing says 'Hollywood' like turning real-life labor struggles into an Oscar bait film!.
• Headline: At the Movies. Impact: The portrayal of murder and corruption in 'At the Movies' has set a standard for how we view crime dramas. It created a culture where every crime show needs a 'quirky detective' to solve cases while having a mid-life crisis—now we're all just waiting for the inevitable spin-off featuring their pet cat.. Fact: Curiously blithe? You mean like when crime dramas make murder look like a fun Saturday night? Maybe we should all just grab popcorn and watch the chaos unfold!.