Jaden Reiter

COMS273

Prof. Homzie

19 November 2020

Cold War and the Effect on Film

Movies are a beautiful medium that allow filmmakers to encapsulate a specific emotion within a particular amount of time. Whether it be happiness or sadness, existentialism or nihilism, films can express philosophical ideas through visuals and stories, often correlating to the current societal climate. Directors and screenwriters often use the state of the world as inspiration for their work, utilizing real events in order to communicate some form of commentary. This form of critique can be subtle yet incredibly effective in portraying central themes in film. Political or social commentary has been at the heart of filmmaking since the beginning of the artform, and continues to be done to this day.

During the 1980s, the hostility between capitalist and communist nations during the Cold

War was increasing. Ronald Reagan has just been elected as President of the , and made it clear that his goal was to stop the spread of communism and the détente method of foreign intervention. Prior to this decade, both the East and the West were avoiding any form of conflict, while simultaneously stockpiling nuclear weapons. This buildup became a huge threat in the 80s, in which people feared an imminent nuclear war for the first time since the Cuban

Missile Crisis in 1962. Additionally, the rapid increase in technological innovations in previous years, such as the Space Race, caused the general public to become uneasy about national security. These beliefs were shown in the movie trends of the 1980s, primarily in the increase of science fiction films in a post-apocalyptic setting.

Many films of this category rose to fame during this decade. ’s Escape ​ from New York was released in 1981, in which the president must be rescued from the island of ​ , which has turned into a maximum security prison. Time is at stake, for the president was on his way to a summit to speak with China and the Soviet Union. In 1982, Ridley Scott directed Blade Runner, a film taking place in futuristic in which humans coexist ​ ​ with human-like robots. The Terminator, directed by in 1984, focuses on a ​ ​ cyborg that goes back in time to kill a woman, who is the key to preventing nuclear holocaust.

Paul Verhoeven directed Robocop in 1987, where a cyborg cop is set to take down a crime boss ​ ​ in apocalyptic Detroit. Akira, directed by Katsuhiro Otomo, was released in 1988 and focuses on ​ ​ a biker who fights against the corrupt government in post-nuclear Japan. The first four films topped the US box office during the 1980s and resembled the public’s fears of apocalypse, while

Akira shows an Eastern view of the world’s nuclearization. ​ In addition to the political events that led to public safety concerns, a rise in the philosophy of nihilism contributed to the lack of purpose many felt in their existence. Nihilism is

“the belief that all values are baseless and that nothing can be known or communicated.” (Pratt)

The philosopher most associated with this mindset is Friedrich Nietzsche, who believed that nihilism could be the end to human civilization, due to its destructive nature. Nihilism was particularly popular in the 80s, considering the global events and the possibility of nuclear terror.

This was a major factor in the trend of an impending apocalypse, primarily in the art of film.

Nihilist views can be seen throughout many movies of that time period, whether it be religious, metaphysical, or a literal interpretation. The science fiction genre usually focused on nihilism in a more literal sense, implying that human existence is worthless in the face of nuclearization and exponential technological advancement.

The Cold War lasted from 1945-1991, yet the events of it continue to affect many nations to this day. Many nations began developing nuclear weapons, contributing to one of the biggest threats during the events from the Cold War. Reagan’s attempt to eradicate communism across the world created more controversy within the war, increasing tensions between the US and the

Soviet Union despite the progress made in the prior decade. As things heated up between nations, so did the general public, more specifically in their fear of nuclear holocaust. Pop culture began to steer towards a pessimistic view, particularly in the movie industry. In 1981, John

Carpenter released one of the first mainstream films set in a dystopian setting. Escape from New ​ York took place in Manhattan, now a maximum security prison as a result of the quadrupled ​ crime rates in the previous years. The president was on his way to a meeting with the Soviet

Union and China in order to discuss a peace treaty regarding nuclear weapons. This specific scenario was very deliberate in showing how the world will end up if the events of the Cold War continued. Imperialist actions by major nations will create more harm for others if they do not understand their own domestic issues and how it correlates. Carpenter’s image of the government was rather literal, for he views them as greedy politicians ignoring the concerns of the public.

