Back to the Future (1985) - 10/10

I thought I'd mark the 10th installment of this series by tackling our first Masterpiece; Back to the Future. No point in a long intro, lets just get to it. 

1. Acting

I'm going to do my best to avoid overusing the term 'pitch perfect', but that's what the acting is in Back to the Future. It is silly, funny, irreverent, campy and just fun. Every actor takes a slightly different spin on their approach but it all feel appropriate for whats happening on screen. 

Michael J Fox is perfect for Marty and it blows my mind that this movie came so close to not having him in it. If Eric Stoltz hadn't gotten fired this may have been a completely different outcome. But Fox make Marty everything he needs to be; moody teenager, lovable hearthrob, quick tempered, witty, charming, flabbergasted. He is so good in every moment of the film. 

Christopher Lloyd is also incredible as Doc Brown. His style is huge and silly but fits so well. His quirky approach to the mad scientist is so iconic that, again, I struggle to imagine any other actor trying to play this role. 

The remaining cast are also excellent. Lea Thompson, Crispin Glover, and Thomas Wilson not only play wildly different characters that feel distinct, but they do so in three completely different ways as we venture into the plot.

2. Cinematography

The colors of this film are bright and warm and perfect for the setting. The camera moves are energetic, always moving and are capable of telling stories all on their own.

3. Production/Costume Design

Some 40 years later, BTTF now represents a double period film - half set in the 80s, half in the 50s. It is a wonderfully built-out time capsule that is so much fun to look at. It is also great because this movie has some incredible sets that pull double duty. The sprawling downtown which seems built entirely from scratch for example has two completely different looks based on what timeframe Marty is in. The details in every scene are fantastic and help with immersion. Every costume, every hairstyle, every car and prop feel perfect. 

And then of course there is the time machine. The idea of turning the often mocked failed DMC DeLorean into an iconic piece of prop production was a fantastic move. And the cars concept style design kept in line with sci-fi aesthetics so perfectly. 

4. Writing

The writing for BTTF is so tight and efficient. Every bit of dialog is there to tell its own mini scene. They reveal character without jamming it down the audience's throat, it rolls out fantastical exposition without feeling silly, and it is constantly using setup and payoffs at a breakneck pace. For example, early in the film a person hands Marty a piece of paper alluding to the clock towers currents state of affairs, then that piece of paper is what Jennifer rights down her number on and reveals information about her and Marty's relationship, and then that same piece of paper comes into play several scenes later when Marty and Doc Brown come up wit a plan for repairing the DeLorean and becomes critical for the films conclusion. This is happening constantly throughout the film in both big and small ways and it never feels formulaic or too obvious. 

The structure of this film is important too, not just for leading the audience through the plot, but by building the character arcs. Every moment informs who the characters are, what is changing in their past, and eventually how they've changed by the epilogue. George for example starts the movie getting steamrolled by Biff and seemingly beaten down by a lack of confidence. He then meets Marty when hes younger who helps change his story from being a loser into someone who stands up for themselves, gains confidence and reverses his outcome in life. It is a relatively simple character Arc, but the plot structure is so clearly laid out for the audience that it still feels fun to see them change in the end.

5. Sound Design

Not only are the sound effects of the movie great, but the soundtrack is phenomenal. The upbeat tones of Huey and the News fill the moments with optimism and joy. But the true star of the show is Alan Silvestri's wonderful score. BTTFs score only needs a few notes to be instantly recognizable and its swelling nature and heroic tones fit so perfectly into everything it is underlining.

6. Editing

Much like the script, the edit is perfectly paced. It never feels like there is a wasted moment in the whole film; including pausing the momentum to play Johnny B. Goode for seemingly no other reason than it being fun.

7. Visual Effects

Of course the VFX will feel outdated looking back. But for the time, the hand drawn VFX were well executed and helped sell all the sci-fi elements of the film. The DeLorean in particular required integrating and tracking 2D elements on-top of the raw footage. This is all routine stuff now but, at the time, was highly experimental. 

Even to this day, although the VFX is so obvious, it doesn't break the immersion at all.

8. Originality or Strength of Adaptation

BTTF may not be the first Time Travel story ever told, but it may be the most iconic. Borrowing from the likes of H.G Wells and Charles Dicken's, Zemeckis and his team constructed a wonderful time travel tale that has, and will continue to, stand the test of... well, time.

9. Stunt Coordination

It may not be the most crazy stunts put to film, but the car sequences, skateboarding and silly fights all work within it.

10. Direction

BTTF may have not gotten made without Zemeckis' persistence, and probably wouldn't have been as good without Hollywood's doubt of him as a director. Essentially- when Zemeckis shopped BTTF the first time, no studio wanted to make it, likely due to some recent commercial failures with his previous movies. Steven Spielberg, a friend and collaborator, always believed in the film and when the stars started to align, they decided to make the film together underneath Amblin Entertainment. With minimal studio interference and a team of very talented filmmakers, we were gifted with one of the greatest movies ever made.

Legacy/Final Thoughts

Almost every single time travel movie that I have seen either references BTTF as an inspiration, or just straight up overtly references it in the dialog of their films. It is THE time travel movie and I don't think it will ever be usurped. Every single element of the film feels... god dammit... pitch perfect.