Flashdance (1983)

Flashdance (1983)

“You go out there and the music starts, and you begin to feel it, and your body just starts to move.”

Synopsis:
A welder and club dancer (Jennifer Beals) hoping to audition for the Pittsburgh Ballet Company dates her boss (Michael Nouri) while supporting her friends in their dreams of professional ice skating (Sunny Johnson) and stand-up comedy (Kyle T. Heffner).

Genres:

  • Aspiring Stars
  • Cross Class Romance
  • Dancers

Response to Peary’s Review:
Peary writes that this “phenomenally popular film” — “set in Pittsburgh” — offers us director “Adrian Lyne’s conception of the perfect ‘modern’ woman: talented, ambitious, loyal to her female friends, confident, stubborn, and sexually liberated”. He notes that while the “picture has a potentially interesting feminist theme, an appealing performance by Beals, and some exciting dancing by Beals’s double Marine Jahan”, the “film is done in by a shallow script, overly stylish direction, and far too much editing.” Peary’s review precisely highlights the problems with this beautifully filmed but vapidly plotted movie, which is built on one simplistic platitude — “Don’t give up on your dreams!” — and fails to develop any relationships in a meaningful way. Perhaps especially frustrating are scenes between Beals and her elderly mentor (Lilia Skala), which tell us nothing at all about how they met or why their special bond developed. You can feel free to skip this one.

Redeeming Qualities and Moments:

  • Luminous cinematography
  • Enjoyable dance sequences
  • Irene Cara’s Oscar-winning theme song

Must See?
No, unless you’re nostalgic or curious to check it out.

Links:

One thought on “Flashdance (1983)

  1. Skip it – *unless* you’re, like, totally in the mood for a somewhat-freewheeling, ’80s popcorn flick that, like, leaves your brain as soon as each sequence leaves your eyesight.

    I always thought that this film was only famous / infamous / at least memorable for one, short but indelible piece of imagery:

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RrJawaRR3A0

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