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Rating:  -
Great film. One of the best of its kind with outstanding score. Fame-Oscar for best song.
Rating:  -
The Bottom Line:
A film that feels (like MASH, come to think of it) in every way like the extended pilot for a TV show, Fame takes 134 minutes but doesn't really have time to develop any single character, instead giving thumbnail sketches of many and in-depth portrayals of none; before you know it it's over and you realize that in the time you spent watching caricatures go through the motions you could have watched Chinatown again.
2/4
Rating: -
At the New York City High School for the Performing Arts, students get specialized training that often leads to success as actors, singers, etc. This movie follows four students from the time when they audition to get into the school, through graduation. They are the brazen Coco Hernandez, shy Doris Finsecker, sensitive gay Montgomery MacNeil, and brash, abrasive Raul Garcia. 'Fame' (1980) is brilliant. It is memorable, interesting, and full of daring scenes and performances. I highly recommend this movie.
Rating: -
Fame is one of those movies I just love to watch--and watch and watch over again! It's the perennial story of anyone's dreams of reaching their life goals whether it be becoming rich and famous, a life-saving surgeon or, in this case, a fine young member of the performing arts. The casting was very well done and the acting was particularly well done; I was convinced every step of the way that these actors were real people and not just actors playing roles. Of course, for a movie about students at a high school for the performing arts, choreography and cinematography matter a lot--and wow, how they shine! The plot moves along at a very good pace and because the film follows a few students over the course of the four years of high school we get excellent character development.
The film starts with a day of auditions at New York's High School of the Performing Arts (based on the Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music and Art and Performing Arts in Manhattan). Some students are selected for admission and some are not. We meet Coco (Irene Cara); Doris (Maureen Teefy); Bruno (Lee Curreri); Lisa (Laura Dean); Montgomery (Paul McCrane) and more. Teacher standouts are English professor Mrs. Sherwood (Anne Meara) and Shorofsky (Albert Hague). We also meet Leroy (Gene Anthony Ray) who does an outstanding job of portraying a young street thug who accompanies a girlfriend on her audition--and gets selected himself while she gets rejected by the school's admissions committee!
As the film progresses the relationships between these people are poignantly developed and we get a real feeling for the challenges young people must face when they start a rigorous four year program to better themselves not only as artists but as human beings with a good education in English, math and more. Predictably, there are many highs and lows; but as the flows it's all so tender and compassionate to the main characters that they become immeasurably endearing and the film a true testament to their commitment to make something of themselves in their chosen profession. In addition, the film is not afraid to depict life as it really is for underprivileged students; thus there is also a gritty quality to Fame.
The DVD comes with some extras; the best in my opinion would be the featurette that has the main actors in this movie being interviewed quite a few years later after the movie was made. The quality of the print is excellent.
You owe it to yourself to see Fame. It's brilliantly executed and there's little, if anything, to be desired as I think about it. I especially recommend this for fans of the arts and the actors in this film.
Rating: -
I received the movie only a few days after I ordered it. The seller even included a note saying they hoped I enjoy the movie. I'd definitely do business with this seller again.
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