The Beat (1988)

User Rating:

4.7/10   

Director:

Paul Mones

Writer:

Paul Mones (written by)

Release Date:

3 June 1988 (USA)

Genre:

Drama

Plot:

A new kid moves into a tough neighborhood controlled by gangs, and tries to teach them poetry. |

Plot Keywords:

Independent Film

Cast

David Jacobson	...	Rex Voorhas Ormine
William McNamara	...	Billy Kane
Kara Glover	...	Kate Kane
Stuart Alexander	...	Doug
David McCarthy	...	Dirt - Larry
Markus Flanagan	...	Vis
Paul Dillon	...	Lon Recchia
Reggie Rock Bythewood	...	Danny Lambeaux
Tony Gillan	...	Auggie
Lisa Blake Richards	...	Amy Kahn (as Lisa Richards)
Richard Eigen	...	Ian Murphy
Angie Zisser	...	Mary
John Savage	...	Frank Ellsworth
Jeffrey Horowitz	...	Bart Waxman
Robert Gerringer	...	Dr. Morningstone
Peggy Gormley	...	Helen Henbroth
Peggy Miley	...	Mrs. Kahn
Jack McGee	...	Mr. Frock
Pete Antico	...	Mr. Paginini (as Peter Antico)
Clay Boss	...	Assailant
Cro-Mags	...	Iron Skulls (as The Cro-Mags)
John Joseph	...	Iron Skulls
Harley Flanagan	...	Iron Skulls
Petey Hines	...	Iron Skulls
Doug Holland	...	Iron Skulls
Kevin Mayhew	...	Iron Skulls
Steven Hilliard Stern	...	Teacher Breaking Up Fight in Hallway (as Steven Stern)
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Robert Fontaine Jr.	...	Pheobus (uncredited)
David Glover	...	(uncredited)
Rob Moretti	...	Bit (uncredited)

Directed by
Paul Mones

Writing credits
Paul Mones		(written by)

Produced by
Kevin Dowd	....	associate producer
Lawrence Kasanoff	....	executive producer
Jon Kilik	....	producer
Julia Phillips	....	producer
Ruth Vitale	....	executive producer
Nick Wechsler	....	producer

Original Music by
Carter Burwell

Cinematography by
Tom DiCillo		(director of photography) (as Thomas DiCillo)

Film Editing by
Elizabeth Kling

Casting by
Marcia Shulman

Art Direction by
Linette Forbes Shorr

Set Decoration by
Stephanie Carroll

Costume Design by
Catherine Zuber

Makeup Department
Laurie Aiello	....	hair styles supervisor
Laurie Aiello	....	makeup supervisor
Victor Sortino	....	hair stylist consultant
Victor Sortino	....	makeup consultant

Production Management
Kevin Dowd	....	production manager
David Pomier	....	unit manager
Ellen Steloff	....	executive in charge of production

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Sainte Jose Adams	....	assistant director
Peggy Jacobson	....	second assistant director
Steve Love	....	first assistant director
Larry Shapiro	....	second second assistant director

Art Department
Mick Conway	....	storyboard artist
Mark Hooper	....	scenic artist
Dan McGuire	....	construction coordinator
Claudia Mohr	....	assistant production designer

Sound Department
Michael Barry	....	foley engineer
Laura Civiello	....	sound editor
Marko A. Costanzo	....	foley artist
Michael DiCosimo	....	stereo sound consultant: Dolby
Lou Kleinman	....	sound editor
George Leong	....	boom operator
Lee Orloff	....	production sound mixer
Peter Waggoner	....	sound re-recording engineer

Special Effects by
Joan Brockschmidt	....	special effects
Rick Liss	....	special effects
Will Scheck	....	special effects coordinator

Stunts
Pete Antico	....	stunt coordinator (as Peter Antico)

Camera and Electrical Department
Alex Aurichio	....	assistant camera: second unit
John F. Cassidy	....	dolly grip
John F. Cassidy	....	key grip
Jeff Hirschorn	....	assistant camera: second unit
Greg Horn	....	still photographer
Stephen Kazmierski	....	camera operator: second unit
John Mitchell	....	best boy
Peter Nelson	....	first assistant camera
Storn Peterson	....	second assistant camera
Felix Rivera	....	gaffer

Casting Department
Raymond Chavez	....	casting assistant
Maryellen Mulcahy	....	casting associate

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Donna Hamilton	....	wardrobe supervisor

Editorial Department
Mato	....	color timer

Music Department
Scott Ansell	....	music engineer
Suzana Peric	....	music editor

Transportation Department
Tom Leavey	....	transportation coordinator

Other crew
Kevin Delaney	....	location manager
Jeff Flach	....	location scout
Matt Janes	....	location manager
Lisa Katcher	....	script supervisor
Robert Nickson	....	production controller
Dan Perri	....	title designer
Vern Reo	....	production assistant
William Wheless	....	location scout

Production Companies

• Ruthless/Kilik/Wechsler Productions
• Vestron Pictures

Distributors

• Vestron Pictures
• Vestron Video (video)

Other Companies

• Albert G. Ruben and Company  insurance
• Central Falls  catering
• Completion Bond Company  completion bond
• Cynosure Visuals  opticals
• EFX Unlimited  opticals
• Ferco  grip and lighting equipment
• J.G. Films  negative cutting
• M/S Billings Publicity Ltd.  publicity
• Sound One Corporation  post-production services
• Spera Corporation  post-production services

Also Known As:

The Conjurer
Voorhas (USA) (working title)

Runtime:

Germany:98 min | USA:98 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

USA:R | West Germany:18

Filming Locations:

New York City, New York, USA

Company:

Ruthless/Kilik/Wechsler Productions

Soundtrack:

Die Walkyrie

Proof that any nimrod can write bad poetry

Yet another tale of people's lives being changed by an unlikely hero. In this one, token ironic hero Rex is a new student in a New York City high school who doesn't fit in but has a penchant for poetry. After being the victim of a violent society that is unwilling to accept the different and in his case, the mentally challenged, he somehow manages to build his own little following of friends all of whom he changes the perceptions of. He makes them buy into some type of quasi-Religion that he invents and talks in verse that only melodramatic beatniks could appreciate. For some reason, his friends, who are in a constant struggle with adults and questions of adulthood, actually begin to understand what he's talking about and become better people for it.

While you can't really fault the movie for using the same tried and true formula that later made Forrest Gump successful, half the move you spend trying to figure out exactly what the heck Rex is saying. Just as with all poetry, his words are open to interpretation and the fact all his work seems ripped straight out of a bad mad lib book doesn't help any. A boring plot line that doesn't go anywhere and an extremely anti-climactic, predictable ending don't do anything to peak interest. Besides Rex's incessant ramblings, most of the characters can't seem to express themselves without throwing an expletive in their sentences here, there and everywhere. Also look out for punk teenager stereotypes and an odd lack of ethnic diversity in a strange New York as anomalies.

All in all, the Beat is under dramatic, predictably sympathetic work that won't do anyone any harm. Good to show on tape to an English class, if only to show students how poetry is not done.