Flashdance (1983)
Review by Dindrane
Film:
DVD:

Directed by Adrian Lyne
Screenplay by Tom Hedley and Joe Eszterhaus
Cinematography by Don Peterman
Original Music by Giorgio Moroder
Starring Jennifer Beals, Michael Nouri, Belinda Bauer, Lilia Skala

Rating: R

Anamorphic: Yes

My Advice: Buy it if you're Gen X; rent it if you're not.

Flashdance is one of those films that helped define a generation--in this case, Generation X.

Alex Owens is an 18-year-old who works by day as a welder, but she has a grander dream--to be a professional dancer. To fuel this dream, she works nights as an exotic dancer and looks forward to the day when she will study at the Pittsburgh Conservatory of Dance. Her journey to her goal teaches Alex, and her audience, a great deal about dedication, friendship, and faith.

The acting is, overall, rather good. Jennifer Beals, as the dedicated yet quirky Alex, is charming. You want to see her get what she wants out of life, instead of just wishing she’d go away. Michael Nouri and Belinda Bauer are also fun to watch and under-rated. Don’t go in expecting Lawrence of Arabia-style emoting, and you’ll have a much better time.

The choreography is quite possibly the real star of the film. Set off by a classic soundtrack that we all remember from high school, the film is energetic, lively, and just plain fun. Choreographer Jeffery Hornaday did an excellent job of showing off Beals’ gracefulness, as well as the skills of the other dancers in the film.

The features are underwhelming as there are none. It would have been nice to have had a commentary with Beals or Hornaday, or perhaps some words from a sociologist discussing the impact of this film on Gen X culture. Are the actors of this film so busy that they could not arrange a single day to record a commentary with the director? Or why not sell this disc packaged with the soundtrack--that would be fun and appropriate for such a high-energy musical.

The audio and video quality are both fine. The film stock has been digitally remastered, and the colors are clear and bright, even in the scenes that are smokier or dimmer. The cinematography deserves a special mention, overlooked and undervalued as it often is. The dancing of course takes center stage, but the mood lighting, camera angles, and framing are all well-chosen to highlight the emotional impact of Alex’s struggle and her inevitable triumph. The famous scene of Beals dancing, seated temporarily while water pours on top of her is a seminal moment in 1980s film, and it is just as crisp and nicely shot as you remember. The overall impact is almost surreal, elevating the film into the realm of archetype and hero’s journey, without degrading into cliché or just plain silliness.

Taken as a whole, Flashdance is a fun movie with a decent cast that will remind you of the importance of sticking by your dreams when the world doesn’t seem disposed to help you. Dreamers and those who feel stuck in their current rut will love this movie for its ability to give you an inspirational kick in the seat. People who don’t think they need any help in this department should absolutely see this film, simply because it is all too easy to dismiss things that we see as difficult or frivolous. So check it out and cheer as Alex finds her way through a difficult life...and just maybe find some encouragement to find a new way through your own.