Best of 1981

Body Heat. Dark and supple and unpredictable, like the femme fatale at its core, Body Heat establishes Lawrence Kasdan as an awesomely assured writerdirector, and William Hurt as America's hunkiest loser.

Chariots of Fire. The year's handsomest period piece is about athletes running for Olympic gold--and to save their souls. Writer Colin Welland and Director Hugh Hudson manage to inspire without being cloying, and mark an honorable return to the British tradition of quality.

Cutter's Way. (Original title: Cutter and Bone.) A murder mystery set on the downslope of the California dream, flavorsomely written by Jeffrey Alan Fiskin, directed by Ivan Passer and acted by Jeff Bridges and John Heard.

Excalibur. Or: "Camelot Goes to Woodstock." Writer-Director John Boorman recasts the Arthurian legends as a fable for our time and all time, with the most voluptuous evocation of pastoral imagery since Days of Heaven.

The Last Metro. Paris show people retain their grace under pressure of the German Occupation. Director Franc,ois Truffaut is at his best, too, in this suspenseful romance.

Man of Marble. The life of a Polish Everyman--Stalinist hero turned Stalinist victim--is examined in Andrzej Wajda's intricate, ironic study of humanity distorted by totalitarianism. The irony has become yet more bitter: Wajda, head of the Polish filmmakers' union, is now reported under arrest.

On Golden Pond. Henry Fonda rages at the dying light and, with his hard brilliance, illuminates a twilight romance, while bringing his own career to a golden climax.

Prince of the City. A corrupt New York cop (Treat Williams) further corrupts himself as he tries to expiate his crimes. Sidney Lumet has directed a fiercely acted and harrowing descent into paranoia's hellish center.

Raiders of the Lost Ark. George (Empire) Lucas + Steven (Close Encounters) Spielberg + Lawrence (Body Heat) Kasdan + Harrison (Star Wars) Ford = intelligent, thrilling blockbuster. Moves like a Rolls-Royce over bad road.

Reds. Could have been "Warren's Gate." Instead, Writer-Director-Producer-Star Beatty fashioned a biography of Radical Journalist John Reed into a love story that evokes laughter, tears, thoughtfulness, astonishment.

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