GOONIES
US, 1985, 114 minutes, Colour.
Sean Astin, Josh Brolin, Corey Feldman, Martha Plimpton.
Directed by Richard Donner.
Goonies was described in advertising as a Steven Spielberg film. It is a Spielberg presentation, he acted as producer and contributed to the story which was written by Chris Columbus (writer of Gremlins, Reckless and Young Sherlock Holmes). The film was directed by Richard Donner who has directed a range of films including The Omen and the first Superman film.
The film is one of Boys' Own adventure, '90s style. It has an American setting (and a loud American tone). The film shows a group of young teenagers and their search for a pirate ship and its treasure. The film highlights the life in the small American town - with the, almost inevitable, pressure of the money people to change this way of life. There are some comic villains. There is also a gentle monster. The cast includes some members of the younger generation from Hollywood including James Brolin's son, Josh, Sean Astin, son of Patty Duke and John Astir and Martha Plimpton, Keith Carradine's daughter. Ke Ruy Quan was the young boy in Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom. It is very much a Steven Spielberg film.
1. Entertaining adventure, Boys' Own action, comic strip The Spielberg touch?
2. The Oregon background, the small town, homes, the old restaurant the underground passages, caves, seascapes? A plausible pirate story? The musical score and the songs?
3. Boys' own adventure '80s style? The presentation of the group, friends, relating, Jokes, banter, adventure?
4. The characters: Mikey as young hero, Chunk and his eating, Mouth and his loudness, Data's devices and inventions? Age, type, talk? The David statue at the opening, their joking and arguing together, sharing adventures, dangers, the maps, the crises, using their wits, overcoming the dangers, the exhilaration of the discovery?
5. Brand as the older brother, sympathetic, help, the romantic touch?
6. The girls and their friendship, coming along for the adventure? Participating in the adventures and dangers?
7. The sketch of the parents - in the background but not strongly present?
8. Mama Fratelli and her ugliness, toughness, loud mouth? Her boys as criminals? Their menacing the group? Chasing their? The chase?
9. Sloth and his being a prisoner, watching television, including a clip of Errol Flynn in Captain Blood? The intimation of monster - yet nice? A great help?
10. Chester and his story, the maps and the treasure, the traps (as in the Indiana Jones films)? The discovery, danger, the fight? Data saving the group with his inventions?
11. The battle on the galleon, Captain Blood style? The escape? The ship sailing out to full view? The jewels? The money being able to save the town against the developers?
12. The context of social difficulties. land and housing development etc.? The pleasing blend of entertainment, heroics and social comment?
