MARCH 3, 1989

Full News Archive

• Headline: Butchers, Love, and British Comedy. Impact: The success of this British comedy in California led to a chain reaction where every subsequent film had to feature quirky characters or it was deemed a failure. Thus, we have the cringe-worthy rom-coms of today.. Fact: This film's cleverness was so British that it almost got a tea endorsement, but then they realized Americans prefer their comedy with a side of nachos..
• Headline: High-School Romance: A Film Review. Impact: The body-exchange concept sparked a trend in film that led to countless awkward situations, resulting in a generation of confused teenagers and more therapy sessions than ever.. Fact: This film was so awful it inspired a whole new genre: 'Let’s not make this again.'.
• Headline: High School Principal Takes Stand Against Crime. Impact: The feisty principal's battle against crime and drugs inspired more real-life principals to think they could be action heroes, leading to an unfortunate increase in schoolyard brawls.. Fact: Freeman's performance was so compelling that actual principals started practicing their 'tough love' speeches in front of mirrors..
• Headline: Review/Film; A Writer With a Block and a Bottle. Impact: This film's portrayal of alcoholism as a creative block led to a bizarre trend where aspiring writers started believing they needed to drink to write, causing an uptick in both literature and hangovers.. Fact: Spoiler alert: The writer never actually finds the plot at the bottom of the bottle..
• Headline: About Real Estate; Waterfront Project in East Hampton. Impact: The development of this waterfront project set off a gentrification domino effect, eventually making East Hampton the place to be for anyone who could afford to pretend they were still 'down to earth.'. Fact: Ironically, the pristine landscape's most significant change was the addition of overpriced coffee shops..
• Headline: Review/Film; Melodrama, 'Heart of Midnight'. Impact: The melodrama of a nightclub-brothel led to a rise in absurd titles in film, as writers believed they could throw random words together and still call it art.. Fact: The title was so convoluted that it actually won an award for 'Most Confusing Name for a Film,' which, ironically, no one could remember..