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Hard Choices (1985) More at IMDbPro »

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Overview

User Rating:
6.3/10   68 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
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Director:
Rick King
Writers:
Rick King (writer)
Robert Mickelson (story)
Release Date:
16 May 1986 (USA) more
Genre:
Crime | Drama more
Plot:
A teenaged boy goes for a ride with his brother and the brother's friends, who proceed to rob a store and murder the clerk... more | add synopsis
Plot Keywords:
more
Awards:
1 nomination more
User Comments:
Tennessee Walls more (6 total)

Cast

  (Cast overview, first billed only)
Margaret Klenck ... Laura Stephens
Gary McCleery ... Bobby Lipscomb
John Seitz ... Sheriff Mavis Johnson

John Sayles ... Don

J.T. Walsh ... Deputy Anderson

John Snyder ... Ben

Martin Donovan ... Josh

Spalding Gray ... Terry Norfolk
John P. Connolly ... Preach
Willey Reynolds ... Horton (as Wiley Reynolds III)
Ruth Miller ... Mrs. Lipscomb
Richard Allen ... Judge I
Geraldine Bartlett ... Nan
Judson Camp ... Jimmy
Charles Chalmers ... Larry Farrell
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Additional Details

Parents Guide:
Add content advisory for parents
Runtime:
90 min
Country:
USA
Language:
English
Color:
Color
Sound Mix:
Stereo
Certification:
Iceland:16 | Norway:15 (video premiere) | UK:18
Company:
Breakout more

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
The girlie magazine that Bobby is given in prison is the June 1983 copy of Swank. more

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User Comments

   (Comment on this title)
Tennessee Walls, 21 July 2008
4/10
Author: wesconnorsehny from Earth

Fifteen-year-old Gary McCleery (as Bobby Lipscomb) skips school, hangs around with his older brothers, and dreams of flying airplanes. One evening, he makes the "Hard Choice" and joins drug-addicted Martin Donovan (as Josh Lipscomb) and trigger happy John Snyder (as Ben Lipscomb) in a "Food Market" robbery. Unfortunately, Mr. Snyder kills a police officer, who happens upon the scene. The three brothers are quickly apprehended. Mr. McCleery hopes to be tried as a juvenile; but, Tennessee judges rule he is to be tried as an adult. When things look bleakest for young McCleery, social worker Margaret Klenck (as Laura Stephens) steps in to improve his treatment in prison and the courts; she is only partially successful. Then, Ms. Klenck makes a "Hard Choice" of her own…

According to the sleeve, this film got excellent reviews; and, the quotes are from reliable sources. Perhaps some of these reviewers will consider re-evaluation "Hard Choices"? It really isn't all that believable a story. McCleery doesn't seem much like a 15-year-old, and Klenck's character development is disappointing (to say the least). However, they, and the other performers, do as well as they can (with the story). It's great to see Mr. Donovan in an early role; strangely, he and Snyder are abandoned during the running time. Writer-director John Sayles is good, also, as Klenck's coke companion. The photography, by Tom Hurwitz, is a major strength.

**** Hard Choices (1985) Rick King ~ Gary McCleery, Margaret Klenck, John Sayles, Martin Donovan

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Related Links

Full cast and crew Company credits External reviews
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