{"id":79582,"date":"2021-12-31T10:47:49","date_gmt":"2021-12-31T17:47:49","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=79582"},"modified":"2021-12-31T10:47:49","modified_gmt":"2021-12-31T17:47:49","slug":"flamingo-kid-the-1984","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=79582","title":{"rendered":"Flamingo Kid, The (1984)"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><strong>&#8220;You know, he&#8217;s really cute and everything &#8212; but did you have to invite him to dinner?&#8221;<\/strong><\/p>\n<table>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Flamingo-Kid-Poster.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Flamingo-Kid-Poster-198x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"198\" height=\"300\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-79584\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Flamingo-Kid-Poster-198x300.jpg 198w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Flamingo-Kid-Poster-677x1024.jpg 677w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Flamingo-Kid-Poster-85x128.jpg 85w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Flamingo-Kid-Poster-768x1162.jpg 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Flamingo-Kid-Poster-178x270.jpg 178w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Flamingo-Kid-Poster.jpg 991w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 198px) 100vw, 198px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>Synopsis:<\/strong><br \/>\nA working-class teenager (Matt Dillon) headed for college takes a summer job as a &#8220;cabana boy&#8221; at a private beach club in Long Island, where he meets a wealthy car salesman (Richard Crenna) who takes him under his wing and teaches him how to move along quickly in life &#8212; but Dillon&#8217;s father (Hector Elizondo) is concerned about Dillon giving up his longer-term goals.\n<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p>\n<strong>Genres, Themes, Actors, and Directors:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Class Relations<\/li>\n<li>Coming of Age<\/li>\n<li>Father and Child<\/li>\n<li>Jessica Walter Films<\/li>\n<li>Social Climbers<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Review: <\/strong><br \/>\nGarry Marshall directed this nostalgic throwback to the early 1960s, featuring Matt Damon in his next lead role after starring in three adaptations of S.E. Hinton novels: <em>Tex<\/em> (1982) (not listed in <em>GFTFF<\/em>), <em>The Outsiders<\/em> (1983), and <a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=39058\"><em>Rumble Fish<\/em> (1983)<\/a>. Dillon is well-cast here as a hard-working, aspirational young man who&#8217;s instantly lured in by the carefree lifestyle of the Other Half: <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Flamingo-Club-Club.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Flamingo-Club-Club.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"720\" height=\"401\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-79588\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Flamingo-Club-Club.png 720w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Flamingo-Club-Club-300x167.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Flamingo-Club-Club-128x71.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Flamingo-Club-Club-485x270.png 485w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 720px) 100vw, 720px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>&#8230; and smitten with a friendly, beautiful blonde (Janet Jones) from California: <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Flamingo-Kid-Jones.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Flamingo-Kid-Jones.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"720\" height=\"401\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-79587\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Flamingo-Kid-Jones.png 720w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Flamingo-Kid-Jones-300x167.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Flamingo-Kid-Jones-128x71.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Flamingo-Kid-Jones-485x270.png 485w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 720px) 100vw, 720px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>What&#8217;s most refreshing about the screenplay (written by Neal Marshall &#8212; apparently no relation to the director) is how it presents Dillon as suitably ambitious but not callous; when telling his father about his decision to work at the Flamingo Club rather than as an &#8220;office boy&#8221; for a client of his father&#8217;s, he says, &#8220;Oh come on, Dad, let&#8217;s face it &#8212; they only hired me because you fix their plumbing. They don&#8217;t <em>need<\/em> me! I did this on my own.&#8221; <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Flamingo-Kid-Dillon-Table.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Flamingo-Kid-Dillon-Table.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"720\" height=\"401\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-79589\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Flamingo-Kid-Dillon-Table.png 720w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Flamingo-Kid-Dillon-Table-300x167.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Flamingo-Kid-Dillon-Table-128x71.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Flamingo-Kid-Dillon-Table-485x270.png 485w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 720px) 100vw, 720px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>In that one line, we understand that Dillon isn&#8217;t disparaging of his dad&#8217;s working-class profession, but simply eager to test out his own mettle and see where he gets. Throughout his summer adventures, Dillon stays curious and excited yet reasonably grounded in good sense. Although he&#8217;s lured in by the promise of &#8220;easy&#8221; money: <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Flamingo-Kid-Driving.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Flamingo-Kid-Driving.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"720\" height=\"401\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-79595\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Flamingo-Kid-Driving.png 720w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Flamingo-Kid-Driving-300x167.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Flamingo-Kid-Driving-128x71.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Flamingo-Kid-Driving-485x270.png 485w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 720px) 100vw, 720px\" \/><\/a> <\/p>\n<p>&#8230; the instant he sees a hint of foul play, he begins to understand that nothing in life is truly <em>easy<\/em>. Indeed, his interactions with a fellow college-bound &#8220;cabana boy&#8221; named Fortune (Leon Robinson), who has a scholarship to Notre Dame but is hoping to save up money for his room and board:<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Flamingo-Club-Robinson.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Flamingo-Club-Robinson.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"720\" height=\"401\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-79596\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Flamingo-Club-Robinson.png 720w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Flamingo-Club-Robinson-300x167.