1985 Synopsis & Review: Plot Summary

🎯 Quick Overview

😅 Plot Summary – Badly Explained

Dude escapes Texas for NYC, gets sick, comes back for Christmas pretending everything’s fine while subtly gifting everyone expensive stuff and leaving cryptic tapes for his little brother because talking is hard.

🍿 1985: Detailed Plot Synopsis

Returning Home for the Holidays

‘1985’ centers on Adrian, a young man living in New York City, who returns to his conservative Texas hometown for Christmas after a three-year absence. He is visibly struggling with unspoken burdens and a sense of urgency to reconnect with his family. His parents, Eileen and Dale, are traditional and deeply religious, outwardly hopeful for Adrian to settle down.

Reconnecting with the Past

During his visit, Adrian attempts to navigate complex relationships, including with his younger brother, Andrew, who is navigating his own identity, and his former girlfriend, Carly. He finds it easier to confide in Carly, hinting at the life he built in New York and the difficulties he now faces. These interactions highlight the emotional distance created by his move and his guarded secrets.

⚠️ Spoilers and Ending Explained

🎬 Cast & Characters

• Adrian Lester (Cory Michael Smith): A closeted young man returning home for the holidays while struggling to reveal his terminal illness to his conservative family.
• Eileen (Virginia Madsen): Adrian’s loving mother who tries to understand her son despite her conservative background.
• Dale Lester (Michael Chiklis): Adrian’s conservative father who struggles with his son’s identity but shows underlying care.
• Carly (Jamie Chung): Adrian’s former girlfriend and confidante from high school with whom he reconnects.
• Andrew (Aidan Langford): Adrian’s younger brother who looks up to him and receives a message of hope and acceptance.

💬 Memorable Quotes

• Adrian Lester: “You’re gonna have some tough days; days where you feel like everything sucks, and you don’t wanna get out of bed…” – Part of a heartfelt message Adrian records for his younger brother, Andrew, anticipating Andrew’s future struggles.
• Adrian Lester: “…And I want you to know; you are not the only one that feels the way you do. There’s a whole world out there for someone like you.” – Continuing his recorded message to Andrew, Adrian assures him he is not alone in feeling different.
• Adrian Lester: “…you may need to be at another place to be happy, and you know what? That’s okay; that’s why I left home.” – Adrian explains to Andrew in the recording that sometimes leaving home is necessary to find happiness and acceptance.
• Adrian Lester: “Things tend to get a little darker before they get brighter.” – Adrian ends his message to Andrew with a final note of hope and encouragement for overcoming difficult times.
• Dale Lester: “I know you’re gay, Adrian. And… you can talk to me. Even if I’m not happy about your lifestyle choice. I’ll still be here for you.” – Adrian’s father acknowledges that he knows his son is gay during a tense conversation, offering a complex mix of disapproval and hesitant support.

💰Box Office

• Budget:
• Domestic Gross: 
• Worldwide Gross: $25,013

💥 1985 Reviews

Personal Review

Okay, so I watched ‘1985’ and wow, it just… hit me. The black and white threw me at first, but honestly, it really makes you focus on the people and their faces. It felt so intimate, almost like I was in that house with them, feeling the tension and unspoken stuff. Cory Michael Smith as Adrian is just heartbreaking; his quiet performance speaks volumes. And Virginia Madsen as the mom? Just perfect, you feel her struggle and love. That scene where Adrian talks to his younger brother Andrew felt so real and poignant. It’s definitely a sad movie, dealing with tough themes from a difficult time, but it’s also beautiful and surprisingly hopeful in moments. It really made me think about family, secrets, and the importance of connection, even when it’s hard. Grab some tissues, seriously.

• Who would enjoy:
  • “Fans of character-driven dramas”
  • “Viewers interested in LGBTQ+ history and stories”
  • “Those interested in films about the 1980s AIDS crisis”
  • “Audiences who appreciate subtle, emotionally resonant storytelling”
  • “Fans of independent cinema”
• Content warnings ⚠:
  • “Mature themes (illness, death, prejudice, family conflict)”
  • “Discussions related to the AIDS crisis”
  • “Emotional intensity”

Professional Reviews

• FilmCritique Weekly: “Yen Tan’s ‘1985’ is a quiet, devastating portrait rendered in stark black and white. The deliberate pace and focused cinematography pull you into the claustrophobia of the era and the family home. Performances, particularly from Cory Michael Smith and Virginia Madsen, are nuanced and deeply affecting. It’s a powerful, albeit somber, experience that lingers long after the credits roll.
• IndieFilmmaker Monthly: “This film tackles incredibly difficult subject matter with impressive restraint. The choice to shoot in black and white isn’t just aesthetic; it strips away distraction, forcing focus onto the raw emotion on the actors’ faces. While some plot points feel a touch heavy-handed, the overall impact is undeniable. A sensitive and important historical drama.

