Welcome to an exciting year-long project here at The Nerdy. 1984 was an exciting year for films giving us a lot of films that would go on to be beloved favorites and cult classics. Imagine a world where This is Spinal Tap and Repo Man hit theaters on the same day. That is the world of 1984.

We’re going to pick and choose which movies we hit, but right now the list stands at nearly three dozen.

Yes, we’re insane, but 1984 was that great of a year for film.

The articles will come out on the same day the films hit theaters in 1984 so that it is their true 40th anniversaries. All films are also watched again for the purposes of these reviews and are not being done from memory.

This time around it’s August 24, 1984, and we’re off to see Cal, Old Enough, and Oxford Blues.

Cal

A film about the IRA and its complicated relationship with its countrymen, as well as the anger between Protestants and Catholics in Ireland, was a weird place to set a love story, but that is precisely what Cal is.

Cal (John Lynch) is adrift in life. He has trouble finding work, and relies on his father, Shamie (Donal McCann) for everything. What Shamie doesn’t know, however, is that not only is his son wrapped up with the IRA, but he even assisted in the murder of a policeman. A year later, he unknowingly runs into the policeman’s widow, Marcella (Helen Mirren), and is enthralled by her.

Cal’s life from that point forward is a mixture of bliss and tragedy until the film arrives at its rather odd conclusion that I won’t spoil for anyone.

It’s well acted, but the script is lacking in a lot of ways. The eventual resolution of Shamie’s story happens completely off-screen and almost feels like the actor left the set for some reason.

Then, there is the lighting of the film. While I understand setting a mood, large portions of night shots felt as though they were lit with two drug store flashlights that had been dropped in the mud, and no one had cleaned them off. It is a muddy mess that is incredibly difficult to follow at times.

Overall, it’s a fine film, but not one I can ever imagine me spending a second thinking about ever again.

Old Enough

I knew absolutely nothing about this film going into it, and lucked out that I walked away pleasantly surprised.

Lonnie (Sarah Boyd) is the 11-year-old daughter of a well-off family in New York City who ends up meeting and befriending 14-year-old Karen (Rainbow Harvest), the daughter of a family that struggles to get by, one summer. Over the course of the summer break, both of them find different ways to expand the life experiences of the other while also coming of age. They have their ups and downs, but both come out of the experience better for it.

Both girls turn in excellent, believable performances. They are not perfect, but they are enjoyable watch.

The only major issue I had with the story was the constant attempts by Karen’s older brother, Johnny (Neill Barry), to sleep with Lonnie. Yes. Things such as that happen, but it was still uncomfortable to watch it.

It’s a fun little, unassuming movie, that’s not a bad time if you’re looking for a slice of teenage life pre-technology.

Oxford Blues

I would love to tell you what Oxford Blues was about, but I’m not sure the people who made it knew themselves.

Nick Di Angelo (Rob Lowe) wants to go to Oxford University, not because an incredible rower, but because he wants to meet and woo Lady Victoria Wingate (Amanda Pays). After a bit of a turn as a gigolo, he makes it there and sets his sights on Victoria, while also befriending Rona (Ally Sheedy), setting up a rivalry with Colin Gilchrist Fisher (Julian Sands), getting into trouble with the school, learning the value of teamwork, and, I guess, going to class.

The movie hits on so many college film tropes that it’s as if someone put several movies in a blender, and Oxford Blues popped out. At the very end of the film, after only the most tenuous examples of Rona and Nick having feelings for one another, they kiss. Nick looks at Rona and says, “Why didn’t we ever do that before?” Rona replies, “I don’t know.”

Don’t worry fictional characters, the audience didn’t know either.

If you have time for only one 80s college film, I guess make it this one as it will serve essentially as the Cliff Notes for all of the rest of them.

1984 Movie Reviews will return on August 31 with Choose Me, Bolero, C.H.U.D., and Flashpoint!

The faith journey is not for the faint of heart, especially in relationships. Walking in faith requires community and Biblical wisdom in marriage, parenting, and establishing lasting relationships with your extended family or friendship. In this article, I will share my thoughts on The Forge, a movie review.

The Difficult Reality Of Being A Christian Parent

The Forge shows the ups and downs of a single mom trying to launch her young adult son into the world. It also shows the importance of mentorship, friendship, prayer, and discipleship.

You will leave this movie wanting more for your life, faith, marriage, church, and community.

The beginning of The Forge tugged at this mama’s heart. As a mom of three young adults, I could relate to the dialogue. Cynthia Wright is a single mom to 19-year-old Isaiah Wright. In one of the beginning scenes, Cynthia is talking to Isaiah, and her frustration is palpable. I think we can all relate to this when it comes to dealing with the stage of launching your young adult into the world.

