About Last Night is directed by Edward Zwick and adapted to screenplay by Tim Kazurinsky & Denise DeClue from David Mamet's play, Sexual Perversity. It stars Rob Lowe, Demi Moore, James Belushi and Elizabeth Perkins.
Youngsters have one night stand and tentatively start a relationship that neither of them is equipped for.....
At this point we don't know.
It's a funny thing, or maybe it's not? But Edward Zwick's About Last Night is a far better film now than it was when I saw it as a 20 year old. Viewing with wiser adult eyes it resonates more, proving to be more than the Brat Pack pulp it seemed to be back then. Picture is a mature observation on the young relationship of Danny (Lowe) & Debbie (Moore), one that is clearly taking on too much, too soon. Film dared to show 80s audiences that you have to work at relationships, use your brain instead of what is in your underwear. A big part of the piece is the sex, and its importance to the narrative, the steamy love making scenes underpin their passion whilst making sure we remember the fact that these two have been driven by their sexual urges. They know next to nothing about one and other, which surely is a recipe for disaster?
Naive Nudes!
On the edges of the frame are two slightly older but cynical best friends of the couple, Bernie played by Belushi is loud, brash, aloof and lives in the local bar, and Joan played by Perkins is bitter and in danger of being left on the shelf, these two actors are the best things in the film. However, there should have been more made of the characters, for although Danny & Debbie are the core of the tale, Bernie and Joan's issues needed fleshing out for some further dramatic impact. Things aren't helped by Lowe and Moore being two of the prettiest actors around at the time, a blip because the dialogue and situation has realism in abundance, but the two "pretties" make it hard to fully believe and care about them.
Uneven for sure, but the mature eye cast over proceedings makes this better than many other "young adult" romance pictures of the 80s. 7/10
Youngsters have one night stand and tentatively start a relationship that neither of them is equipped for.....
At this point we don't know.
It's a funny thing, or maybe it's not? But Edward Zwick's About Last Night is a far better film now than it was when I saw it as a 20 year old. Viewing with wiser adult eyes it resonates more, proving to be more than the Brat Pack pulp it seemed to be back then. Picture is a mature observation on the young relationship of Danny (Lowe) & Debbie (Moore), one that is clearly taking on too much, too soon. Film dared to show 80s audiences that you have to work at relationships, use your brain instead of what is in your underwear. A big part of the piece is the sex, and its importance to the narrative, the steamy love making scenes underpin their passion whilst making sure we remember the fact that these two have been driven by their sexual urges. They know next to nothing about one and other, which surely is a recipe for disaster?
Naive Nudes!
On the edges of the frame are two slightly older but cynical best friends of the couple, Bernie played by Belushi is loud, brash, aloof and lives in the local bar, and Joan played by Perkins is bitter and in danger of being left on the shelf, these two actors are the best things in the film. However, there should have been more made of the characters, for although Danny & Debbie are the core of the tale, Bernie and Joan's issues needed fleshing out for some further dramatic impact. Things aren't helped by Lowe and Moore being two of the prettiest actors around at the time, a blip because the dialogue and situation has realism in abundance, but the two "pretties" make it hard to fully believe and care about them.
Uneven for sure, but the mature eye cast over proceedings makes this better than many other "young adult" romance pictures of the 80s. 7/10