MovieChat Forums > Bright Lights, Big City (1988) Discussion > Great Acting and Movie, But Needed One E...

Great Acting and Movie, But Needed One Edit


I appreciate this movie more and more with each subsequent viewing.

Michael J. Fox's depiction of a young man ('Jamie') who, due to some rather harsh personal circumstances, is barely holding himself together with nothing more than the 3 'C's (caffeine, cocaine and carousing) is one fine performance. He was able to convey a simmering intensity that threatened to boil over to sheer screaming-meemie insane panic at any given moment, convincingly and with panache. MJF successfully maintained Jamie's uneven strain of roller-coastering frenetic energy and emotional deprivation; a lesser actor easily could have exaggerated Jamie's ricocheting emotions and experiences to make him appear buffoonish or, worse, unsympathetic to the viewer (nod to the Director here, too).

However, one scene I would have edited out was the whole ferret fiasco. I thought it was a needless, sideways interruption to the building intensity of Jamie's character and situation, and a slapstick scene like that, while potentially funny in another movie, should have been left on the editor's floor.




"I can't stand a naked light bulb, any more than..a rude remark or a vulgar action" Blanche DuBois

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[deleted]

Bundage_Burner^

I still don't like the ferret scene in this movie. To me it came off as a faux 'Animal House' slapstick type of scene that was out of place and took me, as the viewer, out of the ever-increasing crescendo of the plot.

I think there were enough witticisms and lighthearted remarks throughout by both 'Jamie' and 'Allagash' to supply some relief from the more serious issues bearing down on Jamie throughout the story.

I also don't think that this film was all about self-loathing.

Although some of that *may* have been present, I instead found the themes to be more about being stuck in dysfunctional bereavement initially created by some overwhelming, major losses (one significant loss following another), which then helped to contribute to Jamie's lack of self-worth, which then helped to fuel self-destructive lifestyle choices that in turn helped to perpetuate this vicious cycle he was in that was more about a hamster-wheel type of artificial, draining energy than about constructive, positive energy needed for his personal growth and 'moving on'. Some of this was indeed self-inflicted, but was also omnipresent in the cultural scene of those times and the societal circles that Jamie traveled in and had difficulty breaking away from.


JMHO and glad you liked the scene, anyway :)


"I can't stand a naked light bulb, any more than..a rude remark or a vulgar action" Blanche DuBois

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[deleted]

Bundage_Burner^

A thought-provoking response :)

And, yes: I had to giggle again when I read 'Pygmies!!!'

Also, the theory of including such a scene to help the viewer gain added insight into Jamie's and Alagash's relationship is a point well-taken. I must admit that I had not thought of that angle.

Nice to see intelligent commentary on IMDB!

Cheers....denise1234 :)





"I can't stand a naked light bulb, any more than..a rude remark or a vulgar action" Blanche DuBois

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[deleted]

Just watched this movie the other day. It's funny because I'm a fan of the book, and was thinking "I hope they cut out the ferret scene. It was out of place in the book and will be even more out of place in a movie".


"Weirdness was all he cared about. Weirdness and sex and plenty to drink."

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Dr_RoButtnik^

I haven't gotten around to reading the book and was a bit surprised from your comment that the ferret incident was in it. I wonder if it reads any better than it appears on film (?)


"I can't stand a naked light bulb, any more than..a rude remark or a vulgar action" Blanche DuBois

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Not quite. It's also a very out of place scene. I actually met with the author and he said he wanted a more light-hearted portion to make the book a little less self serious and agrees it didn't quite work how he wanted it too.



"Weirdness was all he cared about. Weirdness and sex and plenty to drink."

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To me the ferret scene, although obviously ridiculous and over the top, is an appreciative attempt by James Bridges to make the movie more effective as an entertainment, even though it does feel a little out of place. Still, this is the kind of screwball that even Alexander Payne loves to flirt with in even his own most depressing dramas.

"What I don't understand is how we're going to stay alive this winter."

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The ferret scene could've been handled better and not necessarily disposed of altogether. He could've put the ferret in the drawer and then they simply get caught by Jason Robards. Robards was the best part of the scene and his performance brings enough levity that Kiefer getting his family jewels munched on was just plain silly.

---------------------------------
"It's in German."

"Not the monkey parts!"

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I also saw the ferret scene as stupid, because of its slapstick nature. It did not belong in this type of movie at all!

Joe

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Agreed; it didn't seem like something Jamie would do.

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ITA.

I fast forward during that scene. Every other scene fascinates me. Just when I think, "I'll pause it here to watch later", I still wind up sitting throughout the entire movie at one sitting.

Except for the ferret scene. I like the William Hickey cameo, and they should've kept that in for sure. But the following scenes are just dumb. Like someone mentioned, Tad & Jamie should have just put it in her desk drawer and left, while running into Jason Robard's character.

Do not taunt happy fun ball.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Happy_Fun_Ball

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