Street Smart

Year: 1987

Grade: C+

Country: USA

Director: Schatzberg

Review

early morgan freeman film which has him playing a different type of character. christopher reeve plays an eager reporter and freeman plays a pimp in trouble with the law. as the film progresses we find that they need each other to a certain extent and so they enter into a mutually beneficial relationship. freeman, though, has the street smarts that reeve lacks and is able to control the relationship to a greater degree. the heart of the film is in the performances. freeman and reeve both give good performances that (mostly) show a good deal of realism and restraint. there were some isolated moments where the writing or direction get a bit corny, but it’s almost expected from an 80s urban drama. i’m not sure what to make of the ending which was abrupt and unexpected. i suppose that was the point – life in the streets is fragile and scores are settled quickly and without much ado.