David Harris | Scott's Film Reviews-1,527 Reviews posted!!! RECENTLY LAUNCHED-MY TOP 250 FAVORITE FILMS AND TOP 40 HORROR FILMS!!!

The Warriors-1979

Director Walter Hill

Starring Michael Beck, James Remar, Deborah Van Valkenburgh

Scott’s Review #1,383

Reviewed July 31, 2023

Grade: B+

The Warriors (1979) is an entertaining gang-themed action-thriller that is a perfect watch for a late Saturday night.

Reportedly, it caused friction and outbreaks of fights in movie theaters when it was released, but decades later, it doesn’t feel as dangerous as it might have then.

The film does terrific work with its art direction, which melds live action with colorful character drawings. This infuses an artistic experience and elevates the results far above dumb action flicks like Rambo (1982), Death Wish (1974), and countless others.

In a perhaps peculiar comparison, The Warriors reminds me a bit of John Carpenter’s Escape from New York, which came two years later. The isolated Manhattan streets and other areas with a post-apocalyptic feel merge the two films, in my mind anyway.

The film suffers a bit from a dated, obscure categorization and is not remembered as well as it perhaps should be. The acting isn’t terrific either, but strangely, this makes the experience a bit more raw and enjoyable.

After being wrongly accused of killing a charismatic gang leader named Cyrus, a Coney Island street gang known as the Warriors must hoof their way home, which is miles from where the death occurred.

They are pursued by both police and enemy gangs, one of which framed them for Cyrus’s execution.

The ambiance and atmosphere are the best aspects of the film. So many Big Apple treats can be found, especially in the infamous Central Park, which takes center stage. The lavish and picturesque park wasn’t as safe and pristine in the late 1970s as it was in 2023, and the film uses this to its advantage.

Characters never know who or what might be lurking behind a bench or a tree. A particularly fun scene features a young Mercedes Ruehl being groped by a gang member, only to be revealed to be a sexy policewoman who quickly puts the perp in handcuffs.

The other featured locales include Van Cortlandt Park, Union Square, 96th Street and Broadway, and Riverside Park. The beauty of this is that the action doesn’t include only Manhattan but also other boroughs like the Bronx and Brooklyn, showing the vastness of NYC.

The main romance is between Swan (Michael Beck) and Mercy (Deborah Van Valkenburgh). The pair have a sliver of chemistry, but I wasn’t watching the film for doleful young people.

One scene was exceptionally well done when the couple laid eyes on some well-dressed, upstanding teenagers on the subway who could easily be their doppelgängers.

Maybe them in another life? The forlorn look on the faces of Swan and Mercy reveals much as the couple’s all eyes each other, perhaps thinking the same thing.

Walter Hill directs the film and is well-versed in the action genre, creating the popular film 48 Hours (1982). He paces and choreographs the action sequences so well that it’s as if the viewer is watching a dance routine occur.

The opening sequence gets the tone of the film out in the open as the storied Wonder Wheel on dusty Coney Island is on full display. Even the bright and windy shore feels gloomy and ominous as leather-clad gang members make it their turf.

The finale salutes the Warriors with a song, ‘In the City by Joe Walsh, which I particularly enjoyed because it’s a great song.

Though unrealistic for the time, it’s nice to see gang members of different ethnicities team up, showcasing diverse representation.

The film is a perfect watch for cinema fans thirsty for old New York City locales and greasy, dirty subway stations because the real Manhattan wasn’t too different from what The Warriors (1979) showcases.

James White-2015

Director Josh Mond

Starring Christopher Abbott, Cynthia Nixon

Scott’s Review #465

Reviewed August 15, 2016

Grade: A

I am always struck with a warm feeling, and my faith in the film is reaffirmed when I can watch an interesting independent film (or mainstream studio film for that matter) that has the guts to tell a dark character-driven story and tell it very well of sympathetic characters written exceptionally well.

2015’s James White is an appreciative offering about life and death and how the main characters deal with the roadblocks of life and the effects of death.

This film is quite dark, however.

A fantastic young actor, Christopher Abbott, plays the title character of James White.

We meet James in a loud nightclub, wearing headphones, with soft music, mixing interestingly with the pounding beats of the club music.

The audience immediately can tell that James is wound up, aggressive, and troubled. His estranged father has just died and while he is not too upset by his father’s death, he cares deeply for his mother, Gail, and is worried about her.

No sooner than a service, hosted by the father’s new wife, is held, we learn that Gail is suffering from stage four cancer and will not live much longer.

The film is about how James deals with his problems, from his mother’s illness to finding a job, a rocky relationship with a teen girl, and his reflections on his life, all while filled with rage.

The film takes place over three months, culminating in the dead of winter, an obvious irony.

Abbott and Nixon give astounding performances as son and mother, the apple of each other’s eye, and how they each deal with Gail’s inevitable, impending death.

James is bottled up with anger throughout the film and frequently needs to escape before losing it.

In one amazing scene though, he does lose it during a drunken hotel bender with pals Nick and Jayne. The sheer emotion and desperation that Christopher Abbott gives during this scene are inspirational for any aspiring actor to emulate.

One wonders if director Josh Mond allowed his actors to improvise most scenes as the compelling, raw feeling of scenes is evident.

Nixon, since her fame in television’s Sex And The City, has chosen daring and complex roles and this is to her credit.

As Gail, we see her desperate, emotional, filled with rage, and at times delusional, as she wonders what will become of her son after she is gone and how her world has spiraled out of control.

We also see Nixon successfully play motherly as she coaches her son through his anger and pleads with him to take care of her. It is a powerful performance.

Two slight knocks to the film- James’s best friend Nick is gay (and black), but despite their different sexual orientations, they are the closest of friends. While this aspect reaps heaps of praise for being incorporated into the film, we know very little about Nick, his family, or his inner feelings.

James’s new girlfriend Jayne is also a mystery. She is significantly younger, and is dutiful, but what are her motivations?

Yet, given the very short run time of the film (one hour and twenty-seven minutes), I can see why the filmmakers chose to focus on the mother/son relationship.

A slight criticism.

A film such as James White (2015) is purely character-driven and must be enormously rewarding for actors to play these two raw characters.

Painful, for anyone dealing with a loved one suffering from cancer to watch, but a fantastic journey into the world of wonderful acting and dynamic screenwriting.

Independent Spirit Award Nominations: Best Male Lead-Christopher Abbott, Best Supporting Female-Cynthia Nixon, Best First Feature