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Cargo Cult: Streets of Fire - Overthinking It
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Cargo Cult: Streets of Fire

[In this new series, Overthinking It writer John Perich dissects the “high-concept train wrecks” of the early 80s. These big vision monstrosities, known for their weird music and kitschy style, left their stamp on the first half of the decade. John takes a look at these cult classics, from birth to termination, and their impact on pop culture.

The following entry contains SIGNIFICANT SPOILERS, so don’t read on if you’re really curious.]

Everybody’s going nowhere slowly
They’re all fighting for the chance to be last
There’s nothing wrong with going nowhere, baby
But we should be going nowhere fast.

– Ellen Aim, “Nowhere Fast”

What Is It
Streets of Fire, Walter Hill’s 1984 rock-n-roll fable. His follow-up to The Warriors and 48 Hours.

The Big Idea
50s attitude meets 80s style. The movie’s set in a fictional amalgamation of cities, where everyone talks tough and acts cool. In this dark and crowded city, rock and roll’s the only source of hope. So when a blazing hot rockstar gets kidnapped by a crazed biker gang, her ex-boyfriend – a laconic veteran – drifts back into town to save her.

Why It Showed Promise

Where It Goes Off The Rails

… And Then, Tragedy
With twenty minutes left to go in the movie, Ellen Aim forgives Tom Cody for taking a $10,000 payoff to come rescue her (largely because he throws the money back in her manager’s face). Reunited, the former lovers make plans to get out of the city. But the chief of police tells Tom that Raven is coming back into town looking for vengeance.

Tom, his partner McCoy and Ellen take the elevated train out toward “Bayside.” A few stops out, however, Tom stands to get off. “What are you doing?” Ellen asks. “This isn’t the Bayside.”

In response, Tom slugs her.

She falls unconscious into McCoy’s arms. “Get her as far out of town as you can,” he says, before getting off and catching the first train in the opposite direction. He has to go back and deal with Raven, naturally.

Complaining that an action movie advances the moral “violence solves everything” would miss the point. That’s what action movies are about. But (A) as said before, the action isn’t that compelling, and (B) the hero punches his girlfriend in the jaw. It’s for her own good, naturally – so she won’t follow him back into the city and see him take on Raven – but he knocks her out to save himself the trouble of an argument.

Later, of course, she forgives him. In fact she doesn’t even seem that mad.

Contributions to Pop Culture

Where Can I See It
It’s available on DVD, so you can Netflix it yourself. Several friends of mine, hearing about this odd little gem, have already insisted on seeing it themselves.

Also, despite its shortcomings as an action movie, the rock numbers that bracket the story are worth the price of a rental. Jim Steinman always writes driving, epic songs, and they benefit from Walter Hill’s cinematography and Diane Lane’s presence. Watch them and listen to them. Perhaps you’ll agree with Ellen Aim, even if you can’t get attached to Tom Cody, that “Tonight Is What It Means To Be Young.”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yMW1loCBKcs

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