Red Right Hand, by Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds

I feel like not enough people talk about how awesome Nick Cave’s song Red Right Hand is. I mean, it is from 1994, so it’s not surprising not many people are talking about it. And it’s not like I just discovered it today either. I’ve had Nick Cave’s Best Of since high school when my brother burned it for me.

But this song has so many badass images and such a creepy, foreboding atmosphere while still being catchy. My only wish is that it was a little easier for a soprano to sing along with.

Remember, you’re one microscopic cog in his catastrophic plan, designed and directed by his red right hand.

St. Elmo's Fire, 1985

Director: Joel Schumacher

Writer: Joel Schumacher, Carl Kurlander

Notable Actors: Emilio Estevez, Rob Lowe, Andrew McCarthy, Demi Moore, Aly Sheedy, Mare Winningham, Judd Nelson

One Sentence Summary: 80’s Brat Packers portray recent college graduates breaking up, pairing up, or failing at work/life, all while learning the value of friendship and incredible sexiness.

Starting off: I have to say I have a soft spot for 80’s teen romantic flicks, and though this one lacks some of my favorite boys it did make me love Andrew McCarthy more than I ever have before (he’s a big weeny in Pretty in Pink and kind of bland in Less Than Zero) and Rob Lowe is always fun to look at. The girls are cute and I had never seen Mare Winningham in anything before. Wikipedia tells me she was not a member of the ‘Brat Pack” crew. Also, let’s discuss the term Brat Pack…

It’s dumb. It sounds ridiculous. Wikipeida also tells me no member of the group ever referred to it as that. Which is good. Apparently Emilio Estevez was the ‘leader’ and they partied a lot and acted together from time to time. Big deal. You know what’s even dumber though?

The Frat Pack. I love you guys, but really? You’re going to embrace it? At least these 80’s kids were cool enough to ignore the media labeling. Really? Paul Rudd, you’re a ‘pledge’? Not funny and not cool guys. I don’t approve.

But really, about the movie: Emilio’s story could have easily been cut out. I would have enjoyed the movie so much more! It doesn’t have anything to do with the other Elmo kids, plus it’s CREEPY. It’s just his sick obsession with Andie MacDowell, which I might have been okay with if she had ever given him any indication that she reciprocated his feelings, besides going on one date with him four years before. It’s just bad writing. Which is sad, because the performances were pretty good all around. Except Demi, she didn’t really have the chops for that meltdown.

Her story was kind of jammed in there too, but you felt like she was part of the group because she was paling around with and confiding in the other girls. Emilio never did that; he was always off on his own being creepy. Maybe Demi’s plotline was just a bit more believable.

Other thoughts: I could have done without Rob Lowe’s sax. Really 80’s? Saxaphone players are sexy?

Another word on the ‘80’s. Fashion! I know it’s come back and I like what I see out there nowadays in the back of the H&M. But I hope to god we don’t get frumpy florals and baggy angora sweaters too. They weren’t even baggy, they were poofy and completely shapeless. Oh, and those big lacy collars, ugh! It was a pretty good time for men’s wear though. They actually made Judd Nelson look good in his little suspenders, pretending to be a politician and a ladies man, and not the criminal he really is.

Now I have to go watch the Breakfast Club. “Smoke up, Johnny!”