Customer Reviews

Street Smart [VHS]

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

This is a movie that comes so close to being a first-rate thriller that it's disappointing when it misses. It still is a good, hard-edged story, thanks to Morgan Freeman as Leo Smalls, Jr., aka Fast Black, a domineering, charismatic and vicious New York pimp.

Christopher Reeve stars as Jonathan Fisher, a magazine writer who to meet a deadline fakes a story about tough street life and the women and pimps who work it. His main character is just as phoney as the rest of the story, but the article creates a sensation. The DA thinks the pimp in the story is really Fast Black, who is on trial for murder. He wants Fisher's notes, but, of course, Fisher doesn't have any. And then Fast Black, out on bail, sees an opportunity. At first he thinks someone has been talking about him to Fisher and wants to know who. But then he'll show Fisher real street life and verify that he was the character, saving Fisher from journalistic disgrace...but Fisher has to give him an alibi. The story plays out partly through Fisher's squirming attempts to get out of his fix and partly through Fast Black's ruthlessness.

The movie is dominated by Freeman's performance as Fast Black. Fast is a product of the streets, who has survived and flourished because he is ruthless and smart. He can turn violent in an instant, but you're never sure if he's actually lost control. He can be charming and even fascinating. Part of Fisher's problem is that being accepted by Fast Black is a little like being on a drug.

Morgan Freeman over the last few years seems to be the one directors go to when they want world-weary wisdom (Unforgiven, Shawshank, Million Dollar Baby, many others). He can do this kind of stuff with his eyes shut. His turn as a completely believeable, charming, vicious pimp is something to see.

The movie feaures some other strong performances. Kathy Baker plays Punchy, one of Fast Black's prostitutes who befriends Fisher. She still has a few ounces of self respect, and seeing Fast Black terrorize her is not pretty. Andre Gregory plays Fisher's magazine publisher and steals every scene he's in. Shari Hilton as Darlene, another of Fast Black's women, and Erik King as Reggie, Fast Black's muscle and go-fer, make strong impressions.

However, the movie has two weaknesses. Fast Black's story and Fisher's story never quite come together. And Reeve simply doesn't dominate the movie the way his character should. His moral conflict seems more yuppie angst.

Even so, this is a good movie with a first-rate performance. The DVD transfer looks good and there are no extras to speak of.

Christopher Reeve was great in this film. Morgan Freeman was even better and more serious, this film will somewhat hold your attention because of the pimp state of mind. But never the less it's more hope taken, "Baker" is a superb woman looking for her own modern sex experience, with men or without men. The first hour is "GREAT" but the last half-hour is kind of boring, but it has a reasonable ending, with "LAUGHS AND TEARS"

I purchase this movie because Morgan Freeman stated on "Oprah" that the role he played in this movie was his favorite role. I had never heard of the movie, but being a Morgan Freeman fan, I had to search it out. The movie was enjoyable, had a good storyline and is a must-see for Morgan Freeman fans and Christopher Reeve fans.

saw this film years ago&thought it was fairly hit&miss at best. this was when Christopher Reeve was still a A-list Actor.but Morgan Freeman [was really good]here.He has gone on to become one of the Greatest Actors Ever.the Guy continues to take His craft further&adds so much depth to His roles.this film was a step along the road to Greater things.

Now and then it's fun to review a film just because it is so confusing and uneven. STREET SMART is one of those. Dated 1986 (I do not know why it is erroneously listed as 1987 release, I recall it when it came out), it's Wallywood at its finest (by way of Golan Globus Productions).

Consider firstly what was hot and truly smoking in 1986: ALIENS. BIG TROUBLE IN LITTLE CHINA. BLUE VELVET. CHILDREN OF A LESSER GOD. THE COLOR OF MONEY. CROCODILE DUNDEE. A ROOM WITH A VIEW. Tough year to compete in; 1987, just for 'official release date' sake, was no easier to compete: THE BIG EASY. DIRTY DANCING. FULL METAL JACKET. MOONSTRUCK. ROBOCOP. I could go on and on in either year.

Here we have a seemingly quiet, rather blundering film, poorly paced and terribly shot. Magazine column writer Jonathan Fisher (Christopher Reeve) fabricates a story about a day in the life of a pimp, in order to jump-start his sagging career (reminded me of this film). Bear in mind, at this time Reeve had 3 SUPERMAN films behind him, with the 4th on the way--and was considered one of the sexiest men, a super-rising star.

