Official John Cusack Appreciation Day!

It's June 28 ... you know what that means, right? It's John Cusack's birthday! His 42nd this time around.

Am I going too far out on the limb by declaring our man Cusack the patron saint of '80s movies? Would it be exaggerating to call him the dream boyfriend of any female who drew a breath of teenage air in our beloved decade? Is there even one male out there who didn't learn how to shotgun a beer by watching "Gib" demonstrate it in "The Sure Thing?"

(Can it be wrong that I took the whole day off from work to sit at home and watch all his movies back to back, chronologically and autobiographically?)

No, no, (burp) and hell no.

But on this occasion, let's go one step farther. Let's blow out the '80s constraints on today's list and finally dare to be great. Something truly worthy of 42 birthdays.

TOP 42 FILMS OF JOHN CUSACK:

42. City Hall (1996)
41. Serendipity (2001)
40. Floundering (1994)
39. Money for Nothing (1993)
38. Map of the Human Heart (1993)
37. Roadside Prophets (1992)
36. Elvis Stories (1989)
35. The Road to Wellville (1994)
34. Identity (2003)
33. Bob Roberts (1992)
32. Shadows and Fog (1992)
31. Con Air (1997)
30. The Thin Red Line (1998)
29. America's Sweethearts (2001)
28. Must Love Dogs (2005)
27. Bullets Over Broadway (1994) 
26. Runaway Jury (2003) 
25. Martian Child (2007)
24. Broadcast News (1987)
23. Stand by Me (1986)
22. The Journey of Natty Gann (1985)
21. The Jack Bull (1999)
20. Fat Man and Little Boy (1989)
19. The Ice Harvest (2005)
18. Sixteen Candles (1984)
17. Class (1983)
16. Hot Pursuit (1987)
15. Pushing Tin (1999)
14. One Crazy Summer (1986)
13. 1408 (2007)
12. Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil (1997)
11. Being John Malkovich (1999)
10. The Grifters (1990)
9. Max (2002)
8. Tapeheads (1988)
7. Grosse Pointe Blank (1997)
6. Eight Men Out (1988)
5. True Colors (1991)
4. The Sure Thing (1985)
3. Say Anything (1989)
2. Better Off Dead (1985)
1. High Fidelity (2000)

Comments

[Bassnote]

I don't remember him in Broadcast News, And I don't remember Elvis Stories at all.

[Rick in Scottsdale]

Wow, Steve, did you put HIGH FIDELITY ahead of SAY ANYTHING/
THE SURE THING/BETTER OFF DEAD just to get everyone's goat*?
Or do you really, honestly like it best?

I really like HF, but I think Jack Black stole that movie from him; it certainly launched Black's career as the whirling dervish funnyman.

(*Marissa, please explain the metaphor to Miguel.)

[CHAD]

ive seen 19 of the 42, not too shabby. although i like high fidelity and the rest of the top three, but id have to say the sure thing is cusacks best. its an all around great movie. it made him a star. everything he has as an actor, its because of the sure thing.

[Tonianne]

rick - i absolutely agree that jack black stole High Fidelity, but still think it is cusack at his finest.

i might extend the list to reflect cusack's top "43" films, as i saw War, Inc. this evening and he does not disappoint.

although i'd imagine his name is being bandied about at the hoover building at this very moment.

[Spears]

Any movie in the top 5 could make an argument for the No. 1 spot. Yes, even "True Colors", which I just watched again last night.

[Marissa]

I love High Fidelity. I'm happy (and not surprised one bit) that it's not only top five, but numero uno.
From the quirky, odd supporting characters to the manner in which Rob Gordon talks directly to the audience about his issues. I feel included when I watch it.
The lists?! I dated a list guy. He rated everything. In fact, one reason he broke up with me: "You're a 6 and I'm easing into being an 8 and I need a 9" Clearly with logic like that he was a subterranean amorphous glob.

I was talking to a friend the other night and we agreed that High Fidelity is still Jack Black's best work to date.

I haven't seen a few of the films on the list. I'm ashamed considering the long standing crush I've had on The Cusack.

[Big Tex]

I'll let others debate the top spot, but I have to cry foul at any list that ranks America's Sweethearts over The Thin Red Line. The latter is one of the best war films of all time while the former stars Julia Roberts and her freakishly large mouth.