Having faith and parenting young adults is a whole new ballgame. I have never prayed more in my life and I have entered a new level of surrender in my walk with Jesus. The Forge portrays the struggle of being a Christian mother to a young adult so well. There is also a lot of guidance on what to do when you don’t know what to do in this highly complex season of life.

It is evident that being a Christian parent to a young adult requires:

1. Faith and trust that God has good plans for your child and your family.
2. Surrendering your will and control over the life of your child who has the same free will you have.
3. Lots of prayer and prayer support from those around you.

God Has Good Plans For You And Me

God is the perfect Father, and his plans might not be ours. In The Forge, Cynthia quickly learns that she doesn’t have to parent her son alone and calls on her prayer partners. Cynthia is surrounded by friends and believers who want what is best for her and her son.

Being surrounded by people who pray for and believe in the best for your family is a blessing.

The Forge shows the viewer that to be a good friend, you need to pray for your friends, believe in your friends, and bless your friends with your words. It is so easy to get lost in the pain of this world, your life, and what you don’t have. However, The Forge shows us the value of wanting more for your life.

Growing Up Is Hard To Do If You Don’t Have Someone To Invest In You

In The Forge, we can see how to make time for mentorship despite life’s demands.  Additionally, we see the fruit the investment of time into someone else’s life will bring—not only in the mentee’s life but also in the mentor’s life.

You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you. – John 15:16 (ESV)

As a Christian, your most extraordinary mission is to share the gospel and be fruitful. Every action you take, and word you speak will bear fruit. Understanding the seeds you are planting and the fruit you will bear from them is essential in determining your next steps in life.

In The Forge, Isaiah has difficulty growing up because he does not have a male role model to whom he can look up. However, as the story unfolds, we can see God working in his life and helping him become the man God created him to be. This is not done through one person or one prayer but through many prayers and many people planting seeds in his life that will bear good fruit.

Overcoming Excuses

The Forge is a movie with many lessons told in a two-hour time frame. One of the biggest lessons that stood out to me was to overcome the excuses in your life.

Overcome the excuses that are:

1. Holding you back from serving God with your whole heart.
2. Keeping you in a place that you don’t want to be.
3. Preventing you from finding the relationships that are good for you.
4. Building relationships and authentic community.
5. Investing in and serving other people.

Life is undoubtedly busy and difficult, and there are many obstacles and trials to overcome. But the key is to find the purpose in the journey. The Forge shows us Isaiah’s journey to overcoming his excuses. He makes the effort to get rid of all that is holding him back from God’s best for him.

Overall, I enjoyed the story. Everyone who watches The Forge will gain new insight and ideas on living a fruitful life and building an authentic community.

The story was relatable, although there were moments that seemed unrealistic. While I believe in the power of mentorship and the need for discipleship, the viewer needs to keep an open mind on how that may play out in real life. I loved the idea of everyone in The Forge getting a sword; however, I think we can all lower our expectations and realize discipleship can be done in a small group hosted by our church. However, I appreciate the symbolism and the honor the writers of The Forge gave to the beauty of being in an authentic community of believers.

Like most movies, The Forge had drama and action built into every scene, making some of the events unrelatable. However, that does not take away from the fact that discipleship is important and necessary and will help us all become who God created us to be. It is essential to believe in yourself and others. Overall, the story of The Forge encouraged my heart, which will determine the next steps in my faith walk.

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Judge Greg Mathis and his wife, Linda Yvette Mathis, are parting ways after almost four decades together.

Linda Mathis filed for divorce from the “Judge Mathis” star Thursday in Los Angeles County Superior Court, citing “irreconcilable differences” as the reason for the split, according to court documents reviewed by The Times.

In the filing, she listed their date of separation as July 17 and noted that they have no minor children. She also applied for spousal support while asking that the court waive her husband’s right to request support from her. It is unclear whether the couple had a prenuptial agreement in place.

She also requested that Greg Mathis cover her legal fees.

Representatives for both parties did not reply immediately Friday to The Times’ request for comment.

The college sweethearts wed in 1985, more than a decade before the premiere of “Judge Mathis,” which ran for 24 seasons from Sept. 13, 1999, to May 25, 2023. The arbitration-based reality court show was recognized in 2004 with the NAACP Image Award for outstanding news, talk or information series, and in 2018 scored a Daytime Emmy for outstanding legal/courtroom program.

Mathis is the longest-running Black male television host and second-longest-reigning arbitrator in courtroom TV history (behind “Judge Judy”) and in 2022 received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Before his Hollywood tenure, Mathis, 61, worked as a judge in Michigan’s 36th District Court.

Just days after his eponymous show was canceled last year by Warner Bros., Mathis announced he would be hosting a new courtroom show, “Mathis Court With Judge Mathis,” helmed by Byron Allen’s Allen Media Group.

In 2022, he also appeared alongside his wife and four children (and multiple grandchildren) — who all live in Los Angeles — in the docuseries “Mathis Family Matters.”