Review of American Graffiti (1973) by Tyler C — 09 Sep 2010

Before George Lucas wowed us with the Star Wars series,he was really into the rock n' roll and cruising culture of the early 1960's. American Graffiti is not only the film that was a semiautobiographical account of Lucas' life in the 60's in Modesto,but it also helped Lucas make one of the most memorable science fiction trilogies of all time. The film is also a very insightful look into how teenagers were still innocent and growing in their maturity before Kennedy's assassination and the Vietnam War. Plus,it combines two things I am very fond of: cruising and rock n'roll. Those are two reasons I really loved this movie.

The film is set over the course of a full night in Modesto,California. It centers on the adventures of four best friends,all who are unsure about the futures of their lives. Steve (Ron Howard) questions leaving his girlfriend by going out to college in the East with her brother Curt(Richard Dreyfuss). Curt meanwhile,is on the path of finding a beautiful girl (Suzanne Somers) who says "I Love You" to him from her car but he gets sidetracked by a local gang of Greasers called "The Pharaohs." The nerdy Terry (Charles Martin Smith) can't get any luck with ladies even with a classic white Chevy Impala until he meets the rebellious Debbie Dunham (Candy Clark in an Oscar-nominated role). Finally,local street racer John Milner (Paul Le Mat) has a drag racer (Harrison Ford) looking to challenge him a race. All of these stories converge with each other at certain points but they all pay a testament to a once forgotten time when teenagers still had their innocence before the 60's spiraled out of control.

A lot of people would say that George Lucas can never top the first Star Wars as his best film but American Graffiti comes mighty close to that spot. The film is one long party that combines some of my favorite interests and it kept me entertained throughout. American Graffiti is a timeless classic that portrays a time once forgotten and turns it into a very fun nostalgic work of art. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED even if it's almost forty years old.