Street Smart (1987)

Although it has its amusing moments, in eneral the plot does not convince.

Clever, believable, and super fun to watch. It totally has replay value.

This is a must-see and one of the best documentaries - and films - of this year.

This film is so real. It treats its characters with so much care and sensitivity.

Pretty good movie with an early Morgan Freeman as a pimp. Most of the characters that Freeman plays (especially of late) are good hearted, good natured and easy going that make him a likable character, viewers come to expect that type of character but this one reminds me of the one Denzel Washington played in Training Day. Hard, mean, and ruthless; totally opposite from what we're used to seeing from either actor, but a refreshing change. The fact that it's the complete opposite from their usual rolls give them that much more impact.And while movie ad excerpt quotes praising performances are almost always the sign of a stinker (damning with faint praise), in this case, I think Morgan Freeman's performance is worth this movie alone. It's nuanced, and a perfect study of a sociopathic personality. Freeman plays a total predator, who will brutalize without conscience, but will pour on immense charm in the next second as a way of manipulating others. No one had ever heard of Morgan Freeman before this movie...but he was nominated for an Oscar for this performance. He should have won it! The energy level on screen goes down infinitely when Freeman is not present. Kathy Baker also does a decent job as one of Fast Black's prostitutes. All in all, the movie was enjoyable, had a good story-line and is a must-see for Morgan Freeman fans and Christopher Reeve fans.Overall rating: 7 out of 10.

A reporter, Jonathan Fisher(Christopher Reeve) who creates a story about a pimp to get himself out of a rut and into the prestige of the New Yorker magazine, becomes a hot commodity, and finds himself in hot water as a Harvard district attorney believes he has personal inside information on a real pimp being prepared for trial over a heinous murder(he kicked someone's face in). Fisher becomes immersed(more like embroiled, for lack of a better term) in the nightmarish world of Fast Black's life, discovering first hand his violent temper and short fuse for anyone(including/especially his working girls)who crosses him the wrong way. Fisher's involvement with Fast Black is the heart of this movie, what he endures for a fabrication and how his life evolves into a tumultuous state of affairs. Fast Black wants Fisher to cook up another story about how they were together when the murder took place. Threats from Fast Money are serious business and when Fisher says he will not comply with his demands, danger awaits the reporter..his career rises as he hits the streets exposing corruption and the city's welfare/plight.How a work of fiction, pinned out of desperation, can send a reporter into the doldrums is the film's emotional arc and as is seeing how Fisher climbs himself out of the bleakest of situations, not to mention his getting even for the stabbing of his girlfriend Alison(Mimi Rogers). Boy, does the plot sure put Fisher in a bind..that, to me, is part of what makes Street Smart such an intriguing crime drama.The electric Morgan Freeman, at times charismatic, charming, and other times ferocious and explosive, blows poor Christopher Reeve right off the screen, but the parts are really arranged this way. Reeve was picked on by critics for a supposed "non-performance" which I feel is unfair, because the other members of the cast, like Kathy Baker(..as Fast Money's foxy streetwalker, Punchy) and Freeman, have such colorful characters to portray. Seeing a nervy Reeve riding along with the unpredictable Freeman who could turn crazy any moment is particularly effective. Certainly a highlight is Fast Black(and Punchy)being introduced to the big money crowd, a party hosted by Fisher's editor Ted(Andre Gregory; A DINNER WITH ANDRE) commingling with the New York elite, trying to score some new talent(!). Probably the most frightening scene has Punchy asking Fast Black to relieve her of duties for a while, sticking up for herself when he will not hear of it, scissors pulled as a tool to remind her of who's boss. Seeing Fisher turn the tables on Fast Black through manipulation in regards to Reggie(Black's enforcer)is quite gratifying, even though we must accept that this whole scenario grew from a fictional expose written out of a desire to find success. I imagine this had to be a relief for Reeve, a way of escape the shadow of the Man of Steele..this may very well be one of the Cannon group's most quality films.

A superior movie, except that the ending is completely contrived and unbelievable. Morgan Freeman generally gets the palm for his performance in "Street Smart" and deserves it for turning in a masterful performance. Called in to straighten out some difficulty between one of his girls and her trick, he calms everyone down, the soul of reason, until the trick is distracted, then Freeman kicks him in the family jewels and does a number of his face too. It's a shocking burst of violence. And his rattlesnake-like ability to strike quickly isn't limited to important economic confrontations either. During a basketball game, one of his shots is blocked. He shoves his opponent to the pavement, suggests that he'd look particularly good dead, then notices that everyone is standing around agape, smiles reassuringly, pats the guy on the shoulder and hands him a good deal of money to buy and bring back -- "Some chicken, ribs, stuff like that." He calls out, "Keep the change," to the grateful survivor of this encounter. All of Freeman's violence comes as a surprise, particularly when Chris Reeves tries to cool him down and Freeman whips around and holds a broken bottle before Reeves' face, with the steady, sure hand of a surgeon. Almost invariably, these episodes are followed by big friendly grins, pats on the back, assurances that things are back to normal, generous offers of food, drink, or money. The change takes place in less than a second. Freeman is smarter than anyone else in the movie too. The main figure in a celebrated journalistic effort, he and his girl are invited to the publisher's party where everyone showers them with attention while they chat about "the Hamptons." Afterward, Punchy exults over the attention but Freeman sees through it all. He knows condescension when he sees it, and he is filled with resentment. Trying to put something over on Freeman is like trying to slip sunrise past a rooster.But Kathy Baker as the used Punchy deserves credit as well, although her part isn't nearly as showy and dramatic as Freeman's. She's just beyond the bloom of youth, rather used looking and heavily made up, and her figure, while ripely pleasant wouldn't draw stares in a supermarket. She's very appealing indeed in her vulnerability and aloneness.Chris Reeve is usually ignored in reviews. I don't know why. He's rarely anything but bland, but this is by far his best performance, and he invests his character with ambition, confusion, fear, and compassion -- not an easy role. The scene in the hotel bedroom with Kathy Baker, in which she seduces him knowing that behind that facade of journalistic objectivity lies a man who would just love to get it on with her, whether or not he realizes it. She demonstrates how she made it with her first john and makes Reeve play the partner. The silly made-up dialog fades and is replaced by "Natural Woman" on the sound track. The two have a relaxed, enjoyable-looking, mutually appreciative little love scene. It's a pretty good movie and involves us emotionally in several different ways. Alas, as I say, the end is almost an embarrassment. The bumbling Reeve character turns into a genius, and other characters into the fools they never were. Don't let that stop you from watching this.

Morgan Freeman's performance is the only reason to see this movie. Any life the movie has is supplied by him, and quite frankly, its really boring when he's not on the screen. Chris Reeve has a story published about a pimp who is a little too close in description to Freeman, so the D.A. wants all his notes about the interviews. Trouble is, Reeve made up the whole thing. He has no access to the man. But he gets close to him anyway, thanks to Kathy Baker's hooker with social skills. So the D.A. and the courts do not leave Reeve alone, and he soon regrets his own imagination. Freeman commits crimes that put Reeve in jail, because now he has obstructed justice. Mimi Rogers is seen briefly as Reeve's white bread counterpart. There is a stupid scene between her and the late Rick Aviles in a bar that does not seem to serve any purpose. Very little happens of significance. I appreciate this movie if it gave Morgan a chance to be in other movies, and of course his Oscar nomination didn't hurt, I am sure. Movie is beneath him now, though. And me, too. 4/10.