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Flamingo-Club-Robinson-128x71.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Flamingo-Club-Robinson-485x270.png 485w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 720px) 100vw, 720px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>&#8230; is a steady reminder of how Dillon should really focus on his work at the Flamingo Club as a lucrative stop along his ultimate path, rather than a destination. Watch for Jessica Walter in a perfectly cast role as Crenna&#8217;s over-tanned, socially conscious wife: <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Flamingo-Kid-Still.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Flamingo-Kid-Still.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"720\" height=\"401\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-79585\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Flamingo-Kid-Still.png 720w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Flamingo-Kid-Still-300x167.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Flamingo-Kid-Still-128x71.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Flamingo-Kid-Still-485x270.png 485w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 720px) 100vw, 720px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>&#8230; and John Turturro in one of his first screen appearances (albeit super-brief) as a fellow gambler at the horce races (seen here talking with Fisher Stevens): <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Flamingo-Kid-Turturro.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Flamingo-Kid-Turturro.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"720\" height=\"401\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-79597\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Flamingo-Kid-Turturro.png 720w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Flamingo-Kid-Turturro-300x167.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Flamingo-Kid-Turturro-128x71.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Flamingo-Kid-Turturro-485x270.png 485w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 720px) 100vw, 720px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>Notable Performances, Qualities, and Moments:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Matt Dillon as Jeffrey Willis<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Flamingo-Kid-Dillon3.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Flamingo-Kid-Dillon3.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"720\" height=\"401\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-79592\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Flamingo-Kid-Dillon3.png 720w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Flamingo-Kid-Dillon3-300x167.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Flamingo-Kid-Dillon3-128x71.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Flamingo-Kid-Dillon3-485x270.png 485w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 720px) 100vw, 720px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<li>Richard Crenna as Phil Brody<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Flamingo-Kid-Crenna2.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Flamingo-Kid-Crenna2.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"720\" height=\"401\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-79591\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Flamingo-Kid-Crenna2.png 720w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Flamingo-Kid-Crenna2-300x167.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Flamingo-Kid-Crenna2-128x71.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Flamingo-Kid-Crenna2-485x270.png 485w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 720px) 100vw, 720px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<li>Hector Elizondo as Arthur Willis<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Flamingo-Kid-Elizondo3.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Flamingo-Kid-Elizondo3.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"720\" height=\"401\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-79593\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Flamingo-Kid-Elizondo3.png 720w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Flamingo-Kid-Elizondo3-300x167.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Flamingo-Kid-Elizondo3-128x71.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Flamingo-Kid-Elizondo3-485x270.png 485w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 720px) 100vw, 720px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<li>Fine production design<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Flamingo-Kid-Good-Humor.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Flamingo-Kid-Good-Humor.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"720\" height=\"401\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-79594\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Flamingo-Kid-Good-Humor.png 720w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Flamingo-Kid-Good-Humor-300x167.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Flamingo-Kid-Good-Humor-128x71.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Flamingo-Kid-Good-Humor-485x270.png 485w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 720px) 100vw, 720px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Must See? <\/strong><br \/>\nNo, but it&#8217;s worth a look. <\/p>\n<p><strong>Links: <\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.imdb.com\/title\/tt0087265\/\">IMDb entry<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/1984\/12\/21\/movies\/the-screen-matt-dillon-stars-in-flamingo-kid.html\">NY Times Original Review<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>&#8220;You know, he&#8217;s really cute and everything &#8212; but did you have to invite him to dinner?&#8221; Synopsis: A working-class teenager (Matt Dillon) headed for college takes a summer job as a &#8220;cabana boy&#8221; at a private beach club in Long Island, where he meets a wealthy car salesman (Richard Crenna) who takes him under his wing and teaches him how to move along quickly in life &#8212; but Dillon&#8217;s father (Hector Elizondo) is concerned about Dillon giving up his&#8230;<\/p>\n<p class=\"read-more\"><a class=\"btn btn-default\" href=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=79582\"> Read More<span class=\"screen-reader-text\">  Read More<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-79582","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-reviews"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/79582","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=79582"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/79582\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":79601,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/79582\/revisions\/79601"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=79582"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=79582"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=79582"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}