Good movie but those young people are just not up to the task of making a powerful movie. Particularly, Arnie is very weak. In the book he is supposed to go from nerdy to charisma and he really does not fit into any of that. There is no chemistry between him and his best friend or with his girlfriend.
shareTotally disagree, I think that the acting and character relations are the films strongest suit in an otherwise ridiculous premise.
Rubbish. Keith Gordon is a terrific actor who did a fine job of transitioning from the hopelessly awkward class dork to a slick and callous bastard. The scene where Arnie is having it out with his parents at the dinner table and his father chases him down after he told them to f'off, and Arnie grabs him by the throat and says "Get your mitts off me mutherf'ker," that's great acting. Completely believable and better than anything a phony like Leonardo DiCaprio could ever have mustered in his 20s. Gordon delivers his lines with real conviction. I'd really love to hear suggestions of current generation actors between 20-30 who would've done a more credible job.
shareNot many. he plays the nerd and cool guy with equal conviction. That's good acting.
shareI like all the acting. Years ago, when I 1st saw the movie, I thought Arnie's mom was a little over the top, but after re watching, I've changed my mind. She's very convincing as the control freak who's losing control.
shareWhen I was younger, I remember thinking his mother was a total b*tch. But upon watching the blu-ray a couple times (once for the movie and once for the commentary), I actually saw a bit of humanity out of her, especially when she expressed human concern with Dennis in the driveway after Arnie ditches him and she talks about the death that happened in Christine.
There is a short deleted scene of her crying and showing concern for Arnie while he is sleeping that I think should have been left in to further humanize her.
Agree, ccr -- I particularly liked the scene with Junkins questioning Arnie about Christine getting trashed. Gordon was convincingly intense, and more than held his own with HDS.
As silly as this movie sometimes is, I can watch it anytime.
I disagree. Keith Gordon showed he has enormous range and with no formal training he rose to the challenge.
Christine destroyed the chemistry between his best friend and his girl friend, nothing was going to get in the way of Arnie and Christine. I thought that dynamic was fairly obvious, no?
It's all a deep end.
That scene towards the end where he's driving with Dennis & talking about how deep his love for Christine...totally his best scene in the film. His whole demeanor was truly scary in that scene. Keith Gordon is an amazing actor!
shareI very much disagree with this topic. Shallow and pedantic.
Keith Gordon was outstanding. His transformation has not received the notoriety it should have. Robert Prosky creates a very memorable character in a bit part. In fact, many of the small parts were very well acted. Harry Dean Stanton, Roberts Blossom, and William Ostrander all stand out. The scene when Arnie attacks his father is very chilling. That meek little nerd now has his dad by the throat calling him a mofo? What movie were YOU watching?
People sometimes overlook that was a John Carpenter movie. He usually was able to coax believable performances from actors in well crafted genre films.
They're in the yard not too far from the car
Alexandra Paul was bad, but everyone else was fine.
shareI wouldn't call them 'weak' but none of them really stand out as strong actors. The chemistry between Arnie and Leigh is missing entirely. I did like the relationship between Arnie and Dennis.
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