John Badham, 1977
This is such a misunderstood film. Many people dismiss it as kitsch. The majority of these that I come across, when I actually ask them outright, haven't seen the film. Most of the rest have only seen the butchered TV edit that takes out the sex, swearing, drugs and violence.
It's actually a pretty gritty coming of age film, with Tony Manero awash in post-adolescent intense unfocused drive. More than anything, this movie reminds me of Quadrophenia. The dominant music-centred youth cult of the day provides a backdrop for the story and outlet for the protagonist, who moves beyond his shitty job, belittling parents and uncomprehending small minded mates into the wide world; not knowing what he'll do next, only that something else that makes some sense has got to be out there.
Now imagine taking all the sex, drugs, violence and swearing out of Quadrophenia and see what you'd have left. Ignore the TV edit of Saturday Night Fever, it's the 18-certificate version or nothing.
As the movie is set entirely in Brooklyn with a little Manhattan, there's a predictable level of bovine action.
No cows.
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