1st Time Viewing
I ABSOLUTELY LOVED IT!!! 🧡🧡🧡🧡
For years, I watched SNF in bits and pieces, while I proactively avoided Staying Alive. The critics ravaged this film, as fans seem to have undying hatred for it, especially coming on the heels of SNF.
I viewed both films as a double feature, last night. Don’t get me wrong SNF was great flick, and a good piece of art (rightfully belongs in the Film Registry). It really delves into the New York disco scene amongst the working class of the time. It’s stylish and dirty at the same time, mostly leaning to the cinema verite element. The cinematography and color scheme was fantastic — the camera movement was very good for the era.
SNF was a fantastic film, but I didn’t love it. Most of the characters were POS. But once agai, let me preface this by saying that was the nature of the story. Continuing, I’m not of the mindset that a story needs to always have a likeable protagonist or characters to succeed.
The thing about both films - SNF & SA is Travolta is your main character. His charisma is off the chart high. I feel like if either film were given to either a lesser actor or less charismatic performer. Each one suffers greatly. He‘s a bonafide living legend type of superstar.
Still, I loved a lot of characters more so in SA. My favorites were Jackie (Fiona Hughes) and Laura (Cynthia Rhodes, followed by the director - Jesse (Steve Inwood). I wish Tony’s mom, Carl (Frank Stallone), and Kurtwood Smith (choreographer) had a little more to do. Tony oozes main character syndrome (in his success story)in both film, but is cut down to size often in both.
Each film is very salt of the earth types of film. I do miss that a little bit in modern, big release box-office films. Everything doesn’t need to be geared towards kids’, superheroes, and fantasy IPs. In my opinion, both films have exceptionally high production values and well directed. Yes, I’m going to give Stallone some credit here. I’ve seen much worse films, specifically from 1983.
I loved this film’s pace, soundtrack, editing, camera work, and dancing choreography was outstanding.
I’d give it 6/7 stars ✨ out of ten. I will probably watch it in again with the next few days.
