Hazel Motes

What a great little movie this is. I have such a nostaligia for New York in the 80's, even though I was born in 83 and grew up in Canada. This movie is drenched in atmosphere. Atmosphere that you don't see in movies anymore. I'm ashamed by how long it took me to see this film considering how much I love some of Abel Ferrara's other work. He's such an amazing chronicler of New York. I thought Berenger and Griffith were great. As soon as I picked up on what the ending was gonna be I was super stoked, and it didn't disappoint.

I'm curious as to what other people think of this film as it has a lousy imdb rating, didn't get great reviews and doesn't seem to have much of a following. I loved it though.

Ash Ketchum

It's easier to have that nostalgia when you didn't have to live through it. Granted, whenever I walk through tourist-packed, Disneyfied Times Square these days, I miss the old days when tourists were scared to go there. I have friends who work in that area who ask, wistfully, "When is crime gonna come back?" I miss the abundance of movie theaters and movie choices that used to exist in the area, but little else.

I saw FEAR CITY once--on VHS--many years ago. I remember not liking it, but I don't remember why. It doesn't help that I don't much like any of the main actors in it. But I'm not much of a fan of Abel Ferrara anyway. None of his films impressed me much. KING OF NEW YORK had a few good flourishes and some excellent performers (Walken, Fishburne, Snipes, Caruso, Argo), but it didn't add up to much. Everything I've read about Ferrara or heard about him makes me think very ill of him. He sounds like a truly horrible person.

Troy Stiffler

Good to hear that. When I hear about Disneyfied Times Square or hipsters taking over Brooklyn, I think "good"! I guess it's trendy to be in dangerous areas where you might get stabbed for your shoes.

When you're headed out for a night on the town, nothing says "experience" and "culture" like a late night stroll through Skid Row! May I recommend vacationing in North Korea?

Ash Ketchum

No need to overreact. Times Square used to be a place where kids from the outer boroughs (like me) used to go with friends and hang out. Cheap movies, game arcades, cheap places to eat. Sure, we had to sometimes wade through drug dealers, prostitutes, hustlers and the like. But if you were streetsmart, nobody bothered you. I don't miss those characters at all, I just miss being able to see three kung fu movies in one place or the entire Sergio Leone Man with No Name trilogy. I remember one night in August 1972, a group of us went to see BLACULA at one theater, ate a meal at Child's House of Pancakes, and then went up the block to see A CLOCKWORK ORANGE at another theater. Now, there's nothing there for us--except "Hamilton" at $200 a ticket.

This is a picture I took in 1985:

Josh-da-man

As a kid who grew up in the riral midwest, the New York City of the 80s almost seemed like a dark wonderland, filled with graffiti, colorful flashing lights, and bright marquees, constantly bustling with activity that only truly came alive when the sun went down. CBGBs, L'Amours, Bleecker Bob's, porn theaters, bars filled with hard-bitten, world-weary bastards, giant slices of pizza sold on every corner, yellow taxis zipping across rain-drenched streets. Disintered cops, rude assholes, loud mouthed assholes, pimps and half-naked hookers.

Dr. DVD

I remember seeing some of this movie on Cinemax in the late 80s. Didn't think much of it.

inri222

As someone who grew up in Northern Manhattan during the 70's & 80's I sure do miss the old New York. Got so godamn expensive I had to move in the early 2000's. The city has become so corporatized it's lost most of its character.

Mondo Kane

Ash, did you ever get to see a movie at The Anco? I heard some wild tales about that place.