[Marissa]

I hated "America's Sweethearts" -- worst pairing E V E R! Actually, worst trio ever. Not a fan of Catherine Zeta Jones. Her pompous, self-important role in High Fidelity was believable, however.

It's hard to believe that my Cusack could find a worse chemical reaction than Zeta Jones/Roberts, but he did with Diane Lane in "Must Love Dogs" -- Saving grace for that film was Christopher Plummer.

p.s. Grace is Gone is next for viewing on the NetFlix queue.

I guess the low amount of Cusack screentime causes Stand by Me and especially Map of the Human Heart to place low on this list. They would be my #2 and #3.

By the way, Grace is Gone is a top contender for movie of the year here, competing with an estimated 300 other titles. John Cusack at his very best, with a nod to Say Anything (my undisputed #1) at the end!

[Menni]

(that 9:43 remark was me)

.. and Must Love Dogs was awful indeed.

[Spears]

Personally, I thought "The Thin Red Line" was totally unwatchable. Which isn't to say "America's Sweethearts" is great -- because it sucks pickled eggs too.

[Ray]

Personally, I would give the nod to "Say Anything" for the top spot.

"Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil" is a terrible movie. It truly is a case of "read the book".

On the other hand, I thought I was the only person in the world that loved, "The Grifters".

BTW: I've only seen 18 out of the 42 movies on the list...

[Spears]

I believe I actually OWN 15 of the above movies.

[Bassnote]

I agree with Ray. "Midnight In The Garden Of Good And Evil" was a terrible movie. The movie had two things going for it; Cusack and Clint Eastwood, but both let me down on that one.

[Bassnote]

I only own 12 of the movies.

[Eric S]

Interesting list. Don't exactly agree with some of the order. No way High Fidelity should get the top spot. If we are talking movies where he has a starring role, it would have to be The Sure Thing or Say Anything. If supporting roles are in the mix, Sixteen Candles definitely would be near the top. I don't understand at all how Sixteen Candles is #18. That was a great movie. Still find it much more enjoyable than Breakfast Club. And Hot Pursuit over it?!

I didn't think City Hall was that bad. It was all right. I did like Identity. I didn't mind the twist. Stand by Me was a very good film. It does seem like if Cusack was just a supporting player, it penalizes the movie on this list.

I've seen 22 on the list. I also don't remember him in Broadcast News.

Here is my top 10 (starring roles)
1. The Sure Thing
2. Say Anything
3. Better Off Dead
4. The Grifters
5. Eight Men Out
6. Grosse Pointe Blank
7. High Fidelity
8. True Colors
9. 1408
10.Being John Malkovich

Top 10 (all roles)
1. Sixteen Candles
2. The Sure Thing
3. Say Anything
4. Better Off Dead
5. Stand by Me
6. The Grifters
7. Eight Men Out
8. Grosse Point Blank
9. High Fidelity
10. True Colors

[I Was A Teenage Duranie]

Now my favorite is "Say Anything." That is such a seminal movie in my life for many reasons ("In Your Eyes," the sold-proceesed-buy comment, etc.). However, I do have to complain about where "Serendipity" is listed. (One of the 12 I own.) The Jeremy Piven proletariat monologue is one of my favorite scenes in any movie. I also have to admit that we own the "Ice Harvest." A bit strange, but fun. I cannot hear "Wichita Falls" now without thinking of that movie.

[I Was A Teenage Duranie]

Processed -- sorry.

[Miguel]

Bassnote,here is John Cusack in the short Elvis Stories directed by Ben Stiller.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HruWynDmdf4
My top 5 Cusack movies:
1-Being John Malkovich
2-Bullets Over Broadway
3-The Thin Red Line
4-High Fidelity
5-Grosse Pointe Blank

No 80s movies on my top 5?

[Miguel]

Well,Say Anything and The Sure Thing would be my n.6 and 7.

[Big Tex]

Even though she wasn't good to you during your interview, I would place Molly Ringwald as the patron saint of '80s movies over Cusack if only for the reason that his better stuff has come out after the '80s. Molly, on the other hand, hasn't seen much big screen action since the '80s, although I do think she's got a role on an upcoming cable series.

