Happy birthday to me! Top 10 from year I was born (1982)

Joanna Cassidy in Blade Runner

In case you didn't already know because of the good people at Facebook, it's my birthday today and in order to commemorate the occasion I thought I would write up a quick post on my favorite films from the year I was born -- 1982 -- yeah, that's right, I'm old.

It's actually pretty difficult for me to pick just 10 favorites from 32 years ago, because it was a pretty strong year for Hollywood.

Some terrific movies just missed the cut, including Michael Keaton's hilarious debut in Night Shift, a strong Rocky sequel and one of the most haunting Meryl Streep performances of all time in Sophie's Choice.

But hey, they call it top 10 for a reason. 1982 was an interesting year -- the economy was in the pits (as was Ronald Reagan's approval ratings contrary to conservative revisionism) and people were seeking upbeat entertainment, hence the blockbuster success of E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial.

Later that year, Michael Jackson's Thriller would be released, cementing his pop cultural dominance over the decade and ushering in a golden age for blockbusters. But I digress. Some of my favorites were huge smashes, others cult classics. But, most importantly, like all great films, they stand the test of time.

10) An Officer and Gentleman - A movie far too often remembered for its cheesy ending instead of its gritty whole. A very emotionally-effective, character-driven drama features Richard Gere, in one of his best roles, as a troubled wannabe air force pilot who seeks basic training because he has "no place else to go."

9) Gandhi - It's now become something of a gimmick to say an actor "becomes" someone famous when starring in a biopic, but the description really applies when it comes to this best picture-winning epic starring Ben Kingsley. The acting legend won best actor for his incredibly powerful performance as the non-violent activist.

8) The Verdict - As I've written before, this is probably my favorite film about lawyers and it has one of the all-time best Paul Newman performances (in a career full of them). In this movie he plays Frank Galvin, a hard-drinking, down-on-his-luck lawyer who finds redemption in a medical malpractice case. A master class in movie acting is on display here.

7) 48 Hrs. - Eddie Murphy makes his glorious debut and kicks off a decade of screen dominance. The film's racial politics were problematic then and now, but few can dispute the chemistry and cool of Murphy's partnership with Nick Nolte in this edgy action comedy. The premise -- a cop springs a convict to help catch a killer -- is very B-movie, but the execution is first class.

6) E.T. The Extra Terrestrial - An intensely personal film from director Steven Spielberg that just connected with audiences, becoming one of the most beloved hit movies of all time. It holds up beautifully because it isn't burdened with too many special effects and instead focuses on, an albeit unlikely, timeless story about a lonely young boy (a fantastic Henry Thomas) who befriends a kindly child alien.

Ricardo Montalban in Wrath of Khan

5) Fast Times at Ridgemont High - One of the best and most honest high school comedies I've ever seen. High school wasn't particularly cool or memorable for me, so normally I don't find these kinds of movies engaging but director Amy Heckerling did such a great job of creating a rich tapestry of fully realized people, including Sean Penn's glorious stoner-surfer Spicoli, I was charmed. And that pool scene...

4) The Thing - John Carpenter's bleak and gruesome horror masterpiece was the anti-E.T., which is probably why it bombed when it was first released, but it has only grown in stature over the years. A grizzled Kurt Russell headlines a great cast of character actors stranded in a freezing terrain where a truly terrifying entity starts taking over their bodies. Unforgettable special effects.

3) Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan - The hit or miss nature of the original Star Trek cast movies is well-documented, but this something on which all of us can agree -- The Wrath of Khan was (and probably still is) the best Star Trek film ever made. Why? One word. KHHHHAAAANN! With all do respect to Benedict Cumberbatch, this role will always be owned by the fearsome Ricardo Montalban, who truly deserved an Oscar for his scenery chewing role as Captain Kirk's adversary. A genuine space opera.

2) Tootsie - Dustin Hoffman gives one of his greatest performances in this raucous and very smart comedy about a struggling actor who becomes a huge soap opera star after dressing up and posing as a woman. The writing is razor sharp, as is the supporting cast (Jessica Lange, Bill Murray, Teri Garr and the director Sydney Pollack, to name a few). But the genuine feeling and thoughtfulness behind the laughs, beautifully articulated here by Mr. Hoffman himself, elevate this movie to its status as a great film.

1) Blade Runner - Every time I see this movie I walk away with something new. From it's striking, gorgeous opening shot to its legendary twist ending, this movie grabs you and plunges you into a strange, complex vision of the future. This is one of the landmark science fiction films and one of my favorite movies of all time. Harrison Ford plays a stoic 'blade runner' tasked with retiring 'replicants' or cyborgs which have outlived their usefulness. That set-up is just an entry point to philosophical questions about what is real or fake and what makes one human? Is it our memories? Our physicality?

A brilliant film that was not appreciated in its time but thankfully has won a deserving place in the pantheon of classics. The highlight of the film is Rutger Hauer's eerie but ultimately touching performance as Roy Batty. See this film!

And happy birthday to me.