THE IRA AWARDS -- THE TOP 100 FILMS OF THE 1980s

The IRAs gathered together in the midst of a pandemic. Now that's devotion to cinema! Eight were present and two more wisely skipped the hugs and kisses and buffet line by taking part via the internet. (Using Zoom if you're interested in the details.) Aaron positioned himself behind two classic movie posters while Greg went high-tech with an ever-changing backdrop of his choice

(which paid dividends during his tribute to "E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial") Our host Alex provided a lovely buffet dinner and alcohol in copious amounts. For those attending digitally, the exclamations of pleasure over the banana pudding procured by Andy was especially hard to bear.

Like all group votes, the list is inherently compromised. Not one group of movies from the bottom ten even to the top ten was immune from someone disparaging a film and wondering why it was on the list at all. Despite having four films on the list, Woody Allen suffered repeated blows...as a director! The even number of voters meant some ties could not be broken on the big night, so certain films share a slot and are presented alphabetically.

Months of debate, along with watching and re-watching of films led to the Master List, which was then voted on to come up with the final 100, locked into groups of ten (91-100, 81-90 and so on up to the Top Ten.) On the big night, we voted on each group of ten. Some scandalously wondered why we bother -- the movies don't move around that much and most remain almost exactly where they were. But the final vote led to a new movie at the top, a new movie at the bottom, and in seven out of the ten groups a new film took over the top spot for that section.

Each member would quickly steer you away from this entry and urge you to see that entry (which should have been higher!). But anyone looking to see a significant chunk of 1980s films can rest assured the one hundred films listed here are worth your time.

And so the IRAs are pleased to present:

THE TOP 100 FILMS OF THE 1980S


1. DEKALOG
2. SHOAH
3. HOUSEKEEPING
4. BERLIN ALEXANDERPLATZ
5. RAGING BULL
6. FANNY AND ALEXANDER
7. ONCE UPON A TIME IN AMERICA
8. EYES ON THE PRIZE
9. DANTON
10. CRIMES AND MISDEMEANORS


11. VICTOR/VICTORIA
12. FULL METAL JACKET
13. BLUE VELVET and RAN (tie)
14. --
15. THE KING OF COMEDY
16. WOMEN ON THE VERGE OF A NERVOUS BREAKDOWN
17. REDS
18. DISTANT VOICES, STILL LIVES
19. E.T. THE EXTRA-TERRESTRIAL
20. THE DEAD


21. THE THIN BLUE LINE
22. DO THE RIGHT THING
23. THE BIG RED ONE
24. THE FLY
25. ENEMIES, A LOVE STORY
26. PARTING GLANCES
27. EMPIRE OF THE SUN
28. AU REVOIR, LES ENFANTS
29. HANNAH AND HER SISTERS
30. AFTER HOURS

31. CUTTER’S WAY AKA CUTTER AND BONE
32. ANOTHER COUNTRY and THE YEAR OF LIVING DANGEROUSLY (tie)
33. --
34. DEAD RINGERS
35. THE RIGHT STUFF
36. TAMPOPO
37. THE SHINING
38. BLADE RUNNER
39. L’ARGENT
40. A ROOM WITH A VIEW


41. ALIENS
42. GALLIPOLI
43. HIGH HOPES
44. THE TIMES OF HARVEY MILK
45. SANS SOLEIL and WHERE IS THE FRIEND’S HOUSE? (tie)
46. --
47. BABETTE’S FEAST
48. MATEWAN
49. MAD MAX 2: THE ROAD WARRIOR
50. WINGS OF DESIRE


51. KOYAANISQATSI: LIFE OUT OF BALANCE
52. THIS IS SPINAL TAP
53. HOPE AND GLORY
54. BRAZIL 

55. EIGHT MEN OUT
56. STORY OF WOMEN
57. FITZCARRALDO
58. MAURICE
59. MOONSTRUCK
60. MY BEAUTIFUL LAUNDRETTE


61. LOST IN AMERICA
62. MY FAVORITE YEAR
63. RIVER’S EDGE
64. PRIZZI’S HONOR
65. A FISH CALLED WANDA
66. LAW OF DESIRE
67. BACK TO THE FUTURE
68. THE PURPLE ROSE OF CAIRO
69. THE NIGHT OF SHOOTING STARS
70. ZELIG


71. VIDEODROME
72. FAST TIMES AT RIDGEMONT HIGH
73. THE VANISHING
74. RISKY BUSINESS
75. TOOTSIE
76. DIRTY ROTTEN SCOUNDRELS and GREMLINS (tie)
77. --
78. A PASSAGE TO INDIA
79. RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK
80. HAIRSPRAY


81. sex, lies and videotape
82. RAISING ARIZONA
83. MATADOR
84. THE LAST METRO AKA LE DERNIER METRO
85. PRICK UP YOUR EARS
86. WITNESS
87. LOCAL HERO
88. DANGEROUS LIAISONS and LOLA (tie)
89. --
90. THEY ALL LAUGHED


91. BLOOD SIMPLE
92. HEATHERS
93. ATLANTIC CITY
94. SECRET HONOR
95. MON ONCLE D’AMERIQUE aka MY AMERICAN UNCLE
96. TAXI ZUM KLO
97. THE ELEPHANT MAN
98. THE BREAKFAST CLUB
99. S.O.B.
100. BEETLEJUICE