Although individual preferences may vary, the majority of movie fans and most critics essentially agree that the best installments of the “Indiana Jones” and “Star Wars” franchises are “Raiders of the Lost Ark” and “The Empire Strikes Back.” Both had different directors, but each was produced by George Lucas and written by the then unknown Lawrence Kasdan. These were the first two films Kasdan had penned and, needless to say, they delivered him instant industry clout.
For his first two efforts as both writer and director—“Body Heat” (1981) and “The Big Chill” (1983)—Kasdan delivered two great examples of anti-tentpole character studies that were clearly aimed at older audiences not especially interested in pyrotechnics, chase scenes, and overblown special effects. Despite their limited appeal, both productions were critical and box office hits. With his third feature, Kasdan produced what is arguably the finest overall film of his career.