So, Jon writes about the fictional "Tyrone" and is a huge hit. He gets his own "reality" TV show called "Street Smart"--shades of "COPS" and "Candid Camera". Then he comes to the attention of a genuine and evil pimp, Leo "Fast Black" Smalls (Morgan Freeman in his 1st big role, a supporting role).

Now, bear in mind Freeman was virtually a nobody though already a recognized and beloved actor. Everything good, and I mean everything, was ahead of Freeman at this point. It was apparently his honor to costar with Reeve. As the evil pimp Fast Black, Freeman shines. He is involved with a john when the man dies of a heart attack, but is charged with 2nd degree murder.

His lawyer is convinced that if he meets with Jon and colludes, he may be acquitted. What follows is an ugly cat-and-mouse on the streets of New York, with Jon refusing to talk about his "notes" on the "Tyrone: Sheik of the Streets" fake story, even going to jail. Fast Black pursues him and even has Jon's girlfriend stabbed (she survives). In the end, Jon does some brave, quick thinking and Fast Black gets shot down by his own man. Jon promptly covers the murder for his "Street Smart" segment.

This film in some weird way reminds me of Tyler Perry's MADEA GOES TO JAIL...and may have inspired it. I wonder if Stephen Glass (of SHATTERED GLASS fame) got his idea to invent stories from this film. It is ahead of its time, with clean rather than gritty shots (of Quebec as stand-in for NYC); the idea of an all-jazz soundtrack was also brilliant. It was also ahead of its time with the concept of a reality tv program showing crime on the streets and street life in general. The real thing wouldn't really hit the public until a bit later, in the form of "COPS".

This film was a mini-Who's Who of bit players who later got famous: Kathy Baker, Mimi Rogers, Erik King and several others who have remained prominent but nameless character actors. The cinematography is 1/2 slick and 1/2 sick for the era, but the sound is dreadful and some of the pick-up (looping) is patently absurd. Several shots show actors with mouths and faces completely immobile, yet they have lines which are spoken, sloppily looped-in at a later date.

Continuity is a real problem here too: in one scene Freeman's moustache has altered significantly; in the beginning, someone inexplicably calls Reeve "Joe" (his name's Jonathan, remember?); near the end, Jon calls in a favor from a prostitute--trouble is we have no idea what that original favor might have been, or who the mystery prostitute is supposed to be. After she agrees to help Jonathan, she tells him, "We're even."

So we are.

STREET SMART is uneven and unsure of itself. It presents itself at the beginning as almost a comedy. It looks as if it will be funny, or employ gallows humor at least. Not at all. It turns ugly and overly dramatic in a few seconds' screen time; it cannot balance itself properly after that. Nonetheless, it is 1/2 B-movie and 1/2 genius. I'd get it for that alone. It definitely started many trends that are old today.

Morgan Freeman was robbed of an Oscar for his performance in this low budget and under appreciated film. Overall the movie was just okay, but it is well worth the price to see Morgan Freeman stealing every scene that he's in while scaring you to death with his portrayal of his character.

Farfetched story of ambitious magazine reporter (Christopher Reeve) who fabricates a story about a pimp only to be manipulated by the defense of a real pimp(Morgan Freeman) on trial for a murder rap and the assistant D.A. trying the case. The movie is not helped by it's lackluster direction and movie-of-the-week storytelling. Reeve was more convincing as a journalist when he was playing Clark Kent. Movie is redeemed by the charismatically vicious Yoo-Hoo swilling turn by Freeman as Fast Black. The energy level on screen goes down infinitely when Freeman is not present. Kathy Baker also does a decent job as one of Fast Black's prostitutes.

Morgan Freeman a pimp? Say it isn't true! This movie is low budget. Not one of Morgan's greater pieces of work, but a little entertaining.

Morgan Freeman shows how versatale an actor he is, and not a very nice guy at all. This is really a good one, and a must see for Morgan Freeman and Chistopher Reeve fans

This is an uneven movie. And while movie ad excerpt quotes praising performances are almost always the sign of a stinker (damning with faint praise), in this case, I think Morgan Freeman's performance is worth this movie alone. It's nuanced, and a perfect study of a sociopathic personality. Freeman plays a total predator, who will brutalize without conscience, but will pour on immense charm in the next second as a way of manipulating others. No one had ever heard of Morgan Freeman before this movie...but he was nominated for an Oscar for this performance. He should have won it. He's up there with Brando. A great actor. And this is a great performance.