Directed by Paul Brickman
Released August 5, 1983
Written by Paul Brickman
Within the first ten minutes of this film you get the 80s thrown right in your face. There are so many staples that it almost seems cliché when you watch it in the present day. First, you have the black Ray-Ban sunglasses, that all the cool kid in the 80s had in order for everyone else to know that they were cool. Then you have the endless smoking that the adults seem to not care or not notice their teenagers are doing. The letterman jacket that was worn by the popular guys and wanted by every girl from her boyfriend. Blue jeans, of course. Bikes, because instead of walking places, most people in 80s movies road their bike. Which is ironic because most people don't use bikes anymore, let alone have one handy for a quick getaway. And finally we get the taste of the cheesy techno 80s music used in the background. It is a staple in most 80s movies that there is at least one techno 80s song that is used during a flashback, slow-mo, dream sequence, or montage. Do you feel 80s enough yet?
Well if you don't then add this to the mix, Tom Cruise. He only started his career in the 80s, but man was the 80s good to him. Risky Business being his break-out roll and the one that shot him to stardom. Then add in hits like Top Gun and Rainman, no wonder he was one of the hottest actors during the 80s. While he was only 20-years-old when he made this film, it was the perfect start for him to launch the rest of his film career.
Now before we dive into the movie itself, there are a few other things from the 80s that I want to talk about. The first being the guys playing poker in the basement. Again, a huge cliché not just for the 80s, but for many films. It is funny because this stereotype is used to show nerdy kids who normally can't get girlfriends and just play games with their buddies on the weekends. In my opinion though, playing games in your friends' basements is sometimes more fun than going out. Not many people do it anymore, but some of my best memories from high school are when my friends and I would get together and play board games and eat junk food. Now I know we were in the minority of people in high school who did this. Especially, when we were upper classmen getting ready for college. Kids, especially high schoolers, are now more concerned with who is having a party, who can buy them alcohol, going shopping at the mall, etc. Board games are sort of dying out and it is really sad to see. I will take a game-night anytime!
Something else that I love in this movie is the TV dinners. Those gross things that probably have as much nutritional value as gas station food. I used to eat them all the time as a kid, but slowly they have become less of common meal in most households. Probably because most people now are more health conscious and don't want that much processed food in their stomachs. TV dinners were popular back when families would pull up the TV trays, their TV dinners, and watch the latest game shows on TV. Right now I am picturing the family from Matilda.
I know, different movie and not the right time period.
Okay, on to Risky Business. One of the things that I really love in this movie is the use of the tracking shot during the beginning of the film. Unfortunately, I can't find the clip to show it, so I will just try to explain it. The camera is following around Joel's parents as they are getting ready to leave, but it is shot as if it is from Joel's perspective. This was a smart creative choice because it allows the viewers to see and feel how Joel is feeling with his parents being in his face. The impact of their nagging and rules is more impactful when we feel like they are talking directly to us. It is also impactful because they use one continuous tracking shot. Meaning that they are not cutting from different angels and shots within the scene, it is one movement, just like how Joel would be moving. The only time they cut is when they are going from the house to the car and the car to the airport. The only reason they used those cuts is because the scene would have been too long and boring if we saw them load the car, drive to the airport, get out of the car, go through the check points in the airport...you get my point.
One thing that really bothered me throughout this film, though, is how old is Joel and how old is Lana!? So based on the conversations about college, Joel is either 17 or 18. Lana on the other hand, is easily in her 20s. Is anyone else concerned that "legally" she is sleeping with a minor? And never does it cross her mind to ask him how old he is? Maybe this is me watching too many Law & Order: SVU episodes, but I feel like this relationship is not legal. Then again, prostitution is not really legal either, so she is probably not too concerned about breaking the law.
On that same topic, did hookers and prostitutes really used to put ads in the paper? This seems really bazar to me. I could maybe understand it more present day, but back when that stuff was even more risqué...
Can we also just think about the irony of Joel's last name. Goodson. Could that be anymore cliché and ironic? (I am starting to think that cliché is the word of the day for this movie). He is considered a terrible son to his parents because of his lack of focus on school, but if only they knew what happened when they were gone. From their eyes, they should see a good son. But from our view he is a son that is lucky to be alive!
The last thing I want to touch on in this movie is the fact that Joel's friends suck! They are terrible! For one, they call him a hooker without his permission. Second, the hooker was a guy. Third, they get the idea in his head that he needed a hooker, so when he calls one that Jackie suggested, she is trouble. Then they go into his home just to have some "fun" with Lana's friend. I could keep going, but honestly what happened to Joel is all his friends fault! If they hadn't called Jackie then none of this would have happened. He was suspended from school, recked his dad's car, was forced to throw a brothal party to fix the car, almost ruined his chances at getting into college, and then got all his furniture stolen. I guess he did end up getting the girl, but that is a small consolation to the mess his friends put him through. And did they ever apologize? NOPE!
Hope you enjoyed this blog! I know I talked about a lot of 80s stuff in this one, but hey that's part of this blog. I will leave you with the most iconic scene of this movie. Until next week, go have some fun!
Joel Goodson: "My name is Joel Goodson. I deal in human fulfillment. I grossed over eight thousand dollars in one night. Time of your life, huh kid?"
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