STREET SMART
US, 1987, 92 minutes, Colour.
Christopher Reeve, Morgan Freeman, Kathy Baker, Mimi Rogers, Andre Gregory.
Directed by Jerry Schatzberg.
Street Smart is a slick thriller about the New York streets, 42nd Street and the pimps and prostitutes, the media.
Directed by fashion photographer Jerry Schatzberg (Panic in Needle Street, Scarecrow, Puzzle of a Downfall Child), the film is a glossy look at New York. Christopher Reeve is an ambitious journalist who invents a story about the pimps which leads to extraordinary consequences for his own life, principles and those close to him. The film also has some satiric and cutting comments on media and media communication.
This is a more ordinary role for Christopher Reeve and he seems quite at home. Cathy Baker gives a lively performance as a prostitute, Mimi Rogers -is the heroine. There is a strong supporting cast including Andre Gregory as an ambitious editor and Morgan Freeman (Lean on Me) as the street smart pimp. He Was nominated for an Oscar as best supporting actor in this role.
The film is slick, raises many questions about integrity, the media - and has a shock ending which leaves audiences with a question mark.
I. Impact of the story, New York, violence, the print and television media, the role of the media, police, courts and justice?
2. The world of New York: fashionable, the magazine? 42nd Street: the pimps and the prostitutes? Prisons and courts? An authentic feel? Musical score?
3. The title and its ironies: the street, Jonathan and his research, writing, his TV programme called Street Smart, its effect on him, his behaviour and the resolution of the plot?
4. The plausibility of the plot: the magazine, the ambitions, the research, 42nd Street, the cases, the repercussions in the courts, justice? Characters and dilemmas?
5. Jonathan and his work, Ed and the interview, the idea for the article, Jonathan going out, picking tip Punchy, trying to get information? Alison and her help, being accosted and her fear? The failure of the interviews? Jonathan inventing the whole story, Alison helping him, the success, the cover? His relationship with Alison? Jobs, the television people coming for interviews, his starting the Street Smart programme? Candid Camera, exposes of injustice? The courts identifying Vast Black as Tyrone? The lawyers and their interrogation, the pressures? Jonathan meeting Fast Black, the tour of the city, the explanations? The discussions with Punchy, and the sexual encounter with her? Ed throwing the elaborate party, Fast Black and Punchy being celebrities? The irony of New York society feting these characters? Alison and her realisation, anger? The District Attorney and his photographing Jonathan? Challenging him? The question of the notes for the article, contempt of court? His going to jail? Seeing Fast Black at work, terrorising people and then relenting? The attack on Allison? Punchy's death? Jonathan going along, supplying the notes? The disgust of the magazine's lawyer? His release, going back to his programme, setting up Reggie with the money, setting up Reggie to clash with Fast Black, the shooting? His photographing it? Jonathan manipulating justice on Fast Black - street smart?
6. Fast Black and his style, with Reggie as his assistant, as a pimp, the gross fat client and his death? Courts, protection, the District Attorney wanting to get him? His angers, provoking people, threatening and then letting them off? His dealing with Reggie, the prostitute? With Jonathan? Taking Jonathan around, the discussions With the lawyer, the celebrity? His killing, Punchy and the sadistic threats to her eye? Alison and her hospitalisation? His freedom, the interview, the irony of Reggie shooting him?
7. Reggie as an ordinary young man, doing jobs for Fast Black, relationship with Jonathan, the set-up with the money, his shooting Fast Black and going to jail?
8. Alison as heroine, pleasant, going out, and helping, being accosted, her fear, the party and her anger with Jonathan, the physical abuse and hospital? The truth?
9. Punchy, the interview, her friendliness, her work, sexual encounter? With Fast Black? The D.A. Picking her up, trying to get the truth? Her getting tired, wanting to give up, the brutality of Fast B1ack's threatening her eye? Her murder?
10. The world of 42nd Street, violence and vice, manic violence?
11. The world of the magazine, Ed and his ambitions, throwing the party, the lawyers, Jonathan in jail and trying to get him out, the interviews, the motivations?
12. Themes of media, survival, exposes? Street Smart?
