The Big Town *** (1987, Matt Dillon, Diane Lane, Tommy Lee Jones ) – Classic Movie Review 7312

The handsome young Matt Dillon is all cool Eighties style that proves perfect for his role as the cocky Fifties small town boy J C Cullen, who comes Chicago to work as a professional gambler and shoot dice for husband-and-wife team Mr and Mrs Edwards (Bruce Dern and Lee Grant).

Dillon is soon locked in a love dilemma, as he is torn between the good girl Aggie Donaldson (Suzy Amis) and the bad girl Lorry Dane (Diane Lane), who is married to his gambling nemesis George Cole (Tommy Lee Jones), who owns the Gem Club. Cole stakes all on the craps table.

It is a very impressive, slick and quirky cast and quite a sleek and classy production, and director Ben Bolt polishes this slightly familiar old story up into a thoroughly enjoyable experience.

Robert Roy Pool’s screenplay is based on the novel by Clark Howard.

Also in the cast are Tom Skerritt, David Marshall Grant, Don Francks and Lolita Davidovich.

It is suitable for 15 years and over.

Dillon and Lane also co-starred in 1983’s The Outsiders.

© Derek Winnert 2018 Classic Movie Review 7312

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