feature: Comedy Poll – Screen Hearts The ’80s With Phantom 105.2’s Cinerama

If you’re one of those lovely people who “like” Average Film Reviews on Facebook then you may already know these polls… but I thought I should probably actually do a proper post on them, let y’all know what the films are and all that kind of thing. Basically what’s happening is that Phantom 105.2’s movie show Cinerama and The Screen Cinema on D’Olier street (but really Hawkins Street) have teamed up to bring you a new season of Screen Hearts ’80s.

The first season of Screen Hearts ’80s ran over this summer and it was so successful they’ve decided to bring it back. This time, with Phantom 105.2’s Cinerama as a partner, they’re handing the movie choices over to us, the punters. Dangerous hey? They’re doing the movie choices by genre and the polls will be on the Cinerama website. They’re over on the right hand side and all you have to do is vote for the film you want to see on the big screen out of the 6 choices that they have. They will also then annouced the poll winner on air at the end of the show.

The action themed poll was last week and unfortunately my best efforts, and those of many other fans, to get RoboCop on-screen were thwarted by a surge in voting on the last day for Commando. What can you do? It did prove though that the voting can go down to the wire so if you want to see your favourite on-screen make sure to keep an eye on how it’s doing!

Anyway, that’s all in the past now and the vote for this week is Comedy. I’m not as invested in the ol’ ’80s comedies as I was in the Action and there are a couple of these I haven’t seen… however I do have a favourite out of the choices. I’m sure you’ve all heard of these films so I’ll just tell you something you might not know about them.

Weekend at Bernie’s (1989) – Did you know that the director of Weekend at Bernie’s, Ted Kotcheff went on to executive produce and even direct some episodes of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit? I didn’t. Mad hey?

Risky Business (1983) – This was arguably the film that launched Tom Cruise’s career… I suppose we all know that, but did you know that Tangerine Dream, who did the sound track for this film, also did the soundtracks for cult ’80s horror films Firestarter and Near Dark. More notably for me though, one of the members did the music for Babylon 5. One of the best sci-fi TV shows ever.

Caddyshack (1980) – The finest golfing movie around and probably a close second for me in this vote… But did you know that it was co-written by Bill Murray’s brother, Brian Doyle-Murray?

Beetle Juice (1988) – The first of two Oscar winning films on this list… Achievement in Make-up. One of the winners for Beetle Juice, Ve Neill, has been nominated for 7 Oscars – and won 3 times. She’s second only in wins to Rick Baker, who did the make-up for another ‘80s classic, An American Werewolf in London. Ve’s latest nomination was in 2007 for Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End. Also, if you needed proof of how cool Michael Keaton is, he cites Beetlejuice as his favourite role.

This Is Spinal Tap (1984) – I have this awful feeling that Spinal Tap is going to run away with this poll. One fact about this one…? I do not love it. Please don’t hold that against me… we’re all entitled to our own opinions right?

A Fish Called Wanda (1988) – We come to the second Oscar winning film on this list and the one I want to win. It was nominated for 3 Oscars however Kevin Kline is the one who got to take one home for his performance as Otto. Not often do actors win Oscars for comedy roles – don’t you think that’s a good reason to give this film a look on the big screen. Also, it still holds the record for the longest time to get to the top of the box office in the US. 10 weeks. So obviously it’s a so great, people felt the need to tell their friends about it and it snowballed from there. If you haven’t seen it, don’t you think you should?

Anyway I know it’s probably not gonna happen but if you’re not sure which to vote for, do consider this A Fish Called Wanda. It’s a brilliant film and don’t you want to make me happy? 😉

So that’s the all films for this poll. Coming up in the next few weeks will be Horror, Sci-Fi, Chick flicks and Childhood favourites. Do head over to the Cinerama website to vote and tune in to the show at 7pm on Friday on Phantom 105.2.

And if you vote for A Fish Called Wanda this time, then all the better 🙂