Bright Lights, Big City (1988)

User Rating:

5.3/10   

Director:

James Bridges

Writers (WGA):

Jay McInerney (novel)
Jay McInerney (screenplay)

Release Date:

1 April 1988 (USA)

Genre:

Drama

Plot:

A disillusioned young writer living in New York City turns to drugs and drinking to block out the memories of his dead mother and estranged wife.

Plot Keywords:

New York City | Writer | Estranged Wife | Magazine | Dead Mother

Awards:

1 nomination

Cast

Michael J. Fox	...	Jamie Conway
Kiefer Sutherland	...	Tad Allagash
Phoebe Cates	...	Amanda
Swoosie Kurtz	...	Megan
Frances Sternhagen	...	Clara
Tracy Pollan	...	Vicky
John Houseman	...	Mr. Vogel
Charlie Schlatter	...	Michael
David Warrilow	...	Rittenhouse
Dianne Wiest	...	Mother
Alec Mapa	...	Yasu Wade
William Hickey	...	Ferret Man
Gina Belafonte	...	Kathy
Sam Robards	...	Rich Vanier
Bernard Zette	...	Stevie (as Zette)

Runtime:

107 min

Country:

USA | Japan

Language:

English

Color:

Color (DuArt)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Iceland:L | UK:15 (video re-rating) (2003) | UK:18 (video rating) (1989) | UK:18 (original rating) | Sweden:15 | Australia:R | France:-16 | Canada:13+ (Quebec) | Finland:K-16 | USA:R | West Germany:16 | Norway:15

Filming Locations:

New York City, New York, USA

Company:

CST Telecommunications

Trivia:

The name of Michael J. Fox's character, Jamie Conway, is an anagram of author Jay McInerney's name. In the novel, the primary character's full name is never given, he is referred to as "Coach" by Tad, and in the second person ("you") in the narration.

Goofs:

Continuity: During Jamie's story of his relationship with Amanda to Megan his wineglass goes from half-full to empty in less than two seconds, while he's speaking.

Quotes:

Drunken Writer: [rambling on aimlessly to himself] ... Siamese fighting fish in the water cooler... the old crew in the golden days of this magazine would have thought of it.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Freddy's Nightmares: The Light at the End of the Tunnel (#1.20)" (1989)

Soundtrack:

Bill

Under-rated

This is a good, although not great, movie that often gets a lower rating than it deserves. All the actors fill their roles perfectly, especially Keifer Sutherland. The problem is it occasionally tries to be funny (or something?), which doesn't mesh with the rest of the film. Two guys getting attacked by a ferret is not very funny anyhow, unless they are Bill Murray and Jim Carrey. Ignore the parts that try to be funny and you will find this movie much more enjoyable.