[John Hays]

Couldn't stand Identity...I figured it out in like 5 minutes.

I thought Midnight In the Garden of Good and Evil was pretty good, though.

Don't worry, Marissa. 9's don't rate women, so he's actually the 6. ;)

[Miguel]

I`m with John.Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil is a very decent movie.Not Clint Eastwood`s finest hour,but good indeed.
Worst John Cusack movies:Road to Wellville,Fat Man and Little Boy and Must Love Dogs.Oh! Con Air,obviously

[Al]

This is brilliant! They're making a cartoon with Oates (from Hall & Oates) with his mustache being voiced and making Oates return to the music business. This sounds either awesome or awesomely terrible.

http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003821770

And why isn't War, Inc. on this Cusack list?

[Spears]

I blasted "City Hall" because it had so much promise and talent and ended up being a flick I can barely muster enough brain cells to remember.

[Spears]

I haven't seen "War Inc." and there isn't enough feedback on it yet, so I left it off the list.

It hasn't even been released to the most of the country yet.

[Rick in Scottsdale]

Okay, just went through the article again, Steve, and here's what struck me again:

The amount of work you put into Stuck in the 80s blows me away and I am so glad that I found it. It brightens my day to no end, Steve, and though I take advantage of it to clown around, I really appreciate it -- and you.

And after reading the comments section for months now, I don't believe for one second that I am alone in this view.

[Rick in Scottsdale]

Holy you-know-what -- I've seen 27 of these Cusack flicks!

I wish he would play more wide audience-pleasing roles, get
the $25 million paychecks that Tom Hanks and Vince Vaughn command, and donate big chunks to his candidates & causes,
rather than make political statements posing as comedies.

Whatever your politics Lloyd Dobler, Lane Meyer, and Gib Gibson
are indelible characters. Certainly there are roles for 40-somethings that are just as good.

I want the Everyman Cusack to return. I wish he did too.

[Marissa]

John Hays: Thanks, sweets.

[murry]

I own half of those movies. I haven't seen all of them, so I can't make a list of 42, but I can make a top ten, with great certainty. Keep in mind, I haven't seen about half of his movies and I'm only counting starring roles.

10. Midnight In the Garden... (It's got problems, but I still love to watch it.)
9. Grace is Gone
8. Bullets Over Broadway
7. Better Off Dead
6. Being John Malkovich
5. War, Inc.
4. The Sure Thing
3. Grosse Pointe Blank
2. Say Anything
1. High Fidelity (#1 of all time)

I think I'll have a marathon today, too. Maybe I'll go buy a copy of Max.

[Jacquie Roland]

In Broadcast News Cusack was on screen when everyone in the news room was getting fired... you saw him from the back as he yelled and kicked a trashcan (rumor had it he did that can kicking to liven up his part)

One of my favorite actors... I own at least 17 of his films ... even the wretched MUST LOVE DOGS. Thought he was great in HIGH FIDELITY, GROSSE POINT BLANK and RUNAWAY JURY...

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, JC

[Jim]

Let me say a word for the underrated and apparently underappreciated The Jack Bull - in my view one of Cusack's finest performances. And I loved Pushing Tin.

[don in tulsa]

cusack has long been a favorite actor of mine. in the 80s he actually was only a year or so off of the age of his characters which was unusual. he's seems like a normal, next door kind of guy that would be a loyal friend. too bad he doesn't care much for his old films because they have a lot of good memories for his fans. and i think i'd add "hot pursuit" and get rid of "america's sweethearts."

[Emily in Melbourne...Australia not Florida!]

I didn't realise he'd made so many films!

All I know is he is HOT! He was very cute in America's Sweethearts but it was dog of a film. So was Seredipity. Can't bear Kate Beckinsale but loved her dad in Rising Damp and Porrdige.

[Kate]

Spears... does this mean you actually sat down and watched Being John Malkovich?? Didja take my advice??

[Stacey]

Just watched Grace is Gone over the weekend to celebrate the Cusack's B-Day. Tear jerker at the end for sure and if you're like me and cry every time John cries, you'll cry more than the end. Great movie!

[Nappy Rash Cream]

I agree the guy is seriously a bit of a dude. He should have been the lead role in 'House' imho.