The trend of apocalyptic settings continued throughout the 80s to a great extent. Ridley

Scott directed the science fiction epic Blade Runner, which was released in 1982. The film was ​ ​ set in a futuristic Los Angeles, which has been overrun by corporations and polluted to the maximum. The main conflict of the movie is the advancement of robotic humans known as replicants. However, the true internal conflict of the film is how empathy plays a role in human nature, and if that can truly be reproduced. This idea stems from the rapid technological advancements, causing people to not know the outcome of these new achievements. Ridley Scott relates this theme to the time period it was released, in which humans were unclear of their purpose in the face of tech greater than them. The overarching sense of nihilism alludes to the general public opinion of the 1980s. In 1984, The Terminator was released to widespread ​ ​ acclaim. The story follows a futuristic cyborg who travels back in time to kill Sarah Connor. The assassin was sent on behalf of the company Cyberdyne Systems, who will eventually create a defense network that will become self aware and cause nuclear holocaust. Connor’s son is the only one who can stop it, hence the attempted assassination. The themes expressed in this film are similar to Blade Runner, in which artificial intelligence will take over the world and cause ​ ​ destruction. This overlapping fear is common throughout the 80s, considering the advancement in technology and its reach into the unknown. In previous decades, ideas such as traveling to space were seen as science fiction until it happened. Therefore, these nihilistic ideas of robots taking over the world or nuclear holocaust seemed perfectly plausible to the general public.

These themes continued to evolve as the Cold War persisted and technology quickly changed.

Towards the end of the 1980s and the Cold War, science fiction films continued to use post apocalyptic settings. RoboCop, directed by Paul Verhoeven, was released in 1987 to great ​ ​ commercial success. The film followed a cop who was killed in the line of duty, until the corporation Omni Consumer Products used him as the subject for an experimental cyborg police officer. The results were a success, until the “RoboCop” learns the company’s head was the one in charge of the people that killed RoboCop’s previous human self. Robocop utilizes themes of ​ ​ authoritarianism and corporate greed in order to accentuate the direction many fear the United

States is going. The extended use of military power and the progression of late stage capitalism contributed to the fear by the public in the 80s, similarly to the events of the movie. However, the events of the 1980s didn’t only affect public opinion in the Western world. Akira was ​ ​ released in Japan in 1988, receiving immediate success and praise from across the globe. The story follows a street biker gang member in futuristic Neo-Tokyo, who must save his friend from a secret government project. When he finds out his friend is using supernatural powers to destroy the city, he must stop him before it becomes too late. This film in particular shows how civilization in Japan has been affected after the bombing of Hiroshima in WWII. In particular,

Akira uses a nihilist lens to describe how human nature causes corporate greed and government ​ corruption. The movie’s themes are in response to both the United States’ actions in WWII and the events of the Cold War at the time of release. The conflicts between major countries during the 80s played a large role in public opinion and themes within pop culture.

Following this essay, I have written a film review on each of the films previously brought up. In the reviews, I give my personal opinion on the film as well as some analysis on its relation to the 1980s. I used three mentors in preparation for the reviews: Martin Scorsese, Aaron Sorkin, and Roger Ebert. Martin Scorsese is a famous American director, who has been making films for decades. Scorsese’s Masterclass was helpful in providing context for the moviemaking process and insight into the film industry in the past. Aaron Sorkin, an award winning screenwriter, was beneficial in understanding the steps to develop a script and how outside influences play a role.

Lastly, Roger Ebert was a highly regarded film critic, whose interview gave information about writing reviews and how to combine both objective and subjective thought. Additionally, I have interviewed my father about science fiction films from the 80s, giving me an understanding of public thought during that decade and his personal experiences with the films.

