Very Cool!!!

Funny, strange, confrontational and subversive, this is one of the most interesting experiences you'll have at the cinema this year.

By the time the dramatic fireworks start popping off, each one feels earned.

The film never slows down or bores, plunging from one harrowing sequence to the next.

Rumble Fish is a little film talked about in Francis Ford Coppola's notable filmography, and one that everyone suffers from its lack of attention. Although a bold statement to make of the same director that The Godfather trilogy to life, a strong case can be made that Rumble Fish is Coppola's best. Rumble Fish was made in 1983, after Coppola's immensely successful Godfather parts II and III. Starring Matt Dillon and Mickey Rourke, Rumble Fish tells the story of a man who has been born in the wrong time, struggling to find his place in the world. A deeply exploratory film delving into the human conscience, Coppola proves himself, in a stunning way, beyond the mafia films he is best known for. The leader of a small gang losing its influence in an aging industrial town, Rusty James (Matt Dillon) is struggling to find an avenue for himself in life. Constantly trying to live up to the name his older drifter brother, The Motorcycle Boy (Mickey Rourke) created for himself, Rusty James seems destined to follow a meaningless path throughout his life. Rusty James' mother left her family, and his father (Dennis Hopper) became a drunk after departure. His brother constantly roamed about the world, leaving Rusty James to try to find his way in his town with little opportunity, with very few life skills. The only place Rusty James finds comfort and purpose are in the gang pursuits with his street hoodlum friends. Rusty James is met with a huge dilemma, however when it becomes glaringly obvious that the good ole' days he imagines where the street gangs ruled the neighborhoods is quickly fading into the past. There should be no question after viewing Rumble Fish that Francis Ford Coppola is one of the best auteurs of our time. Each aspect of the film comes together to make an incredible final product that will stay with the audience weeks after viewing. Shot in amazing black and white, Coppola illustrates his amazing directorial prowess. Making the decision to shoot a film about a kid who is living in the past in stunning black and white shows the genius of the filmmaker. The sounds he chooses were also incredible to the plot. The simple sounds that filled the film did well to emphasize the incredible story line as we follow Rusty James' search for meaning. The camera work in this film is the best I've seen in a long time. Coppola's use of foreground, middle ground, and background to each tell an integral part of the story was incredibly executed to bring the entire film together. I am a viewer that is sensitive to film lighting. I ascribe to the school of thought that lighting can make or break a film. The lighting in Rumble Fish takes on a character of its own, which is impressive for a black and white film. The shadows utilized in the film prove Coppola to be one of the best directors at capturing the subtleties of life and what they mean to the big picture of a film. In the striking scene in the pet store where we meet the rumble fish, we see that Spielberg was obviously influenced by Coppola, and borrowed from Rumble Fish for his Schindler's List. The beautiful ending of Rumble Fish brings to a close a brilliant period piece that doesn't try too hard, easily resulting in Coppola's best film.I can think of no ill words for Rumble Fish, and I am hard on movies as the art form that they are. Coppola truly shows his prowess as a director with this beautiful black and white, brilliantly scored film. The acting was wonderful, but you really don't notice it much because you're captivated by the film's production aspects from the very beginning. If you haven't seen Rumble Fish, do yourself a favor and watch it as soon as you can.

An OK, but not great, Francis Ford Coppola movie. Had the makings of a great story, but wasn't entirely coherent, or completely formed. Seemed contrived at times and basically didn't flow entirely well. Still, interesting enough.Probably the highlight of the movie is all the appearances of current- day stars, before they were stars: Matt Dillon, Mickey Rourke, Nicolas Cage (Francis Ford Coppola's nephew), Diane Lane, Chris Penn, Laurence Fishburne. Coppola's daughter Sophia gets a minor role, and there is a minor appearance by Tom Waits. Dennis Hopper is the only then-known- actor in the cast. All give good performances.

This is a message movie. Everything in this movie is meant to have deep, symbolic meaning. The problem is: trying to decipher those meanings. If a story cannot be understood, then the movie loses its value as drama. The principal character, Rusty James, is a young man trying to find himself. The setting for the story is surrealistic, which gives the movie a certain off-beat avant-garde quality. Although a wise-guy, Rusty James has certain endearing qualities, which makes him someone with whom the audience can empathize. The movie is about consciousness-raising. When his older brother, played by Mickey O'Rourke, enters the story, Rusty James is forced is deal with the emptiness of his life. To find out how he deals with that revelation, watch the movie.

