Beer shotgunning, mix tapes, skiing, professional assassinations: All from one '80s star
Leave it to John Cusack to teach you everything you need to as a young male growing up in the glorious days of the '80s. And yes, I seriously still occasionally shotgun a beer -- The Sure Thing style -- lifting the empty, still-cold can high in the air afterward to salute my '80s hero.
Seriously. Look at the best movies of Cusack's career and you can learn a trade from any of them.
THE SURE THING: Sure, the beer thing. But also how to woo women. (Buy her a rose!) Actually, you learn how NOT to woo women. (Don't admit you're going across the country to bed a girl you never met.)
BETTER OFF DEAD: How to ski ... sorta. But more importantly, how to fix a Camaro and grill up a tasty Pig Burger.
SAY ANYTHING: Kick boxing, sport of the future.
GROSSE POINTE BLANK: How to kill the president of Paraguay ... with a fork.
HIGH FIDELITY: How to make the perfect mix tape. And how to make the worst decision of your life (aka passing up Lisa Bonet for Iben Hjejle. Dude! What ... were ... you ... thinking?)
I could go on and on, but I won't. Because frankly I'm out of ideas. And because we're going to cover all these bases again in this week's Stuck in the '80s podcast: Our salute to the best (and worst) John Cusack movies of all time. (Just a spoiler here, but Journey of Natty Gann didn't make it on either list.)
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Relive the music, movies and culture of the greatest decade ever with Times online editor Steve Spears. A teen during the decade, Steve is obsessed with everything from Duran Duran to Journey, John Hughes to John Cusack, and parachute pants to Reaganomics.
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I finally listened to the podcast.Strange that there was no mention to The Grifters.
For me the best artistic achievements:Being John Malkovich,Bullets Over Broadway
Best CUSACK movies: Grosse Pointe Blank (i loved how Sean kick your derriere there Spearsy,he`s 100% right),High Fidelity (you weren´t brilliant defending the movie against Sean,and you are right on that one).
Best 80s movies: The Sure Thing,Say Anything.No surprises.
Posted by: Miguel | November 10, 2009 at 01:45 PM
I liked the Grifters.
Posted by: Keith in NYC | November 09, 2009 at 10:55 AM
Great podcast as usual guys.
I have to say I agree with Sean on Grosse Pointe Blank. Even though it is not 80s, it is one of my very favorite movies.
Enjoyed the Cusack discussion!
Posted by: Old School | November 09, 2009 at 10:32 AM
When will Cusack concede and finally throw down with Steve and Sean in an interview? Maybe you can even get him to stick around for the seggies!
Posted by: Dr. Incognito | November 07, 2009 at 05:16 PM
That C-maro is HOT!
Posted by: R | November 07, 2009 at 11:53 AM
you both are wrong since i like "grose point blank" and "high fidelity! okay maybe not wrong since it is a personal choice so let's just agree to disagree on those movies. i do love "one crazy summer" and "tapeheads" even though they may not be the best made movies. and yeah, those few seconds of silence really have stumped me.
Posted by: don in tulsa | November 07, 2009 at 11:40 AM
Wow! Could things have gotten any more heated between you and Sean. For a moment there I thought Sean was going to get up and leave. But I have to say that I totally agree with everything Sean said regarding Grosse Pointe Blank.
Posted by: 80sfan | November 07, 2009 at 11:31 AM
Steve you really have me stumped this time with the Mystery Movie Moment. Those seconds of silence could be from any of the movies I've ever seen.
Another fun podcast. Thanks. And I'm looking forward to that Carl Weathers episode you keep teasing.
Posted by: Kevy Metal | November 07, 2009 at 10:15 AM
Go that way, REALLY Fast. If something gets in your way; Turn.
- Charles DeMar (Curtis Armstrong) in Better Off Dead
Posted by: Ian from Baltimore | November 07, 2009 at 09:47 AM