The Cold War had an immense effect on public opinion during the 1980s, therefore affecting the culture of that time. Specifically, a large number of science fiction films were produced and released, with a large number of them taking place in a dystopian and apocalyptic setting. The combination of the threat of nuclear warfare and technological advancements sparked fear in many citizens, resulting in an uncertain view of the future. Additionally, the Cold

War caused a rise in nihilism among many. The 1980s was a decade of unknowns, resulting in a shift in the film industry that will last for years to come.

Escape from New York - ★★★.5

The year is 1997. Crime rates have quadrupled, causing the government to turn

Manhattan into a maximum security prison. The President of the United States is on a plane to a summit meeting with the leaders of China and the Soviet Union. He is carrying a briefcase containing information about nuclear fusion, in which he will offer as an attempt at peace.

However, a hijacker takes over the airplane and proceeds to crash it into the World Trade Center.

The president is the only survivor, and only one person is brave enough to enter the violent city and rescue him. His name is .

John Carpenter released his 4th major film Escape from New York in 1981. Despite the ​ ​ moderately low budget of $6.1 million, the film took in $25.1 million in the US. It received positive reviews from critics, eventually being deemed a cult classic. The praise was so overwhelmingly positive that Carpenter wrote and directed a sequel called Escape from L.A., ​ ​ which did not do as well as the original film.

The film thematically focuses on America’s continuation towards imperialism and the impending terror of nuclear weapons. The main conflict of the film is to rescue the president before the meeting with other world leaders, in order to make peace by discussing nuclear weapons. Despite Snake Plissken’s attempt to save him, the ex-soldier doesn’t agree with the president’s decisions and actively tries to disobey the government. When the plane is hijacked, the rebel states over the intercom, “All of your imperialist weapons and lies can’t save him now.”

Her attempt at destroying the plane and killing everyone on it came from a place of hatred towards her country, primarily in their use of the military in domestic and foreign affairs. At the time of the film’s release, the United States was in the height of the Cold War and many

Americans feared apocalypse, leading them to further reject immense militarization. In the finale of the film, Plissken saves the president just in time to give a speech on behalf of the meeting he missed. However, when he attempts to play the tape regarding nuclear fusion, it instead plays the song “Bandstand Boogie” as Snake walks away and destroys the official cassette tape.

Carpenter’s use of antiestablishmentarian rhetoric was very deliberate, specifically in protest against the Cold War and the United States’ imperialist actions.

Escape from New York is a dystopian mirage of brutal action and eccentric characters. ​ Despite its sleek visuals and score, the film feels slightly stale and doesn’t have a lot of new ideas to express. The movie is most notable for its story and all American badassery, yet feels similar to other science fiction films of the era. Altogether, Carpenter’s film is a load of fun and very well made, but doesn’t fully resonate with its principles.

Blade Runner - ★★★★

Do androids dream of electric sheep? This is the question popular science fiction author

Philip K. Dick poses in his book of the same name. In 1982, Ridley Scott released his film adaptation of the novel, titled Blade Runner. The film opened up in theaters with very mixed ​ ​ reactions. Many loved its elaborate mix of world building and character study, while others felt that it was grim and a shallow interpretation of its subject matter. Over 38 years later, Blade ​ Runner is seen as a classic and a pioneer in visual effects, as well as being a symbol of the ​ science fiction genre.

The story takes place in Los Angeles in 2019 and follows a hunter named Rick Deckard, who is sent to destroy human-like robots called replicants. In the previous years, mega-company

Tyrell Corporation had engineered these replicants to help humans on a colony off of Earth, until they were outlawed after an attempted mutiny. A police force called Blade Runners, such as

Deckard, are sent to “retire” any remaining replicants on Earth. Deckard is pulled out of retirement when a group of four replicants are found on Earth, posing a threat to society. He begins to investigate these replicants when he finds a fifth one that is used as Tyrell’s assistant.

This one is different however, as Tyrell is trying to implant false memories into her in an attempt to make the replicants even more human-like than before.

