FILLMORE DISCOS 69

Star 80, 1983 (****)
a thoroughly absorbing dramatisation of the events leading up to the murder of Playboy centrefold extraordinaire Dorothy Stratten, and is even creepier than it first appears: Bob Fosse's attention to detail is disturbing, for example even the murder scene is shot in exactly the same room the crime took place, and this for a film made only shortly after her death; while Mariel Hemingway is intelligent and thoughtful in the main role, Eric Roberts, as Paul Snider the lowlife who discovered Stratten in Vancouver, hammily camps it up way too hard - in reality, Snider was clearly just another Stratten-obsessed straight loser (as is the thoroughly unpleasant Peter Bogdanovich, represented in the film under another name)

Red State, 2011 (*)
Kevin Smith breaks from his comfort zone to attempt horror, dark comedy, and social commentary all in the same film, and it sucks on each count: the horror is sub-Rob Zombie verging on plagiarism, comedy doesn't work when it's not funny, and the social commentary is embarrassingly dumbed-down (a clumsy merging of the infamous Westboro Baptist Church and events at the Branch Davidian compound in Waco)

Breakin', 1984 (****)
now lovingly restored on DVD and it's a treat; amazing original breakdancing scenes from Los Angeles, riotously colourful wardrobes, an incredibly high quality 80s electro/freestyle soundtrack, and all played out with such beautiful innocence and sincerity

Breakin' 2: Electric Boogaloo, 1984 (*****)
this sequel, released a mere six months after the original Breakin', is even better than the first! added to the successful cocktail is a really touching narrative that effortlessly and uniquely manages to subvert all kinds of established stereotypes; the finale is ridiculously uplifting

Beat Street, 1984 (****)
if not for the weak narrative and porn-quality acting, Beat Street is unmissable for the phenomenal real-life B-boy battle scenes at the  Roxy nightclub between the Rock Steady Crew and NYC Breakers

Wild Style, 1983 (****)
as with Beat Street, Wild Style is an extraordinary document of its times, when rap hadn't really been fully co-opted and (to an extent) neutered by the music industry and capitalism in general; the performances here of a very young Rock Steady Crew, Double Trouble, and Grandmaster Flash are electrifying; as if all that wasn't enough, the film features a 19-year-0ld Sandra Fabara (legendary graffiti artist Lady Pink) as Lee Quinones' love interest

FILLMORE DISCOS 68
FILLMORE DISCOS 67 - 70s RARITIES 6
FILLMORE DISCOS 66 - 80s RARITIES 5