Surprisingly less dated than expected
Added 5/29/2009
Despite being almost 30 years old, this 80s relic still looks relatively undated, a tribute to the designer of the film. Michael J. Fox, however, is a poor lead, looking impossibly fresh and cherubic no matter how many lines of coke he does or drinks he consumes. He is way too innocent-looking for the role, which would have been better with the lizardy Kiefer Sutherland in the lead and someone else as Ted Allagash, the debauched pal. Whatever happened to Phoebe Cates? She doesn't look good here, with a bad pixie haircut. The book, as usual, is way better.
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Go On With Your Life Already!
Added 2/26/2009
This is an interesting movie in that it shows us how weak we can be about the plainest points when we are emotionally involved.
The story is basically this. Jamie Conway (Michael J. Fox) is struggling to keep an editing job he doesn't especially like. Though he does need it. His boss Claire is less than kind, though not quite a monster. She is often nasty, though she does seem to give him the benefit of the doubt sometimes, and she does tolerate his lateness to work that seems to have increased.
Later, we learn that Michael J. Fox is broken emotionally because his wife Amanda left him. Though we can readily see that she was just using him because she thought Fox would make it big as a writer, and as it turned out, she made it big as a model and decided she had no more use for Fox. This is where things get interesting. Because Fox is emotionally involved, he can't see that his wife was just an opportunist who was after anyone who could either support her, or move her into opportunities. So, he dwells and dwells on her to the point where he can not go on with his life.
This brings us to Ted Alagash. (Kiefer Sutherland) The movie seems to lead us into more sympathy with Fox. And at times, Sutherland does seem insensitive, and yes he does have a harsh sense of humor about Fox's sadness. But if we allow ourselves to be objective, we can see that Sutherland is tired of hearing about Fox's wife, and Sutherland is basically trying to tell Fox: "Enough! Go on with your life already!"
An obvious example is when Sutherland asks Fox to go out with his attractive cousin. Sutherland outlines the situation nicely when he makes this comment about Amanda: "God knows she wasn't hard to look at. I don't know why you felt you had to marry her though."
Throughout the movie, Fox, Sutherland, and their friends are portrayed as drug users. But a fine point worth considering is that Sutherland controls his drug intake. With Fox, it is clear that the drugs are controlling him. (It is also worth noting that Fox was into drugs before his wife left him.)
Things go from bad to worse as Fox loses his job. But he is still obsessed with his wife. I don't want to ruin the movie for those of you who haven't seen it, but there is an interesting outcome.
I'll just say that sometimes triumph comes from stepping outside of ourselves and realizing that there is more to life than our own existence.
One complaint I have about the movie is that at one point near the end, Fox compares Sutherland to Amanda which makes no sense. Amanda left Fox because there were offers that she considered better for her. Throughout the movie, Sutherland has been trying to convince Fox to go on with his life. Yes, his humor is harsh at times. But often, that is a way people use to tell others how absurd they are being in their self pity.
While not perfect, it is certainly interesting.
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Surprisingly Slow-Paced for a Movie About a Cokehead
Added 2/13/2009
Much love and respect to Michael J. Fox. Agreeing to be cast as a cokehead at a time that he was one of the biggest comedic stars in Hollywood takes balls. Unfortunately, the movie doesn't fire on all cylinders. It could be that movie-making has matured in the past two decades. For a movie called "Bright Lights," the movie's cinematography is oddly muted. The pace is also dated, but..."Bright Lights Big City" is painfully s-l-o-w.
Fox snorts coke for an hour and a half, talks about writing a novel, and pines for his estranged wife. To say his character is disillusioned is an understatement. At one point, he says his job is "pretty tedious." I couldn't agree more.
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Bright Lights, Big City
Added 10/28/2008
This is a pretty good film depicting the darker side of the 1980s. The story behind the lead character in the film (portrayed by Michael J. Fox) is one that takes a turn for the worse but leaves the viewer with a glimmer of hope. This film encapsulates the indifference of the fast-paced professional world as it collides with the toxic indulgences of the 1980s.
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Late-80s Manhattan Culture Personified in 'Bright Lights, Big City': RECOMMENDED!!
