Review of Rumble Fish (1983) by Jennifer K — 04 Jun 2010
Rumble Fish is an art movie, masquerading as an 80s mainstream movie. Shot in B&W, inspired camera angles and fog and timelapse clouds. This movie is for the Coppola completists, or for those that are interested in the SE Hinton world.
I considered it a flawed film for two reasons: setting and acting. The movie is set in the present-day 80s, which is unsettling to watch now 27 years later. For example, the 80s fashion and Diane Lane's Van Halen mane.
It would be better set in The Outsiders 1960s timelessness. Sometimes the movie seems like a play acted out on film, with actors obviously taking care to hit their mark before saying dialogue. The beginning fight scene has a West Side Story quality.
However, Matt Dillion is raw and natural as always. Mickey Rourke is Brando-esque, mumbling and all. He belongs on a motorcycle. But I was distracted by Mickey. I kept wondered why the hell he wanted to destroy his face, his acting and his career over the last 27 years.
Dennis Hopper is a cameo, seeming like a favour to Coppola. The story is simple but The Motorycycle Boy's (Rourke) intentions are never made clear, just hinted at. It's a case of 80s style over substance.
Overall, the movie was good to see, just to tick it off my Movie Bucket List. I'll read the book instead.
This review of Rumble Fish (1983) was written by Jennifer K on 04 Jun 2010.
Rumble Fish has generally received positive reviews.
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