Rumble Fish

Deliriously expressionistic visually and aurally. more

I thought Rumble Fish was offbeat, daring, and utterly original. more

The most amazing thing about this amazing movie may be that in the end it communicates the large uncertainties and small hopes of a twisted, inarticulate adolescent boy perfectly, and wordlessly.

The stunning black-and-white cinematography in Francis Coppola's Rumble Fish functions rather like a cold compress, subduing a film that is otherwise all feverish extremes. more

Rumble Fish is the messiest, most provocative inkblot of the year. more

Rumble Fish is another Francis Coppola picture that's overwrought and overthought with camera and characters that never quite come together in anything beyond consistently interesting. more

The action is clotted and murky, and Coppola obviously hasn't bothered to clarify it for the members of his cast, who wander through the film with expressions of winsome, honest befuddlement. more

Deliriously expressionistic visually and aurally. more

I thought Rumble Fish was offbeat, daring, and utterly original. more

The stunning black-and-white cinematography in Francis Coppola's Rumble Fish functions rather like a cold compress, subduing a film that is otherwise all feverish extremes. more

With some of the most impressive visuals that I have ever witnessed in film and a European inspired design sense, Rumble Fish is a unique, engrossing, and highly memorable film. It could easily be argued that its style tends to detract from the characters and any relevant themes in the film, but it instead amplifies the need for insight and concentration as we wade through Coppola's beautiful noirish visuals. There isn't a single frame from the picture that couldn't be considered instantly iconic imagery. more

Francis Ford Coppola's follow up to The Outsiders was a critical and commercial flop when originally released in 1983. Panned for being over-stylized and lacking a clear narrative, audiences shunned the film. Yet it is those artistic touches that set the film apart. Black and white cinematography, which recalls French New Wave cinema and German Expressionism, never looked so beautiful. In fact, this surreal film more resembles life in the mid-50s, despite being set in the modern day. Stellar cast adds to this visually arresting teen drama about streets gangs and sibling relationships. more

This visionary burst of artistic expression is one of the strongest installments in Coppola's directorial canon. Rumble Fish is one of his most unique and compelling works, a film that pulsates with crazy energy and bold ideas. Beautifully shot. more

In the hands of some European wannabe director this would be a dull black and white noir. In Coppola's hands it's a mesmerising film with possibly the greatest use of black and white cinematography, plus a great score that keeps the film energised and stops drag. It's also the best I've seen Rourke. A must-see for film lovers. A deserved classic. more

wow what an coincidence with starring matt dillon & diane lane, director francis ford coppola, & novel of s.e. hinton that all the same as with "the outsiders" (i believe that movie release first) in a SAME year that movie release. i like this one better than "the outsiders". i really like that character name...the motorcycle boy who performed by mickey rourke of "the wrestler". what a shame they in with black & white movie that with an some of color sequences. diane lane's character....kinda HOT! more

In black and white, with the characters very black and white in themselves. Introduced America to several super stars. Moody, well filmed -- very stagey in concept. Ahead of its time. Also see "The Outsiders" -another Coppola "teen" film. more