Search - Bright Lights, Big City on DVD

A WEEK IN THE LIFE OF A COKEHEAD

Unlucky Frank | Lalaland, CA United States | 09/01/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Having lived through the cocaine 80's, I can assure you this flick hits the nail on the head. Forget about getting up and going to work tomorrow, where's the party? Humorous, compelling, and sad, with a marvelously redemptive ending. I'm not a big fan of Michael J. Fox, but I have to say this is the biggest role, in a small film, of his entire career. Forget TEENWOLF, this is great acting. Especially compelling is his soliloquy as he reassesses his marriage while he's swinging around a wine glass and bouncing off the walls of his living room. Great stuff. The funniest scene is when Sutherland is looking for coke in the dust of Fox's apartment and takes a freeze to the gums. Wow. Been there, done that.



If you think the book was better than the movie, think again. The screenplay was written by the author, Jay McInerney. So it actually resembles the novel. Nice job.



And those of you who think this is a stretch for Fox, think again. Michael had his own coke problem which is what drew him to this role in the first place. Great job, Michael. I think this the most mature performance of your career. Best of luck to you, brother. Sutherland is great too.



And yes, I'm in total agreement with previous reviewers, this begs to be rereleased in widescreen.



Don't be fooled by the lackluster reviews for this flick, it's one of the best films ever made about being lost in addiction. Hope this brings up the reviews a little. IT'S A WONDERFUL FILM."

The best film of Michael J. Fox's career!!

Nicholas Williams | Memphis, TN United States | 02/15/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"To me, "Bright Lights, Big City" is a brilliant, well-made film because it talks about Michael's character being dumped by his wife (Phoebe Cates) and how he falls in love with the seductive nightlife that the Big Apple has to offer and going on an alcohol/cocaine binge. It tells the story of one man's journey to discover himself and confront his inner demons before they literally destroy him forever. I don't know if anybody knows this, but "Bright Lights, Big City" is also where Michael J. Fox met his future wife, Tracy Pollan, who also stars in the film. I was at a store one day, and I saw "Bright Lights..." on sale, and it was just too sweet of an opportunity to pass up, so I bought it, and every time I look at the movie, it keeps getting better and better. The soundtrack was exceptional, and kudos to Donald Fagen for the song at the end of the film, "Century's End", also when he sang "Bright Lights, Big City" too. But anyway, all I have to say is that "Bright Lights, Big City" has an excellent supporting cast, including Kiefer Sutherland and Dianne Wiest. Michael J. Fox has never been better in "Bright Lights, Big City"!!"

A powerful film about the nightlife

Unlucky Frank | 08/04/1999

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Bright Lights, Big City is a powerful film about how the seductive nightlife swallows one man up in a current of cocaine and liquor.Jamie Connaway is a small town guy who heads to the big city of New York to find succes. He gets a job at a stuffy magazine that is specific about facts. His boss, Claire, is the type of woman who walks around without expressions on her face and purposely slams her high heels down when she walks. Jamie is often helped out at work by a woman from the same office who seems to feel for him. His boring days lead to nights full of nightclubs, cocaine, and booze. He goes out every night with his buddy Alagash. Alagash is a yuppie who goes around telling people that Jamie's wife is dead even though she really left Jamie. Alagash seems to feel for Jamie's wife leaving Jamie but looks at it as more of a joke. We really do not see why there is a friendship between Alagash and Jamie besides the fact that they both love booze and drugs. That's what BLBC is all about. It follows Jamie through about a week or so of craziness until he finally has a little to much coke and begins bleeding one night at a party. He then decides that his life is going nowhere and that he needs to start over. The film along with the book is excellent. The adaption, from book to screen, is well done. I also highly reccomend the book wich has a great narrative style."

Late-80s Manhattan Culture Personified in 'Bright Lights, Bi

Jeffrey B. Saunders | Hopewell, VA | 05/05/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I just finished watching 'Bright Lights, Big City' probably for the 5th or 6th time over the weekend. I actually have this movie on VHS cassette that I taped on HBO YEARS ago. Anyway, this movie still holds up after many viewings. I was a big Manhattan clubgoer from the late-80s to the mid-90s and this movie really captures that world pretty well. LOVE the beginning scenes at the now-gone-forever Palladium on East 14th Street (it was torn down to build dormitories for NYU). The movie superbly tells the story of a naive small-town young man (Jamie Conway, played brilliantly by Michael J. Fox) with dreams of being a modern-day 'F. Scott Fitz-Hemingway' (a phrase actually used in the movie) whose life is turned upside-down by the unexpected departure of his newlywed wife. She pursues her dreams to be a model at the expense of Jamie's heart. He drowns his sorrows in cocaine within the very-alluring Manhattan club life of the day (trust me - the Manhattan nightlife ain't what it used to be - the Golden Age is over). He is also dealing with the recent death of his mother to cancer and a very unfulfilling job. I love this movie because Jamie Conway could have been anyone - someone with big dreams who moves away from home to seek a better life and unwittingly has his dreams destroyed by users and backstabbers. Oh yeah, and the music is great too (Prince, Donald Fagen, Bryan Ferry, Narada Michael Walden). I highly, HIGHLY recommend this great 80s movie. (Word of warning, especially for NYC lovers....the long, endearing shot of the Twin Towers at the movie's end may bring a tear or two to your eyes....it did to mine.)"