Blade Runner shows its strengths in its environment, painting a picture of a futuristic Los ​ Angeles where corporations have excessively polluted the atmosphere and the city has advanced to a somewhat setting. Ridley Scott utilizes a slower pace to allow the viewer to breathe in such a confined space, focusing on the street level of LA and all that it has to offer in this period. There is a particular scene in which Deckard sits down and eats a bowl of noodles, allowing you to sit with him and view society in the background as it moves like clockwork. The contrast between the bright neon lights and the dark and dreary backdrop of looming skyscrapers symbolizes the false sense of hope we have in the eventual corporate-run world.

The film somewhat falls short in its exploration of humans versus artificial intelligence.

Being released in the 1980s, Ridley Scott falls in line with the trend of nihilist expression through apocalyptic settings, this time using AI as an example of the unknown extent of technological advancement. Primarily, Scott attempts to question the role of empathy in human nature and how it can’t be replicated. This theme seems to be an important one in the early parts of the movie, but become muddier as the third act comes around. The question is largely left up to interpretation, but lacks the concrete evidence for the viewer to make a decision. However, this may also be Ridley Scott’s point, considering how most moral dilemmas aren’t particularly black and white. The 2017 sequel Blade Runner 2049 creates a more in-depth look at the same ​ ​ question, while simultaneously paying homage to its predecessor. Overall, Blade Runner is an ​ ​ undebatable classic in the neo-noir science fiction category and will continue to be studied for years to come.

The Terminator - ★★★.5

Sarah Connor is a waitress at a local diner when she hears of the death of another Sarah

Connor. Later that day, another woman with the same name was killed. In the year 2029, a defense network called Skynet has caused a nuclear holocaust, causing the world to be overrun by robots. When a revolution led by Connor’s son takes over Skynet, a Terminator is sent back in time to kill Sarah Connor before she has her child. Simultaneously, rebel Kyle Reese is sent back in time to stop the Terminator. A cat and mouse chase ensues as Sarah Connor tries to understand the significance of her existence.

James Cameron wrote and directed The Terminator, which was released in 1984. The ​ ​ film had a relatively small budget of $6.1 million, yet took in over $78 million in the box office.

It received worldwide praise, so much so that it was preserved in the Library of Congress. The success of the movie spawned a few sequels that are still being made to this day. It is seen as significant for its work in special and practical effects.

The Terminator utilizes themes of impending apocalypse and technological ​ advancements to emphasize the eventual destruction of society that many believed would happen. Its characterization of the Terminator as a cold and lifeless being symbolizes how technology can collide with human nature and eventually overtake it. The 1980s had an obsession with the possibility of artificial intelligence, most notably through its portrayal of sinister beings meant to destroy humanity. The Terminator is an icon of the 80s and encapsulates ​ ​ the fears many had.

This film was technically impressive and overall quite fun to watch. It had some messy plot points and a little over the top in some scenes, however that was what I liked about it. The action was well choreographed and didn’t feel too bloated like other films. The film was all around decently well acted, but had some stale moments due to poor writing. Overall, The ​ Terminator is worthy of its classic title and still feels important today. ​

RoboCop - ★★★.5

In a dystopian future, Detroit has been completely overrun by crime and corrupt police.

Officer Alex Murphy is on patrol when he pursues an armed robbery, resulting in an ambush by the criminals. They overrun Murphy, resulting in his death right in front of his partner. Mega corporation Omni Consumer Products uses his body to produce RoboCop, a cybernetic being in charge of upholding the law. RoboCop is used as a pawn of the police in order to stop the overwhelming amount of crime. However, RoboCop learns of OCP’s role in his death, causing him to switch sides and seek revenge on the company.

RoboCop, directed by Paul Verhoeven, was released in 1987 and instantly became ​ successful. The film grossed over 40 million dollars and became so popular that it was turned into a franchise. At the Academy Awards, it was nominated for Best Film Editing and Best

Sound, while also winning Best Sound Effects Editing.

