Not many of them are overtly political, and looking back it is difficult to see too many unifying themes beyond the fact that they are good and merit re-watching.
In no particular order here they are:
1. The Company of Wolves (1984)
I'd been a lifelong admirer of Angela Carter's and Neil Jordan's tribute to Hammer, co-scripted by Carter did not disappoint:
2. Local Hero (1983)
Gregory's Girl was brilliant but parochial. Local Hero with its environmental theme and music by Mark Knopfler was a well-deserved international hit.
3. The Long Good Friday (1980)
I'd been a lifelong fan of Helen Mirren since O Lucky Man! Bob Hoskins gives a superb performance and the whole film is brilliant.
4. The Draughtsman's Contract (1982)
This is the complete antithesis to the social realist films that appeared in the 1980s but was a well-deserved success. The soundtrack by Micheal Nyman was a revelation and I've loved his music ever since.5. The Ploughman's Lunch (1983)
The script is by Ian McEwan, the director is Richard Eyre and the lead actor is Jonathan Pryce. For me this is the film of the 1980s that best sums up the Thatcher era.
