It's been years since I saw this but I was surprised how much of it I remembered: the opening chase scene to the tune of "Wipe Out", the "leave the kid alone" section, the Wanderers trying to cop "accidental" feels along the street, Ken Wahl and John Friedrich playing strip poker with girls who realise they're cheating, the spooky Ducky Boys, the brawling finale where Friedrich finally thinks he's going to bond with his dad - and his dad thumps him, everyone in tears because JFK has been shot, the wonderful bittersweet finale where two of the gang head off to California (presumably where one of them will become Richard Price, who wrote the book) while Wahl literally gives up his chance at a different future (Karen Allen going off the see Bob Dylan, which is a bit hokey now but wasn't then and still works) then going back to his mates at a buck's party where he sings "The Wanderer" while being surrounded by them - literally trapped in a certain way of life.
Maybe that's the thing with cult films - while they have flaws you remember moments and scenes so well.
Wahl gives a real star debut - good looking, sensitive, charismatic, etc - it's a shame he became such a big head. Karen Allen is ideal as the beautiful-but-not-untouchably-beautiful girl who comes into Wahl's life, and there are some memorable supporting actors, such as the huge baldy and the young girl who is his girlfriend (both of whom often appear on posters - they're quite creepy, actually). I note while by the end of the film the Italians, Asians and blacks are all getting along - it's only because they united to fight off the Irish.
No comments:
Post a Comment