Life Moves Pretty Fast

April 11, 2016
As this book attests, many Hollywood blockbusters of the 1980s have retained their popularity; to audiences beset on all sides by homogenized, focus-grouped studio behemoths, they can seem refreshingly lighthearted and surprisingly honest. In this love letter to ’80s popcorn cinema, Guardian columnist Freeman (The Meaning of Sunglasses) breaks down the life lessons that she gleaned from the work of John Hughes, John Landis, and John Cusack, among many others. Focusing each chapter on a specific title, she uses anecdotes from her own life, interviews with actors and filmmakers, and feminist-flavored social commentary to drive home the continuing relevance of the films, which include Back to the Future, Dirty Dancing, and Ghostbusters. Freeman amply demonstrates why the hits of three decades ago are still beloved of many—not least for their now-
nostalgic sound track choices and core themes of life, love, and friendship. This informative and humorous (if slightly obsessive) book is a recommended read for anyone who has felt abandoned in recent years by mainstream filmmaking. Agent: Georgia Garrett, Rogers, Coleridge and White.

April 15, 2016

Spanning film criticism, cultural analysis, and autobiography, this debut by Guardian columnist Freeman illustrates the lasting appeal of films such as The Princess Bride (1987) and Sixteen Candles (1984), and explains why they wouldn't get made today. Through interviews with producers such as Lynda Obst, Freeman realizes the dominance of the international market and the pressure for blockbusters to financially support film studios leads a risk-averse Hollywood to blandify. Freeman explores how the 1980s saw the rise of the male renegade (Beverly Hills Cop, Lethal Weapon) and male friendship (Ghostbusters) contrasted with the recent man-child trope in film and television. The growing conservatism of America is listed as a reason why Back to the Future (1985), where Lorraine McFly seduces her son, and Dirty Dancing (1987), with frank talk of abortion, would be met with resistance today. Freeman reminds readers that 1980s films celebrated awkwardness instead of erasing it, maintaining that Beverly Hills 90210 (1990) and Clueless (1995) ushered in the current era of aspiration. The poignant final chapter reevaluates Eddie Murphy as a victim of his own success. VERDICT With lists such as the best montages of the decade, this book will inspire readers to rewatch thier favorite 1980s films with a more appreciative (and critical) eye.--Stephanie Sendaula, Library Journal

Copyright 2016 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.