The film’s themes remain on par with many other science fiction films of the era. The most prominent idea represented was the use of authoritarianism by the police, greatly representing the mass militarization the United States was undergoing. Additionally, RoboCop ​ shows how the advancement of technology can backfire on us. In the beginning of the film, OCP showcases a weaponized police robot to executives, resulting in an accidental death in one of them. RoboCop also backfired on the police, as he tried to seek revenge for the acts committed against him. These two events correspond to the uneasiness many felt about advancing technology during the 1980s. Everyone was unsure of the future, sparking many films to be produced regarding the subject.

RoboCop is a perfect example of a sci fi film from the 80s. It is set in the future, contains ​ a lot of cool yet unlikely technology, and is quite corny at times. However, this film is important to the science fiction genre and continues to influence the movie industry. It has had sequels, a remake, a TV show, and so much more, yet never comes close to the expertise of the original. I thoroughly enjoyed this movie, despite its occasional slow pace or cheesy cliches. This movie is considered a classic by many, and is well deserved of that title.

Akira - ★★★★★

Thirty one years after an atomic bomb was unleashed on Japan, Neo-Tokyo has rebuilt into a flourishing cyberpunk city, crawling with life and new technology. Kaneda is the leader of a biker gang and skirmishes with other rival groups. One day, Kaneda and his friends are caught in the wrong place and the wrong time, leading to the arrest of all of them. However, fellow biker Tetsuo is taken by the government in secret, resulting in experimentation on him and a development of supernatural abilities. Tetsuo proceeds to use his new powers for the good of himself in an act of revenge against everyone who hurt him throughout his life. A battle ensues between Tetsuo, Kaneda and his friends, and the government, putting the city of Neo-Tokyo at risk of complete annihilation.

Akira was released in Japan in 1988, resulting in international acclaim and being deemed ​ by many as one of the greatest animated films of all time. Its legacy continues on today, influencing many other science fiction films and still receiving widespread success. The film grossed about $20 million USD more than its original budget in Japan alone, and eventually raked in an additional $80 million USD in worldwide home video sales.

The film utilizes a mix of mesmerizing visuals, elaborate world building, and activist ideas in order to symbolize the collapse of industrial Japan post-WWII. Despite the technological advancements, the futuristic city is filled with corruption and anti-government protests.

Neo-Tokyo has somewhat turned into a police state, due to the overwhelming control by the military on its own civilians. Additionally, politicians continue to exert greed through all of their policies, focusing on the benefit of themselves over the growth of the city. When Tetsuo gains his powers and begins to destroy the town, many of the citizens praise him for his actions and even encourage it as if he is their savior. Since the nuclear bomb that destroyed Hiroshima during World War II was named Little Boy, director Katsuhiro Otomo was very specific in showing a literal young boy to be the one to destroy the city. Additionally, the finale of the film shows Tetsuo becoming a massive supernatural being that eventually pulverizes the city, representing the end of corporate greed and providing a clean slate for the city to rebuild. This reference to WWII displays Japan’s interpretation of the ongoing nuclearization of the 80s, specifically with a nihilist perspective on the “end of the world.” The destruction of civilization will create a reset for infrastructure, yet human nature will remain the same.

Akira proves itself to be one of the greatest science fiction films ever made. Its striking ​ visuals were ahead of its time, providing influence for generations to come. Its futuristic score perfectly balances with the mood of the city and encapsulates the energy of the film. In addition to its technical achievements, its themes are perfectly executed and remain lingering in the brain for long periods of time. This film is a masterpiece.

Interview Transcript with Jon Reiter

Q: What was your general impression of the film industry in the 1980s?

A: Well, I was born in 1967 so I was just a kid during that decade. However, I began to love films, specifically sci-fi, when Star Wars was first released in theaters. No one had ever seen anything like it, and when I first laid eyes on it I fell in love with it. Fast forward to the 80s, science fiction movies were being pumped out like never before and I loved it.

