{"id":89351,"date":"2023-01-19T11:36:52","date_gmt":"2023-01-19T18:36:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=89351"},"modified":"2023-01-19T22:48:47","modified_gmt":"2023-01-20T05:48:47","slug":"eddie-and-the-cruisers-1983","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=89351","title":{"rendered":"Eddie and the Cruisers (1983)"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><strong>&#8220;You don&#8217;t understand: the night Eddie died, the Cruisers died with him.&#8221; <\/strong><\/p>\n<table>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Eddie-and-the-Cruisers-Poster.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Eddie-and-the-Cruisers-Poster-189x300.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"189\" height=\"300\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-89353\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Eddie-and-the-Cruisers-Poster-189x300.png 189w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Eddie-and-the-Cruisers-Poster-81x128.png 81w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Eddie-and-the-Cruisers-Poster-170x270.png 170w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Eddie-and-the-Cruisers-Poster.png 603w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 189px) 100vw, 189px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>Synopsis:<\/strong><br \/>\nWhen a high school teacher (Tom Berenger) is asked by a journalist (Ellen Barkin) to share what he knows about the mysterious disappearance of his former band leader (Michael Par\u00e9), Berenger goes on a trip down memory lane, reflecting back on the sexy singer (Helen Schneider) he had a crush on and the missing tapes Eddie (Par\u00e9) may have hidden.\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>Amateur Sleuths<\/li>\n<li>Flashback Films<\/li>\n<li>Journalists<\/li>\n<li>Rock &#8216;n Roll <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Response to Peary&#8217;s Review: <\/strong><br \/>\nPeary notes that although it was a &#8220;flop when released, this weird little film has become a cult favorite due to cable television&#8221; (and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonpost.com\/entertainment\/music\/eight-degrees-of-eddie-and-the-cruisers\/2015\/04\/24\/ab9275aa-e8e6-11e4-9a6a-c1ab95a0600b_story.html\">maintains that status today after an ill-fated sequel in 1989<\/a>). He writes that this &#8220;combination of sixties nostalgia, music extravaganza, and creepy mystery is not altogether successful, but, thanks to [the] music (provided by <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/John_Cafferty_and_the_Beaver_Brown_Band\">John Cafferty and the Beaver Brown Band<\/a>), a solid cast, and an interesting premise (inspired by rumors that the Doors&#8217; lead singer, Jim Morrison, still lives), it is far better than most unimaginative pictures thrust at youth audiences.&#8221; <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Eddie-and-the-Cruisers-Music.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Eddie-and-the-Cruisers-Music-1024x525.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"328\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-89357\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Eddie-and-the-Cruisers-Music-1024x525.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Eddie-and-the-Cruisers-Music-300x154.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Eddie-and-the-Cruisers-Music-128x66.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Eddie-and-the-Cruisers-Music-768x394.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Eddie-and-the-Cruisers-Music-527x270.png 527w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Eddie-and-the-Cruisers-Music.png 1297w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a> <\/p>\n<p>That&#8217;s faint praise, but is fairly accurate. The mystery of whether Eddie is actually still alive &#8212; and, even more importantly, whether fans will be able to hear his final &#8220;concept album&#8221;, which never saw the light of day &#8212; propels the narrative and keeps us in suspense, tapping into the appealing notions that: 1) our favorite musicians never really died (Elvis anyone?), and 2) more of their amazing music is squirrelled away somewhere, simply awaiting discovery. It&#8217;s pure fantasy, and will likely appeal to those nostalgic for this era &#8212; but it&#8217;s not must-see viewing.  <\/p>\n<p><strong>Notable Performances, Qualities, and Moments: <\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Tom Berenger as Frank Ridgeway<br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Eddie-and-the-Cruisers-Berenger.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Eddie-and-the-Cruisers-Berenger-1024x522.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"326\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-89374\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Eddie-and-the-Cruisers-Berenger-1024x522.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Eddie-and-the-Cruisers-Berenger-300x153.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Eddie-and-the-Cruisers-Berenger-128x65.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Eddie-and-the-Cruisers-Berenger-768x391.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Eddie-and-the-Cruisers-Berenger-530x270.png 530w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Eddie-and-the-Cruisers-Berenger.png 1301w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<li>Some fine musical performances<br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Eddie-and-the-Cruisers-Tender-Years.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Eddie-and-the-Cruisers-Tender-Years-1024x532.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"333\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-89356\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Eddie-and-the-Cruisers-Tender-Years-1024x532.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Eddie-and-the-Cruisers-Tender-Years-300x156.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Eddie-and-the-Cruisers-Tender-Years-128x67.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Eddie-and-the-Cruisers-Tender-Years-768x399.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Eddie-and-the-Cruisers-Tender-Years-520x270.png 520w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Eddie-and-the-Cruisers-Tender-Years.png 1295w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Must See? <\/strong><br \/>\nNo, though it&#8217;s worth a look for its cult status. <\/p>\n<p><strong>Links: <\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.imdb.com\/title\/tt0085475\/\">IMDb entry<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.tvguide.com\/movies\/eddie-and-the-cruisers\/review\/2000343804\/\">TV Guide Review<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/1983\/09\/23\/movies\/film-early-rock-days-eddie-and-the-cruisers.html\">NY Times Original Review<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>&#8220;You don&#8217;t understand: the night Eddie died, the Cruisers died with him.&#8221; Synopsis: When a high school teacher (Tom Berenger) is asked by a journalist (Ellen Barkin) to share what he knows about the mysterious disappearance of his former band leader (Michael Par\u00e9), Berenger goes on a trip down memory lane, reflecting back on the sexy singer (Helen Schneider) he had a crush on and the missing tapes Eddie (Par\u00e9) may have hidden. Genres, Themes, Actors, and Directors: Amateur Sleuths&#8230;<\/p>\n<p class=\"read-more\"><a class=\"btn btn-default\" href=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=89351\"> 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":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-89351","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-responses-to-peary"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/89351","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=89351"}],"version-history":[{"count":11,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/89351\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":89378,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/89351\/revisions\/89378"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=89351"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=89351"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=89351"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}