The Burning 1981 R, 90 min. Genre: Horror / Thriller
Director: Tony Maylam Cast: Brian Matthews, Leah Ayres, Brian Backer, Larry Joshua, Jason Alexander, Holly Hunter, Lou David, Ned Eisenberg, Carrick Glenn, Carolyn Houlihan, Fisher Stevens, Bonnie Deroski, Shelley Bruce, Sarah Chodoff
Teenage campers are terrorized by the disfigured ex-caretaker (Lou David) of the campground. This film is only worth watching to catch Holly Hunter in her film debut.
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Fast Times at Ridgemont High 1982 R, 92 min. Genre: Comedy / Musical / Romance
Director: Amy Heckerling Cast: Sean Penn, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Judge Reinhold, Robert Romanus, Brian Backer, Phoebe Cates, Ray Walston, Eric Stoltz, Vincent Schiavelli, Amanda Wyss, Scott Thomson, Forest Whitaker, Kelli Maroney, Blair Tefkin, D.W. Brown
Lifestyles of teenagers–including jobs, sex, and drugs–are wryly depicted in this film. The story is based on Cameron Crowe's book relating his experiences when he returned to high school and pretended to be a student. While stoned student Jeff Spicoli (Sean Penn) spends much of his time arguing with his history teacher Mr. Hand (Ray Walston), other students–including Stacy (Jennifer Jason Leigh), Linda (Phoebe Cates), Mark (Brian Backer), and Mike (Robert Romanus)–visit the shopping mall, surf, eat fast-food, and experiment with sex. When they do attend class, wild havoc is often the order of the day.
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Loser 2000 PG-13, 96 min. Genre: Comedy / Mystery / Thriller / Romance
Director: Amy Heckerling Cast: Jason Biggs, Mena Suvari, Greg Kinnear, Zak Orth, Thomas Sadoski, Jimmi Simpson, Dan Aykroyd, Twink Caplan, Robert Miano, Colleen Camp, Mollie Israel, Andy Dick, Steven Wright, Brian Backer, David Spade
Adjusting to freshman year at NYU can be difficult for a Midwesterner–as farm boy Paul Tannel (Jason Biggs) learns. Not only do his roommates boot him out of the dorm, but Paul falls for classmate Dora (Mena Suvari) who just happens to be having an affair with Professor Edward Alcott (Greg Kinnear). Despite the contrived plot, the story is a modest success with its appealing characterizations.
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The Money Pit 1986 PG, 91 min. Genre: Comedy
Director: Richard Benjamin Cast: Tom Hanks, Shelley Long, Alexander Godunov, Maureen Stapleton, Joe Mantegna, Philip Bosco, Josh Mostel, Yakov Smirnoff, Carmine Caridi, Brian Backer, John Van Dreelen, Billy Lomardo, Lucille Dobrin, Mia Dillon, Douglass Watson
Walter and Anna Fielding (Tom Hanks and Shelley Long) buy a beautiful old house in suburban New York. The cost of the home was next to nothing. But, as Walter and Anna discover, there is a reason for the low price: the house is badly in need of repair. Walter borrows money to fix the house, and then he and Anna attempt to repair it themselves. Anyone who ever went through house reconstruction, or even dreamed of it, will enjoy this funny movie about the pitfalls of home construction.
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Moving Violations 1985 PG-13, 90 min. Genre: Comedy
Director: Neal Israel Cast: John Murray, Wendie Jo Sperber, Sally Kellerman, Jennifer Tilly, James Keach, Brian Backer, Fred Willard, Ned Eisenberg, Clara Peller, Nedra Volz
An unlucky group of drivers becomes the target of an unscrupulous sheriff (James Keach) in this film that is filled with more car chases than any racing fan could hope for.
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| 1. The Burning (1981)
2. Fast Times at Ridgemont High (1982)
3. Loser (2000)
4. The Money Pit (1986)
5. Moving Violations (1985)
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