Added 5/5/2008
I just finished watching 'Bright Lights, Big City' probably for the 5th or 6th time over the weekend. I actually have this movie on VHS cassette that I taped on HBO YEARS ago. Anyway, this movie still holds up after many viewings. I was a big Manhattan clubgoer from the late-80s to the mid-90s and this movie really captures that world pretty well. LOVE the beginning scenes at the now-gone-forever Palladium on East 14th Street (it was torn down to build dormitories for NYU). The movie superbly tells the story of a naive small-town young man (Jamie Conway, played brilliantly by Michael J. Fox) with dreams of being a modern-day 'F. Scott Fitz-Hemingway' (a phrase actually used in the movie) whose life is turned upside-down by the unexpected departure of his newlywed wife. She pursues her dreams to be a model at the expense of Jamie's heart. He drowns his sorrows in cocaine within the very-alluring Manhattan club life of the day (trust me - the Manhattan nightlife ain't what it used to be - the Golden Age is over). He is also dealing with the recent death of his mother to cancer and a very unfulfilling job. I love this movie because Jamie Conway could have been anyone - someone with big dreams who moves away from home to seek a better life and unwittingly has his dreams destroyed by users and backstabbers. Oh yeah, and the music is great too (Prince, Donald Fagen, Bryan Ferry, Narada Michael Walden). I highly, HIGHLY recommend this great 80s movie. (Word of warning, especially for NYC lovers....the long, endearing shot of the Twin Towers at the movie's end may bring a tear or two to your eyes....it did to mine.)
1 out of 1 people found this helpful.
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Surprisingly less dated than expected
Added 5/29/2009
Despite being almost 30 years old, this 80s relic still looks relatively undated, a tribute to the designer of the film. Michael J. Fox, however, is a poor lead, looking impossibly fresh and cherubic no matter how many lines of coke he does or drinks he consumes. He is way too innocent-looking for the role, which would have been better with the lizardy Kiefer Sutherland in the lead and someone else as Ted Allagash, the debauched pal. Whatever happened to Phoebe Cates? She doesn't look good here, with a bad pixie haircut. The book, as usual, is way better.
0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
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Go On With Your Life Already!
Added 2/26/2009
This is an interesting movie in that it shows us how weak we can be about the plainest points when we are emotionally involved.
The story is basically this. Jamie Conway (Michael J. Fox) is struggling to keep an editing job he doesn't especially like. Though he does need it. His boss Claire is less than kind, though not quite a monster. She is often nasty, though she does seem to give him the benefit of the doubt sometimes, and she does tolerate his lateness to work that seems to have increased.
Later, we learn that Michael J. Fox is broken emotionally because his wife Amanda left him. Though we can readily see that she was just using him because she thought Fox would make it big as a writer, and as it turned out, she made it big as a model and decided she had no more use for Fox. This is where things get interesting. Because Fox is emotionally involved, he can't see that his wife was just an opportunist who was after anyone who could either support her, or move her into opportunities. So, he dwells and dwells on her to the point where he can not go on with his life.
This brings us to Ted Alagash. (Kiefer Sutherland) The movie seems to lead us into more sympathy with Fox. And at times, Sutherland does seem insensitive, and yes he does have a harsh sense of humor about Fox's sadness. But if we allow ourselves to be objective, we can see that Sutherland is tired of hearing about Fox's wife, and Sutherland is basically trying to tell Fox: "Enough! Go on with your life already!"
An obvious example is when Sutherland asks Fox to go out with his attractive cousin. Sutherland outlines the situation nicely when he makes this comment about Amanda: "God knows she wasn't hard to look at. I don't know why you felt you had to marry her though."
Throughout the movie, Fox, Sutherland, and their friends are portrayed as drug users. But a fine point worth considering is that Sutherland controls his drug intake. With Fox, it is clear that the drugs are controlling him. (It is also worth noting that Fox was into drugs before his wife left him.)
Things go from bad to worse as Fox loses his job. But he is still obsessed with his wife. I don't want to ruin the movie for those of you who haven't seen it, but there is an interesting outcome.
I'll just say that sometimes triumph comes from stepping outside of ourselves and realizing that there is more to life than our own existence.
One complaint I have about the movie is that at one point near the end, Fox compares Sutherland to Amanda which makes no sense. Amanda left Fox because there were offers that she considered better for her. Throughout the movie, Sutherland has been trying to convince Fox to go on with his life. Yes, his humor is harsh at times. But often, that is a way people use to tell others how absurd they are being in their self pity.
While not perfect, it is certainly interesting.
0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
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Surprisingly Slow-Paced for a Movie About a Cokehead
Added 2/13/2009
Much love and respect to Michael J. Fox. Agreeing to be cast as a cokehead at a time that he was one of the biggest comedic stars in Hollywood takes balls. Unfortunately, the movie doesn't fire on all cylinders. It could be that movie-making has matured in the past two decades. For a movie called "Bright Lights," the movie's cinematography is oddly muted. The pace is also dated, but..."Bright Lights Big City" is painfully s-l-o-w.
Fox snorts coke for an hour and a half, talks about writing a novel, and pines for his estranged wife. To say his character is disillusioned is an understatement. At one point, he says his job is "pretty tedious." I couldn't agree more.
0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
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