A heart warming if too sentimental film ironically intended by its director as a way back to artistic and financial success after the debacle of "One From The Heart". It certainly achieved the financial part. Artistic triumph, alas, eluded Coppola until, arguably, his next foray into the world of S. E. Hinton, "Rumblefish". Problem with this one, aesthetics wise, is that its lugubriousness outweighs its grit or, to put it another way, there's too little Matt Dillon and way too much C Thomas Howell/Ralph Macchio. (in general, it's always a good idea to avoid scenes where actors recite Robert Frost with pastel sunsets in the background). I will say that the film is wonderfully shot by a cinematographer whose work I am not familiar with but hope to be, Steven Burum. Fairly certain that Tulsa Okla has never looked so painterly. No wonder the citizens of that benighted burg love this movie. Give it a B minus.
Review of The Outsiders
