Monday, June 3, 2013

Tuesday's Overlooked Film: Streets of Fire


The first week of June also brings us the first Tuesday's Overlooked Film of the month, the 1984 movie Streets of Fire.

Streets of Fire, directed by Walter Hill, is a self-proclaimed "rock 'n' roll fable," starring 80s film mainstay Michael Pare as a soldier of fortune brought back to his hometown to rescue his former girlfriend, now a famous rock singer (Diane Lane), from the local punk gang, whose leader is played with malevolent glee by Willem Dafoe. Pare is aided by McCoy, a fellow former soldier (Amy Madigan), and Lane's current boyfriend and manager (a tough talking Rick Moranis).

The film is a stylistic treat, blending both late 50s and mid-80s aesthetics, a welcome combination for me, a fan of both eras. It's bombastic, but in a fun, tongue in cheek fashion. Sadly, the film's intentions were lost on audiences at the time, raking in a paltry $8.5 million dollars at the box office in June of 1984. It didn't help that it was up against such blockbusters as Star Trek III, Ghostbusters, and Gremlins. However, the home video and cable outlets gave the film second life, and it retains a cult following today. The film is also helped, in addition to its fine acting performances, by its interesting soundtrack, with songs by Jim Steinman plus the Dan Hartman pop hit "I Can Dream About You."

Here is the film's trailer. The film is readily available on DVD and online streaming from the usual outlets. Thanks!


2 comments:

Todd Mason said...

I should give this film another try...I don't like Hill much, for the most part, but do like the cast, and the conceits are amusing. Hmm. Moranis's only non-comedic role?

Phillyradiogeek said...

I believe it is Moranis's only "dramatic" role, and even this is comedic in its own way.