Watching films is no passive pastime. You have to have the brain engaged to assess the interplay of the actors, to appreciate the dialogue – closed captions increasingly help here after years of listening to music with speakers set to 11 – and the vision of the director.
That’s why I could never understand how someone could possibly fall asleep in a film. And then we had children. Our first, Elizabeth, was born in 1985, followed 18 months later by our son Tharon. I soon learned that daddy duty wrapped around 10 hours at the office drains the brain, leaving little energy and mind power to take in a rented video cassette or two.
We had the best of intentions, but more often than not, found ourselves snoring on the couch well before the credits rolled. So while there was a silver age of film in the 1980s, we slept through much of it. Here are four that eventually became favorites even though we missed significant portions of them on first viewing, plus one worthy film that we just haven’t been able to make it through.
The Natural (1984, Google Play, M-Go, Amazon): Yes, it’s a slow go, but in a majestic sort of way, and not ponderous. Director Berry Levinson’s film adaptation is quite different from Bernard Malamud’s novel (the best baseball book ever), with the film having a Reaganesque, “Morning in America” ending that’s upbeat and redemptive for Malamud’s anti-hero Roy Hobbs. Robert Redford excelled as Hobbs, the aging baseball player who is given a second chance, but faces temptations along the way. Great use of shadows and light and an awesome soundtrack courtesy of Randy Newman.
Runaway Train (1985, Amazon, YouTube): It’s a sleeper movie as in a fine film that’s under-appreciated, and it’s hard to understand how we fell asleep in our first screening, even after a hard day of work and Daddy-dom. I recently re-watched this film and was impressed with its intensity. Jon Voight is over the top as an escaped killer and Eric Roberts was never better as his young accomplice. The stark, frigid Alaska landscape enhances this gritty action flick, and Rebecca de Mornay turns in some superlative work in a supporting role.
River’s Edge (1986, Amazon): Here’s another puzzler, how could we possibly fall asleep watching this sad, disturbing film about amoral, aimless teens and murder? We did, and it wasn’t conducive to sweet dreams, either. Crispin Glover dominated this film with his very physical performance. The antithesis of the John Hughes teen comedies of the era.
The Whales of August (1987, Amazon): I feel guilty for falling asleep in this film, and yet that’s happened each time it’s been on (I would say “watch it ,” but I’ve never made it all the way through). It’s lush and lovely, a timeless tale of two sisters sharing a Maine beach cottage. What’s not to like? The cast is stellar, with Lillian Gish and Bette Davis as the elderly sisters, and Ann Sothern and Vincent Price in supporting role, all under the able direction of Lindsay Anderson. And yet it’s so slow, so golden in its palette that you can almost hear the crickets droning on a summer night.
Cinema Paradiso (1988, Netflix): This subtitled Italian film is a celebration of the power of movies to transport and elevate life. It is well worth repeat viewings, but it took me three tries to make it through for the first time. I’m glad I kept trying. It’s warm, insightful, funny, and beautifully shot. Well worth a watch even if you’re leery of subtitled films.
Further Review looks at films or television series worthy of a second viewing. What are some of the great films that you've managed to sleep through? Share your movie dreams at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .