Reckless

First, how can you hate a film that utilizes both INXS and Romeo Void on its soundtrack? It's so '80s, but in the best way. That was the New Wave in music, and it fits, it fits with the story. The story is an old one, the poor little rich girl, so intrigued by the bad boy, the one with the troubled history, the unsettled home life, the one with the intense blue eyes, the boy who is obviously more of a "man" than her own boyfriend. She has to know about him, and she gets the chance when they are selected to attend the high school dance as a couple, much to her boyfriend's dismay.

His desire to leave their sleepy steel town, the little depressed, economically, hellhole with nowhere to go but down, is a catalyst for her, along with his seductive charms. He "wants" her, he tells her, and she wants him, but can't bear to let him know, without him forcing it out of her. He opens her up, sexually, mentally, he challenges her, and there are some really erotic scenes to show all of this.

Don't dismiss this film as fluff, or "plotless", there is a definite plot, it's an old one, used many times, but never quite to this effect, with these actors, with people this lovely to look at, this talented, with a soundtrack so perfectly fitting. It's a good movie, and has some really nice, creative camera work - the high school dance scene, camera swirling around Darryl Hannah and Aidan Quinn, is classic. A perfect little movie moment.

I recommend this movie, to anyone who likes erotic romances, or who wants to see a good example of why Aidan Quinn got so many parts in movies, or why Darryl Hannah was once so popular. These two light up the screen. The soundtrack is pure '80s, the tail end of the New Wave movement in music, and it's well preserved today.

I was a teenager working at the Cineplex when I saw this movie for the first time. It doesn't take much to stir teenage angst, and longing. I was an easy target for this movie. You see, at the time, I too was in a doomed relationship with a girl that was all wrong for me (or so it seemed to the myopic teenage eye). She was a drill team princess and I was a nobody from the wrong side of the tracks. I had an immediate emotional response to Johnny and Tracey's dilemma. It resonated with me powerfully at the time. "Reckless" has lingered in my memory along with all the other sweet nostalgia from my youth.

Time and distance grant you clarity. So now, twenty four years later, I think I can review this movie with a much more critical eye. After seeing it again recently on a fairly good VHS copy, some of the strengths that I remember are still there. The beautiful cinematography that is reminiscent of "The Dear Hunter" is still there. Many of the shots in the film give the Pennsylvania mill town a bleak and forlorn look that matches Johnny's life. The editing is dead-on and lends this film an urgency that matches the story. The music is used effectively throughout. Inxs, Romeo Void, and Kim Wilde, just to name a few, give each scene the 'feel' it needs to enhance the story. The home coming dance scene where Johnny punks out to 'Never Say Never' is a great example of how bringing together great acting, editing, music, and energetic camera-work into a scene can get an audience's heart rate going. The scene still holds up after all these years. Fresh faced earnestness of the performances from Quinn and Hannah also make this movie very watchable.

Despite all of it's strengths, I couldn't ignore the glaring shortcomings. First off, Quinn's character, Johnny, is not really very believable. To be more precise, the way girls react to him in the film (with the notable exception of Tracey) is not really believable. Look at some of the opening scenes where some of Tracey's fellow cheerleaders treat him like a leper and call him a weirdo. Who are we kidding? Let's face it, as far back as James Dean, good looking, brooding guys on motorcycles have been babe magnets. Had I known this back then, I would have saved my money for a bike instead of blowing it on beer and fast food every weekend. I will pause this review briefly to kick myself…. Okay, I'm back. On with my review. Johnny's relationship with the older lady at the bowling alley is never developed although it seems to hold promise for further developments. Perhaps a love triangle? I dunno, it just seems kinda weird how it is given attention, and then dropped. Aside from Quinn's character, all other characters are fairly two dimensional. Tracey feels underwritten. She's a perfect princess that decides to rebel just because her life is too perfect? Really? Huh. At least that's what a brief two minute scene tries to sell us on for her motivation for ending up with Johnny on her first night. Did I miss something? I attribute these anemic characters to an underdeveloped script that comes across as clichéd and formulaic.

In most instances, this would be the death of any film. At least for me it would be. But because of all it's other strengths, it actually turns out to be a pretty engaging little movie, even after all these years.

"Reckless" is a fine example of how style, and shameless pandering to the teenage psyche, can sometimes triumph over a substandard script.

I'll admit I love this film. Quite a bit of the dialog doesn't make any sense; some of the characters are just there to hang the plot from; and Cliff DeYoung as the football coach gets most of the bad lines and his character, as well as the snotty cheerleaders, are all clichés. But these flaws don't detract from the appeal of the film.

Darryl Hannah, and Aidan Quinn in particular, have a presence and a chemistry that keeps the film vibrant and alive. This was Quinn's first film, and I've liked him ever since I first saw it. Even as a novice he's a great actor. Hannah is not as good as he, but she's still very good as a well-to-do high school senior who's looking for something different but not sure what she wants. Quinn plays the misunderstood poor boy with an alcoholic father, who is beset by teachers, father, peers and police every way he turns. Due to a random pairing for a charity dance, they are brought together and eventually discover that what they are looking for is in each other. The last shot of the film, as the camera speeds down the highway to Bob Seger's "Roll Me Away", is one of my favorite shots of any movie. I'll agree it's corny, but it works and so does this film.

The authentic steel-town atmosphere also helps to give the film a gritty realism; dark, smoggy, atmospheric and disturbing, it reminds me of the feel of the 80's. The soundtrack is superb; Romeo Void, INXS, and Kim Wilde's "Kids in America." Whenever I want to recapture that 80's feeling, when watching MTV was still new and exciting and they still played music you could take pleasure in listening to, and when the 80's groups were so avant-garde and on-the-edge, I watch this film. Sure enough, it can take me right back. Look past the sometimes inane dialog and be sure to catch this film; if you immerse yourself in the music it will work its spell.

It hasn't been shown on on regular cable in years (it's rated R for some candid but convincing sex scenes), but in mid-2005 it was playing on the high definition cable channel INHD, looking and sounding fantastic, so it does show up occasionally. Warner Archive (http://www.warnerarchive.com) now (2011) offers it for sale as an "on demand," widescreen DVD. A great film for Friday or Saturday night, and don't forget to turn the volume way up!

On the surface, there's a lot about Reckless that spells turkey. Troubled and angry boy from the wrong side of town falls for the pretty rich cheerleader. Well, we all have seen that a million times, from Rebel Without a Cause to The Breakfast Club. Then there is the casting of actors who are transparently too old to play teenagers. Yet there is something about Reckless that draws one in and keeps them there for the full 90 minutes, and that something is in two words: Aidan Quinn. His performance is so on the mark, we can so easily feel his pain and angst, and that's not easy considering much of his lines are insipid. And yes, we cant overlook the fact that he is very easy on the eyes (the word dreamy comes to mind). But Quinn shows in this picture and most of his subsequent work that he is not merely just another pretty face, but a fine actor.

Where can you get the soundtrack?? Romeo Void, INXS ("The one thing" - probably their best song) Bob Seger - very nice. Sure it's a little lame in the plot dept. but cool motorcycle, plenty of teen angst-it ain't Schindler's List but it works when you are surfing and happen upon it on a rainy weekend. Besides, Daryl Hannah never looks bad!