They Live (1988)

One of John Carpenter's most ambitious films, this functions as a brutal (if not exactly subtle) razing of yuppiehood and Reaganomics. (In fact, the most surprising thing about it is the mere fact that its us-vs.-them blue-collar vision was able to find funding in the rah-rah-Rambo Hollywood '80s.) Besides the politics, it's also a pretty diverting sci-fi action film, though one wishes the lead were played by someone with more acting talent than Roddy Piper. (Bruce Willis, were he not an avowed conservative, would have been perfect for this.) Carpenter makes some puzzling decisions along the way (I know the big fight scene between Piper and Keith David is supposed to represent how the upper class stays in power by keeping the lower classes at each other's throats, but did it really need to go on for seven goddamn minutes?) but manages to keep the thing from flying apart at the seams; the final gag, in particular, is killer.

Grade: B