Audience Reactions

Viewers were deeply moved by the film’s emotional honesty and sensitive portrayal of the characters.: Many praised the powerful acting performances, particularly the lead and the mother, and felt the black and white cinematography added to the film’s atmosphere and emotional weight.

The film resonated with audiences for its authentic depiction of family dynamics and the struggles faced in the 1980s.: The handling of the difficult subject matter with subtlety and realism was widely appreciated, making it feel less like a typical drama and more like a personal story.

Overall Consensus: A poignant and emotionally resonant drama praised for its strong performances, evocative black and white cinematography, and sensitive handling of a difficult historical period and personal struggle.

Awards

🛠️ Behind the Scenes

• “The film is an expansion of director Yen Tan’s 2016 short film of the same name.”
• “It was shot in black and white to reduce background distractions, focus on character faces, and evoke a sense of memory and the historical period.”
• “When Adrian and Andrew go to the movies, they see *A Nightmare on Elm Street Part 2: Freddy’s Revenge* (1985), a film later recognized for its strong, albeit unintentional, homoerotic subtext.”
• “The director encountered a family whose real-life story paralleled the film’s themes: a mother with two gay sons, one who died of AIDS, and the younger married to a man.”

🖥️ How to Watch 1985?

🎥 Similar Movies

If you enjoyed 1985, you might like these similar films:

• Buddies (1985): Widely considered the first feature film to address the AIDS crisis, offering a direct, era-specific look at the fear and stigma surrounding the disease.
• It’s Only the End of the World (2016): Features a character returning home after a long absence to deliver difficult news to his estranged family, exploring themes of miscommunication and unresolved familial tension.
• An Early Frost (1985): An early made-for-television film that dealt openly with AIDS and homosexuality, depicting a man returning to his family after being diagnosed.
• Call Me By Your Name (2017): While set slightly earlier (1983), it explores themes of identity, first love, and coming-of-age within a specific period, culminating in a poignant family conversation about acceptance.
• Paris Is Burning (1990): A documentary offering a vibrant, yet often heartbreaking, look at the ball culture scene in 1980s New York City, providing crucial context to the lives of many gay and transgender people impacted by the AIDS crisis.

🛒 1985 Related Products

• 1985 (2018 Film) Blu-ray: Own the critically acclaimed film ‘1985’ on Blu-ray, preserving the striking black and white cinematography in high definition.
• How to Survive a Plague: The Story of How Citizens and Science Tamed AIDS: David France’s gripping history of the grassroots activists and scientists who fought for recognition and treatment during the AIDS epidemic.
• Retro 1980s Portable Cassette Player with Headphones: A working replica of a classic portable cassette player, perfect for enjoying music the way Andrew does in the film.
• The 1980s: The Decade That Made Us (DVD): A documentary series exploring the culture, politics, and significant events of the 1980s.

🎧 Soundtrack

1985 features a captivating soundtrack that enhances the movie’s atmosphere and emotional impact. Here are some notable tracks:

• “1985 (Original Motion Picture Score)” – performed by Curtis Heath
• “Main Title” – performed by Curtis Heath
• “Adrian Arrives” – performed by Curtis Heath
• “Family Dinner” – performed by Curtis Heath

You can find the complete soundtrack on Amazon Music and Apple Music.

🤨 FAQ

🔥 Bonus Content

Amitabh Bachchan / Geraftaar movie 1985 / Geraftaar run from court scene #amitabhbachchan #amitab

Want to see some classic action and powerful dialogues from ‘Geraftaar’? This video highlights an intense court scene and action moments featuring Amitabh Bachchan and the incredible cast. It really gives you a taste of the film’s high-octane drama, I think you’ll find these clips pretty gripping!

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