Bright Lights, Big City ** (1988, Michael J Fox, Kiefer Sutherland, Phoebe Cates, Frances Sternhagen, Dianne Wiest, John Houseman, Jason Robards, William Hickey) – Classic Movie Review 8419

Director James Bridges’s 1988 topical drama Bright Lights, Big City stars a too lightweight and too young-looking Michael J Fox as the anti-hero of this careful and meticulous but rather tedious screen version of Jay McInerney’s yuppie novel about a Manhattan magazine copy-editor called Jamie Conway, who is wracked with drugs, drinking, girls and career problems as he struggles with the memories of his dead mother and estranged wife.

Despite the film’s evident ambition and intelligence, it fades away and fails to raise a laugh or a new thought. Some of the veteran actors (notably Frances Sternhagen, Dianne Wiest, John Houseman, Jason Robards and William Hickey) brighten it up and Fox does try hard in this honourable attempt to extend his range, but Kiefer Sutherland overdoes his performance as Jamie’s cocaine-taking buddy Tad Allagash.

Part of the blame must be laid at the door of the book author, who is also credited for writing the stolid screenplay, which founders not only as entertainment and social comment but also in its serious purpose of attacking the abuse of drugs. Despite some good scenes and performances, overall it is a missed opportunity.

However, some of the blame must be laid at the door of James Bridges, who replaced five cast members with Robards, Houseman, Sternhagen, Swoosie Kurtz, and Tracy Pollan and wrote a new draft of the screenplay in seven days.

David Hyde Pierce has a bit part as a barman. Also in the cast are Phoebe Cates, Swoosie Kurtz, Tracy Pollan, Charlie Schlatter, Kelly Lynch, David Warrilow, Alec Mapa, Gina Belafonte, Sam Robards, Zette, Marika Blossfeldt, Jessica Lundy, Peter Boyden, Annabelle Gurwitch, Russell Horton and Maria Pitillo.

Bright Lights, Big City is directed by James Bridges, runs 107 minutes, is made by United Artists, CST Telecommunications, Mirage Enterprises and Star Partners, is released by United Artists (1988) (US) and United International Pictures (UIP) (1988) (UK), is written by Jay McInerney, based on his novel, is shot by Gordon Willis, is produced by Gerald R Molen, Mark Rosenberg, Sydney Pollack and Jack Larson, is scored by Donald Fagen and is designed by Santo Loquasto.

Despite the popularity of Michael J Fox and the novel, it flopped, costing $25,000,000 and grossing $16,118,000 in the US.

© Derek Winnert 2019 Classic Movie Review 8419

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