Review of Downtown '81 (2001) by Joseph S — 12 Jan 2009
A sublime time capsule. Lost for 20 years, "Downtown 81" was completed in 2001 and found limited release. Narrated by Debbie Harry who also plays a magical bag lady. Heroin-doomed graffiti artist Jean-Michel Basquiat stars as.
.. graffiti artist Jean, who has a rough day in gritty 1981 New York City. Incredible music-- Kid Creole and the Coconuts, James White and the Blacks, Fab Five Freddy, Brazilian avant garde scenester Arto Lindsay and his band DNA.
Contemporary New Yorkers will react with shock at the bombed out Lower East Side of the early eighties. Interestingly, the hipster clothes of 1981 don't look so bad, but the clothes of the squares are atrocious-- God forbid the second coming of Jordache.
This review of Downtown '81 (2001) was written by Joseph S on 12 Jan 2009.
Downtown '81 has generally received mixed reviews.
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