As I’m sure you have all heard Patrick Swayze passed away after a 20 month battle with pancreatic cancer. He left behind a beautiful and I know that his millions of loyal fans are also grieving this horrible loss. I was also one of Patrick Swayze’s biggest supporters and instead of reading the reports of his death, I choose to remember some of the amazing films he made over his impressive career. Here are my picks for the Top 5 Patrick Swayze movies.
5. Roadhouse, 1989. I must admit that I was very reluctant to watch this film, but was forced by my husband, father-in-law, and grandfather-in-law to have a seat and give this movie a chance. Am I glad I listened to their advice! The film tells the story of Dalton. He is a hard-living cowboy (much like Swayze himself) who is hired by a bar owner to clean up his establishment, the Double Deuce. Along the way Dalton gets in way over his head and must face off against the town’s resident bad guy Brad Wesley. There is a love story, but who cares. This movie is all about the broken noses, broken beer bottles and one man’s quest to save a small town from corruption. If you are ever in the mood for some great action mixed with a few laughs, take my advice, and give Road House a chance.
4. Black Dog, 1998. Most of you out there have probably never heard of this film, and I’m not about to write that it should have been nominated for an Academy Award, but it is worth seeing. The movie’s name comes from a term used by truckers. Swayze’s character Jack Crews experiences a “black dog” hallucination that causes him to strike a motorist. He was imprisoned for vehicular manslaughter, and after his release, must try to put the pieces of his broken family back together. In an effort to do so he unwittingly accepts a job to transport illegal guns. Patrick Swayze is the film’s star and gives another great performance, but to me Meatloaf steals the show.
3. To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything! Julie Newmar, 1995. I have to start out by writing Patrick Swayze makes one ugly woman, but I have to commend his bravery. He played the character Vida Boheme with dignity and grace. A lesser actor would have been threatened by playing a transvestite, and the resulting performance would have been a mockery, but this wasn’t what Patrick Swayze gave us. He, Wesley Snipes, and John Leguizamo told the story of three drag queens on a cross country journey to pursue their dreams of stardom. Along the way the trio breaks down in the sticks and must mingle with the town’s residents while their car is repaired. What they discover in these people is a level of understanding that most of us assume is lacking in small town America. The film deals with some weighty issues: social acceptance, domestic abuse, and basic human understanding.
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2. Ghost, 1990. I’m not going to summarize the plot of this immensely popular film. Let me instead take this opportunity to rave about another unreal performance from Patrick Swayze. He broke my heart, and I do not know any woman who wasn’t moved by this beautiful love story. Ghost can be labeled a "chick flick" and that is more than likely how it will be remembered in the history of cinema, but that isn’t giving this movie enough credit. Pardon me for this, but I think all of us could use a little more sentimentality in our lives, and that is exactly what Ghost will give you.
1. Dirty Dancing, 1987. I definitely saved the best for last. I will never forget the first time I watched Dirty Dancing. I was 15 years old, and I instantly fell madly in love with Patrick Swayze. He combined the rare qualities of masculinity, beauty, and grace. Once again, this is a popular film and I don’t need to provide a lengthy plot summary. It’s enough to recount the end, and that final dance between Baby and Johnny. I was mesmerized by thoughts of forbidden romance, and couldn’t help day dream about what happened to the pair after the music stopped. I of course conjured up images of weddings, children, and dances that never stopped. I think that is how I’d like to remember Patrick Swayze as well, as a dance that will never end.