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From: upstill@ucbvax.UUCP (Steve Upstill)
Newsgroups: net.movies
Subject: Streets of Fire (nonspoiler)
Message-ID: <1061@ucbvax.UUCP>
Date: Wed, 13-Jun-84 11:43:24 EDT
Article-I.D.: ucbvax.1061
Posted: Wed Jun 13 11:43:24 1984
Date-Received: Thu, 14-Jun-84 01:57:21 EDT
Organization: U.C. Berkeley
Lines: 40


   I give it a pretty solid *** (of 4).  Semantics: go see it, but don't
expect Transcendent Entertainment.

   Hmmm, it's a little hard trying to peg exactly who to recommend this
one to.  Certainly stoned people; there is a lot for them to relate to
in the principle characters' demeanor.  Action fans, yeah: highspeed auto
collisions, a sledgehammer/fist fight (hard to tell those two apart with
the Dolby soundtrack).  Rock'n'rollers, okay: the songs are good and
fervently performed, and the live stuff well recorded (with several live
numbers by the Blasters (yaaayyyy)!!!!!!  

   The closest resemblance this movie bears is probably to The Warriors
(also directed by Walter Hill).  There is a definite mythical tone, the
same terse (to the point of banality) dialogue, the same kind of broadly
drawn heroic figures.  I would say (advisedly), however, that there is a
lot more "reality" in Streets of Fire, although it's still a long way from
a slice 'o' life: the colors aren't as garish, the lighting/fog/gleaming
wetness effects are pretty well integrated into the setting.

   Oh yes, the plot.  Michael Pare plays an Army vet who gets hired to
rescue Diane Lane, a rock singer a la Joan Jett et al, who has been 
kidnapped by the motorcycle-riding Bad Guys.  No more plot without
spoilers.  There are a surprisingly large number of surprisingly interesting
(as opposed to credible) characters, including Rick Moranis as a 
tough-talking Woody Allen type.  How many?  Well you see, there's this 
bus...

   There is some stuff in here I've never seen elsewhere.  Notice the
wipes between scenes, for example.  

   Strong suits: action (v. little bloodshed, and remember this one
somehow got a PG); editing, expected of Hill; photography; music (incidentals
by Ry Cooder, songs by innumerable others).  Weaknesses: premise (urban
jungle which seems to have NO downtoun or nice places); acting (unless you
get off on strong silent types); scripting (your basic Walter Hill tough-
guy stuff).  In summary, let me say that Walter Hill is a hell of a 
craftsman and he seems to be getting better at this sort of thing.  That's
basically what there is to this movie.

Steve Upstill