coloradokid719 I hadn't seen this movie in about 30 years, but the title rang a bell and I got the DVD. The cast is excellent, and their performances were solid. I found myself remembering quite a bit of the film while viewing (I would know what was coming up before it came on screen), which made me realize this film had quite a profound impact on me and my memory. It was intense without being melodramatic.

morrison-dylan-fan With a poll coming up on IMDbs Classic Film board for the best movies of 1984,I decided to take a look at Warner Archive titles on Amazon Uk,and I spotted an overlooked Neo-Noir,which led to me getting ready to meet Mike.The plot:Receiving a phone call from her boyfriend Mike, Betty Parrish discovers that Mike has messed around with some local drug dealers,which leads to Parrish having to sort out a safe house for Mike.Finding himself penniless,Mike continues to secretly deal cocaine with his pal Pete.Nearing the completion of a big deal,Mike & Pete take advantage of their customers being temporarily disturbed,by secretly cutting one of the bags open,so that they can re-sell some of the coke.Thrilled about having stolen right under their clients nose,Mike gets set to spend some time with his girlfriend Parrish.As Parrish waits for her boyfriend to arrive,Mike discovers that he has been sniffed out.View on the film:Whilst the DVD sadly does not contain the (infamously) deleted footage,Warner Archive give the film a good transfer,with the presentation capturing the mix of film & video stock,and the added bonus of the trailer giving a tease as to what the movie could have been.Hacked to bits by the studio, (who replaced Joe Jackson's score with a shivering one from John Barry,and changed the original design for the plot to be played chronologically backwards) the ripped from the headlines (with the film being loosely based on the murder of a man involved in a drug cartel with 2 UCLA football players)screenplay by writer/director James Bridges still offers an easy-going mix of twenty somethings teen Drama and sun-set Neo- Noir.Bridges gives Parrish's love story light & fluffy notes which are counted by a disturbing normality to the coke epidemic about to take place,with Bridges showing Mike being unable to stop himself from going down a line filled with ruthless drug barons and two faced friends.Reuniting with James Bridges,the pretty Debra Winger does very well at showing Parrish lose her girlie innocence,thanks to Winger giving Parrish's romance with Mike a breezy atmosphere,which is hardened as Parrish discovers the secret life that Mike has been living.Whilst the flick was forced by the studio to sit on the shelf for a year,director James Bridges and cinematographer Reynaldo Villalobos stylish on location filming is able to still shine,due to Bridges & Vallalobos giving the movie a sunny appearance to match Parrish dream romance with Mike,which gradually sinks into a dark Neo-Noir world,as Parrish meets the people behind Mike's Murder.

am_whoa This movie is a must-see solely because it tackles the very issue that plagues some couples, the blurring line between infatuation and love. At the first part of the film, Betty and Mike have a wonderful time together, playing tennis, flirting. But then reality hits both of them, the incapability of Mike to stay dormant and immobile affects what they feel for each other (if ever it was love). He flees to his drug-dealing self knowing that it is the only way to satisfy both his need to earn and his desire to stay "fluid" and unchained to the norms of the society. (e.g. stable job) Inspite of that, they stay in touch, he, promising her that they would see each other again. They do, but it was all in vain because all they did was drive around and bring him to a place where he can hide for awhile (because of his troubles with drug-dealing). In this way, it kept the movie fresh, unknown and mysterious, making us yearn for more of their brief encounters. The film, in its entirety, leaves the audience in a state of "longingness". It strives to make us wait for the last moment of impact wherein Mike and Betty meet again face-a-face. It also pushes us to ask the question, "Are they going to meet again?", "Is it worth it to see each other?". For those who haven't yet watched the film, go and see it, it's worth seeing.

iley_dohn This movie is compelling because the character of Betty is so innocent about what is going on in this murky tennis coach. It makes it easy to see how a normal person could find themselves in way over their heads without knowing it. The kitchen scene with the pal of Mike's who manages to get away from the bad guys is gut wrenching. Debra Winger has never gotten the breaks that she richly is due. I feel that it is compelling that the late Bette Davis stated that of the new actresses that Ms Winger was the most like her and I don't think that she was merely referring to their bad press.