Q: As you know, I am reviewing 5 different films for my creative project. Have you seen any of these and what are your thoughts?

A: I have actually seen all of them except for Akira, which I hear from you is very good. Escape ​ ​ ​ from New York is a good movie, especially because I love . Total badass. Robocop is ​ ​ ​ also a classic, a perfect example of an 80s sci fi movie. The Terminator was alright, a little silly ​ ​ for me. However, I haven’t seen any of those since their original release. The one film I really do love, and have seen quite a few times, is Blade Runner. That movie rocks. Ridley Scott is an ​ ​ amazing director and he really shows his strengths here. Harrison Ford gives a great performance as well.

Q: I agree with you, Blade Runner is definitely my favorite out of the four you have seen. My ​ ​ project is on how the Cold War/nuclearization in the 80s helped influence these movies. Did you ever notice that when you originally watched these films?

A: Yea, somewhat. To be fair, I was only a teenager so I didn’t fully understand the magnitude of what was going on. The main thing I can recollect was having to do a duck and cover exercise, however that fizzled out pretty quickly when I was in school. Looking back at these movies and from what you have told me about your thesis, I can fully see the influence. It was an awkward time for many and nobody really knew what was going to happen. That sorta began the whole apocalypse theme within movies.

Q: Did the idea of the “end of the world” ever frighten you?

A: Not particularly. I was aware that some thought that but it didn’t really affect me that much.

When I saw it in the movies, I thought it was a pretty cool idea and didn’t think that deep into it.

I also understood that the films were fiction, so I never really tried to pair that with what was happening in the world.

Q: Final question, do you think the rise of science fiction and apocalyptic settings were beneficial or detrimental to the public’s thoughts about nuclear weapons?

A: It can really go either way. On one hand, it was bringing the situation to light and making fun of it in a way. Many thought it was cool rather than terrifying. On the other hand, I think some may have interpreted it as “this is what will happen.” Some people didn’t understand the films were very exaggerated and not meant to be perceived in a literal sense. In my own opinion, I think it was a positive thing because people saw the movies and understood how silly the whole apocalyptic world thing was. There was crazy stuff going on in the world, but the idea that Earth will go through a nuclear holocaust was a little nuts. The introduction of movies like these was awesome and super influential for other films of the future.

Q: 100% agreed. Thanks for your responses!

A: No worries, hope I helped.

References

1. Amadeo, K. (2020, June 30). The Cold War and its Continuing Impact on the U.S.

Economy Today. Retrieved November 12, 2020, from

https://www.thebalance.com/cold-war-summary-events-causes-economic-impact-507022

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2. Ebert, R., & Rose, C. (2000). Roger Ebert interview on his Favorite Movies. Retrieved ​ ​ November 12, 2020, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FfHwCevk3F4 ​ 3. Newman, K. (2000). Apocalypse movies: End of the world cinema. New York, NY: St. ​ ​ Martin's Griffin.

4. Onion, A., Sullivan, M., & Mullen, M. (2009, October 27). Cold War History. Retrieved

November 12, 2020, from https://www.history.com/topics/cold-war/cold-war-history ​ 5. Pratt, A. (n.d.). Nihilism. Retrieved November 12, 2020, from

https://iep.utm.edu/nihilism/

6. Scorsese, M. (n.d.). Martin Scorsese Teaches Filmmaking. Retrieved November 12, ​ ​ 2020, from https://www.masterclass.com/classes/martin-scorsese-teaches-filmmaking ​ 7. Smith, A. (2013). Out of the Cold : The Cold War and Its Legacy. Out of the Cold: The ​ Cold War and Its Legacy. doi:10.5040/9781501301100 ​ 8. Sorkin, A. (n.d.). Aaron Sorkin Teaches Screenwriting. Retrieved November 12, 2020, ​ ​ from https://www.masterclass.com/classes/aaron-sorkin-teaches-screenwriting ​ 9. Interview with Jon Reiter