River's Edge
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Movie Reviews of River's Edge
Movie Review: Riveting, chilling and deeply disturbing
Summary: 5 Stars
River's Edge is a deeply disturbing film that is fast transcending cult status to becoming a bona fide movie classic. When a classmate (Daniel Roebuck) murders his girlfriend for no rational reason, self-appointed group leader, Lane (Crispin Glover), draws together their circle of friends to protect him in a misguided test of loyalty. Haunted by the senselessness, two decent-minded kids (Keanu Reeves and Ione Skye) grapple with their consciences before Reeves' character eventually tips off the police, well aware of the danger he faces for breaking the conspiratorial code of silence. Sadly, River's Edge has proven to be an all too perceptive and pioneering examination of the increasing nihilism of American youth since the 1980s. The increasing regard with which it is viewed by critics and collectors has been helped in no small way by events such as Columbine. The spate of school shootings by sociopathic teenagers increasingly beyond the control of teachers, parents and society seems entirely consistent with the bleak picture of American youth this film paints. As such it is the significant, depressing movie signpost for its generation, in much the same way as Rebel Without a Cause was for youth of the 50s. Unlike Rebel, (or even its own broad set of generational cohorts, from The Breakfast Club, the anachronistic The Outsiders to lighter fare like Reality Bites) the kids of River's Edge are not just alienated and misunderstood, but thoroughly nastier pieces of work - the products of a cynical, complacent and nihilistic late-Cold War sensibility. They are not crying out to be understood, but to be left alone. In this sense, its most obvious cinematic antecedent is Jonathan Kaplan's underrated Over the Edge (1979), which it resembles in more than a few ways. Despite the controversy associated with it, the movie's power derives from an understated, non-judgmental depiction of the inherent violence and depravity of its characters and situations. Equally, Reeves' character makes no grand, sweeping statements of principle and conscience. The ordinariness of his thinking in reaching his own conclusions on a thoroughly evil situation is the one ray of optimism as the movie reaches a conclusion of tentative hope. With none of the violence, boisterousness or sensationalism of Oliver Stone's Natural Born Killers, River's Edge treads similar themes more perceptively and infinitely more shockingly. A must have - and the perfect, necessary antidote to all those John Hughes movies in your collection.Movie Review: Great Movie
Summary: 5 Stars
I was a teen in the 80's right during when this movie takes place, and I lived in La Habra, California. Though there was no murder among the people I hung out with, I thought this movie did a fantastic job of getting a lot of important points and feelings across about the 80's. This move came out in 1986, and I saw it a few years later. And, it is still, if even more so, relevant today. River's Edge may not be the Dazed and Confused movie for the 80's or do what Dazed did or tried to do, but it is not trying to be. I think River's Edge got across the bleak, "just existing" hole that a lot of us were in at the time, and it hit home with a whole lot more that is hard to explain. I'm sure other people have very different experiences about the 80's. I was a Metaler back then, and still am one now (Up The IRONS!), and there is a certain something about this movie that brings back a flood of memories, both good and bad, things I wish I could have done differently back then and things that I'm glad I experienced. As for River's Edge, it's certainly worth experiencing if you grew up in the 80's with dysfunctional family, friends, school life, etc. It hits real close to home in some places, and it's also worth seeing if you weren't there but want to try to understand. The acting, the directing, and the story, are all very well done. It's a disturbing, thought provoking drama about a particular group and type of people in a particular time (the 80's), but it could easily take place any time and among anyone.
As the trivia at IMDB also points out: Although it is a work of fiction, the movie was inspired by the actual murder of Marcy Conrad, who was killed by her boyfriend Anthony Jacques Broussard in Milpitas, California in 1981. And, Neal Jimenez (the writer) based the characters on friends he went to school with in Sacramento, California. Also worth noting, the river scenes were filmed in Sacramento California, and the School scenes were filmed at Verdugo Hills High School - 10625 Plainview Avenue, Tujunga, Los Angeles, California, USA.
Movie Review: Great Then....Great Now.
Summary: 5 Stars
I remember when this movie first came out. I watched it again tonight and have to say I believe I was more disturbed this time around then my first viewing. As a teenager the most significant thing that stuck with me about this movie was the body and how she was left by the river. This time around it was the apathy of the whole group of friends and the push/pull between brothers Matt & Tim. I'm not sure what my group of friends would have done if put in a similar situation.
Since the 60's our society has been on a rapid decline. Each generation has had some form of social inadequacy. In the 80's we were all slackers, even the so called jock/pinheads of our generation. Drugs, alcohol, and sex were the norm. Kids across all economic backgrounds were part of the latch-key generation, unsupervised, under stimulated. Our role models were the musicians we listened to and the music videos we watched.
True, movies today seem to grip harder. Show more blood and guts. Are far more graphic. This movie though cuts to the solid core of my generation. We were a bunch a slackers, drifters without a moral compass by which to guide us. Only a nagging feeling or voice if you will, in the back of our heads as to what was right and what was wrong.
I'm glad I took the time to watch this movie again. It was well worth the time. Dennis, Crispin, wonderful to say the least. Keanu pulled off an extremely good performance and considering I have really considered him eye candy until now is saying a lot. Joshua Miller really and truly disturbed me the most. Bravo. I wish I knew who played their little sister because she did the job so sweetly. She was the only character in the movie that showed true emotion and quite frankly reminded me of my own daughter in her caring for others.
Even though this movie is a bit dated I strongly recommend it.
Movie Review: Death and Apathetic Teens
Summary: 5 Stars
This movie really shows how dangerous apathy can be. It's both sad and scary to see that only one of the teens actually seems to care about what might happen to his murderous friend. Though the tale is a dark one, the acting of Crispin Glover really cracked me up. To be honest, I bought this movie just from seeing clips of his character, Layne, and I'm very glad that I did. Aside from Glover's hilarious lines, Keanu Reeves does a good job as a sort of "front man" for the story.
Don't buy this expecting a happy ending, because really, how happy can things be when a girl has been killed by a former friend? But it's definitely worth checking out, especially if you like Crispin Glover. (You can tell I'm a big fan from my review of "Willard" as well.) Keanu Reeves fans will probably enjoy it, too, because he perfectly emulates the laid-back 80s teen that drinks and smokes but doesn't go too overboard like he did in his Theodore "Ted" Logan role.
Movie Review: Incredible
Summary: 5 Stars
River's Edge jumps into 1980's white surburia and looks at the reaction of 6 teens to the murder of their friend by another. I think Keanu Reeves was great in this movie as the confused friend Matt, and Dennis Hopper was excellent as the crazy Feck. Crispin Glover truly steals every scene. His acting is frighteningly real, and incredibly skilled for a guy in his early 20s. All the professional critics at the time accused Glover of overacting. I thought he was great. His skill pierces through the screen and captures your heart; here Layne (Crispin) is going out of his way to help his friend to the point of psychotic numbness to the reality. I discovered this movie about a year ago (when I was 14) but it is timeless in capturing youth apathy to life. Simply put... INCREDIBLE. This is definitely a cult classic nowadays, and is worth checking out.