Francis Ford Coppola's Rumble Fish is an underrated classic that's filled with great direction,amazing performances from the cast,visually stunning cinematography and a masterful music score. It's one of my favorite films and is one of Coppola's best.Based on S.E Hinton's novel of the same name and set in Tulsa Oklahoma,Rumble Fish tells the story about a teen named Rusty James(Matt Dillon),a street fighter who loves gangs and gang fighting who wants to live up his older brother The Motorcycle Boy(Mickey Rourke)who is a legendary gang leader and is respected in his hometown,but has been in California and gone for two months. When Rusty James sees that The Motorcycle Boy is back home Rusty is happy to see him but notices that The Motorcycle Boy behavior is different and they're going to be several events that will change Rusty James' and The Motorcycle Boy's lives forever.In 1983 Francis Ford Coppola directed two classic films that were based on two classic S.E Hinton novels. First it was The Outsiders then later that year it was Rumble Fish,both films which are different in style and tone. Where as The Outsiders was filmed in beautiful Technicolor style photography,Rumble Fish was filmed the opposite way in Black and White. Rumble Fish is one of most the beautiful and visually stunning films I've ever seen and is a perfect companion piece to The Outsiders. If The Outsiders was a film that depicts gangs and gang life that is all over the place,then Rumble Fish gives us a world where gangs and gang life have been destroyed by drugs and there's no hope. Francis Coppola and cinematographer Stephen H.Burum give the film a unique visual style with Coppola being influenced by cinematic styles such as French New Wave,German Expressionism and Film-Noir,using dark and eerie shadows,harsh lighting and moving clouds to tell the story. When you watch the film it's like watching a beautiful dream or a haunting nightmare. RF also has a timeless quality to it as well where you feel like RF could've taken place anytime or anyplace where every decade is represented in this film and we as the viewer can't place RF in any specific period. The screenplay by Hinton and Coppola is well-written and stays true to Hinton's novel and the haunting and metaphoric dialog. The theme of family is a theme that runs through most of Coppola's films and RF is no exception with the relationship between brothers Rusty James and The Motorcycle Boy. Despite their differences and ways of thinking you can tell Rusty James and The Motorcycle Boy really love and care for each other. We can all relate to Rusty James and The Motorcycle Boy in some ways because like Rusty James we all want to live up to the older brother or best friends reputation but it doesn't happen sometimes. The Motorcycle Boy is one of the most unique and mysterious characters in the history of film and literature because we don't much about him only that he was a gang leader,he's color blind and partially deaf,but the whole film is mostly seen through his eyes and MCB knows that being a known and famous can be a good and wonderful thing,but also a burden. Other themes running through out this film is the themes of time and Rumble Fish. Throughout the film they're always shots of different clocks all over and loud ticking suggesting that time is running out on not only Rusty James,but also on The Motorcycle Boy and they have to figure out what to do before time runs out. The Siamese fighting fish(or Rumble Fish,which the title refers to) seen in the movie are the only colors you see in the film and are a metaphor for the teenage characters in the film who fight and try to kill each other. Where the Rumble Fish are stuck in a tank looking to be free from their traps to explore their colors and get to the beautiful ocean,the main characters are stuck in a town looking for a way out and trying to break free. RF is stylish but has a lot of substance. The ending of this film is tragic,sad,yet at the same time hopeful. The ending at the same answers questions,but makes you ask questions at the same time. It's an ending that will haunt you and stay with you after it's the film's over.The whole cast is excellent. Matt Dillon is excellent as Rusty James,bringing intensity,depth,sympathy and fiery anger to the role. Mickey Rourke is brilliant and mesmerizing as The Motorcycle Boy with Rourke bringing a quiet,cool and calm demeanor to the performance. Rourke at his best. Diane Lane gives a terrific and beautiful performance as Patty,Rusty James' girlfriend. Dennis Hopper is wonderful in his small role as Rusty James' and The Motorcycle Boy's alcoholic Father. Diana Scarwid gives a fantastic performance as Cassandra,The Motorcycle Boy's part time girlfriend. Vincent Spano gives an outstanding performance as Steve,Rusty James' best friend. Nicolas Cage gives a memorable performance as Smokey,one of Rusty James' friends. William Smith is sensational as Patterson The Cop. Chris Penn(B.J Jackson),Lawrence Fishburne(Midget),Tom Waits(Benny)and Glenn Withrow(Biff)and Sofia Coppola(Donna) give good performances as well.The direction by Francis Ford Coppola is excellent,with Coppola using great camera angles and giving the film a dark,gritty and surreal atmosphere. Beautiful direction from Coppola.The score by Stewart Copeland is masterful and brilliant and in my opinion one of the best scores in movie history. Copland's score is haunting,dream-like,weird and unforgettable. One of my favorite film scores. I also love the song Don't Box Me In sung by Stan Ridgeway with music by Copeland. A great song that goes well with this great movie.In final word,if you love Art Films,Teen Films,Coming Of Age films,films in general or Francis Ford Coppola,I suggest you see Rumble Fish,an underrated classic that will stay with you after you watch it. Highly Recommended. 10/10.