The Most Memorable Kevin Bacon Movies of the 80s

Kevin Bacon at the 2013 GLSEM

Kevin Bacon has almost four decades of professional acting experience under his belt.  The now 36-year-old Philadelphia native has starred in several films and television shows throughout the years.  Bacon made his acting debut in  1978’s National Lampoon’s Animal House with a minor role as Chip Diller. As the 70s came and went, the following decade would prove to be one of the most successful for Kevin Bacon and his career.   During the 80s, Bacon starred in a successful string of Hollywood productions including the legendary film Footloose.  Bacon quickly became known for his ability to portray almost any type of character, and he proved that he was fully capable of taking on even larger events. However, now that Bacon’s career has outlived  several decades, it can he hard to remember him before he was the big star that we all know and love.  Here are five of the most memorable Kevin Bacon quotes of the 80s.

5. Quicksilver

The 1986 film, Quicksilver, features Kevin Bacon in the starring role of Jack Casey a young stock trader who loses it all. Legendary film critic, Roger Ebert, gave the film poor reviews said that the film missed its chance to “connect.” In 2008, Bacon said that the film was the “lowest point” in his career; however, the film and Bacon’s role in it have since become fan favorites.  The film also displayed Kevin Bacon’s potential to be a star. During his review, Ebert stated: “The story is so interesting, and Bacon and the other actors are so capable…”  While  the film never quite lived up to its potential, Kevin Bacon more definitely did.

4. White Water Summer

The 1987 film, White Water Summer, followed Bacon’s character, Vic as he worked as a tour guide for local tourists. The film, which came off as a combination of an exciting thriller and a coming of age story, received mixed reviews upon its release.  Although the film was considered less than spectacular, it became memorable as it was cinematographer John Alcott’s final project before his death in 1987 shortly before the film’s release.

3. The Big Picture

In the 1989 film, The Big Picture, Kevin Bacon starred as Nick Chapman, a young film director on the verge of his big break.  After winning an award for his short film, Nick is offered a chance to make his dream film.   Unfortunately, Nick ultimately becomes caught up in the deception and betrayal that is often associated with Hollywood, and he ends up ruining some of his closest relationships.  Smug Film’s Greg DeLiso called The Big Picture “awesome,” and stated: “The strength of The Big Picture is its forays into the possibilities of the cinema. Scenes drift with ease into stop-motion dream sequences, noir parody, and comical satirization of Hollywood homogenization.  It’s the work of a filmmaker with an exhaustive knowledge of movie history and a wanton desire to languish in it.”  He went on to say, “Underneath the fun of The Big Picture is a very grounded and well-executed story arc, handled with tremendous care. And the entire cast is amazing—Jennifer Jason Leigh especially shines as a kooky art student type. Everyone is well-directed and the dramatic beats really hit home. I’m thinking in particular of the apology scene between Kevin Bacon and Michael McKean.  It’s not only a powerful scene that hits all the right marks, riding the line between melodrama and reality, but it also contains one of the most powerful performances in movie history. ”

2. Friday the 13th

The 1980 horror-slasher film, Friday the 13th, focused Camp Crystal Lake and the story of Jason, a boy who drowned in the camp’s lake while two counselors were too occupied to notice that he was struggling.  The film is considered one of the first “true” slasher movies and has spawned several sequels throughout the years.  Although Friday the 13th initially received negative reviews, it is not widely considered a horror movie classic. James Berardinello of Reelviews initially gave the film poor ratings and stated: “Friday the 13th is unremarkable and unmemorable – an amateurish production of no lasting value…The Curse of Camp Crystal Lake wasn’t the deaths of innocent campers; it was the dregs of the slasher genre that would overwhelm drive-ins and multiplexes as the ’80s matured.”  However, the years have proven that Friday the 13th has certainly withstood the test of time.

1. Footloose

1984’s Footlose has become not just one of Kevin Bacon’s most memorable films, but one of the 80s’ most popular classics.  The film is centered around Kevin Bacon’s character, a young man named Ren McCormick, who moved to a small town where dancing and rock and roll have been banned.  Ren, a talented dancer, fights to have the town’s rule overturned.  Upon its release, Footlose received many negative reviews, among them were Roger Ebert who stated: “”Footloose” is a seriously confused movie that tries to do three things, and does all of them badly. It wants to tell the story of a conflict in a town, it wants to introduce some flashy teenage characters, and part of the time it wants to be a music video.”  However, even with less than stellar reviews, Footloose grossed more than $80 million.

 (Photo by D Dipasupil/Getty Images)

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