That's the intent of this movie. It was clothed in an amalgam of New York humor types, Marx Brothers chaos, and Hollywood sentimentality. Still, it had a unique flavor.
Funny how many people have commented on the 80's categorization of this movie. I wonder how many of these self-declared cinematic scholars were even alive at that time. Yet they presume to claim knowledge of the era's style(s) and motivations.
I am a first hand witness of that time and the release of this film. I can tell you two things: One, it was far more successful at the time than Wikipedia, IMDb, or the Razzies seem to want to report. Two, it resonated with many who were alive at that time - and still does.
This is not a complex film. No deep philosophical message. No vitriol. Maybe that's why current reviewed can't "relate: to it.
In fact, it's quite a superficial piece. Still, I'd place it's flawed middling dialog against most movies produced since. Especially the critically-acclaimed ones.
Some have denounced its unlikely plot. I agree with that assessment. This is no suspense piece or thriller. I felt the story is a scaffolding for eclectic comedy mixed with homage to people who are too often dismissed as silly or frivolous. So many people have talent which is never realized or appreciated. These are the people of Terry and Jimmy Lynch's life. And yes, NY is and always been home to many of these folks. I believe they used to be called non-conformists. Sociologists categorized them that way for decades. Not sure if anyone even bothers with that term anymore.
I'm sure the sage cinematic critics understand that film, like all art forms, continuously blend reality and unreality. So there will be unlikely scenarios like the one Terry Lynch put himself into concerning his off-duty fire rescue. I'm sure many actual fire fighters dismissed that plot device. I know I found myself agreeing with the mayor when Jimmy shouts his fragmented account of Terry's situation. I'd say Terry totally mishandled his presence at that fire. So I had some failing in the suspension of disbelief while my viewings. But I also know that sometimes there's more than a single incident. The Lynch family back story helped a little. Ultimately, I allowed the film to tell me what it wanted to say. I didn't agree with some of its premises - including the romanticization of Jimmy's destruction of property. Still, it was fun. A guilty pleasure - fanticization of one person's battle against a perceived cruel, cold, de-humanizing institution.
This was unique to the 80's ?
Arguably, there's more pseudo-history now than ever. One tweet can be taken as fact by millions of "followers" - how I loathe that use of the term. Way way too much "following" - far too little originality. Once upon a time - originality was the goal of expression. Now anything that is not exactly as deemed "sweet" is summarily rejected.
If this films represents the 80's, so be it. At least there was some courage to protect a single person's right to differ.
There are still those who value individuality and will defend it. Snide, spoiled kiddies be damned.
I'd take Turk 182 as champion over any of the cheesy, faint "literary" heroes or heroines of today.
Funny how many people have commented on the 80's categorization of this movie. I wonder how many of these self-declared cinematic scholars were even alive at that time. Yet they presume to claim knowledge of the era's style(s) and motivations.
I am a first hand witness of that time and the release of this film. I can tell you two things: One, it was far more successful at the time than Wikipedia, IMDb, or the Razzies seem to want to report. Two, it resonated with many who were alive at that time - and still does.
This is not a complex film. No deep philosophical message. No vitriol. Maybe that's why current reviewed can't "relate: to it.
In fact, it's quite a superficial piece. Still, I'd place it's flawed middling dialog against most movies produced since. Especially the critically-acclaimed ones.
Some have denounced its unlikely plot. I agree with that assessment. This is no suspense piece or thriller. I felt the story is a scaffolding for eclectic comedy mixed with homage to people who are too often dismissed as silly or frivolous. So many people have talent which is never realized or appreciated. These are the people of Terry and Jimmy Lynch's life. And yes, NY is and always been home to many of these folks. I believe they used to be called non-conformists. Sociologists categorized them that way for decades. Not sure if anyone even bothers with that term anymore.
I'm sure the sage cinematic critics understand that film, like all art forms, continuously blend reality and unreality. So there will be unlikely scenarios like the one Terry Lynch put himself into concerning his off-duty fire rescue. I'm sure many actual fire fighters dismissed that plot device. I know I found myself agreeing with the mayor when Jimmy shouts his fragmented account of Terry's situation. I'd say Terry totally mishandled his presence at that fire. So I had some failing in the suspension of disbelief while my viewings. But I also know that sometimes there's more than a single incident. The Lynch family back story helped a little. Ultimately, I allowed the film to tell me what it wanted to say. I didn't agree with some of its premises - including the romanticization of Jimmy's destruction of property. Still, it was fun. A guilty pleasure - fanticization of one person's battle against a perceived cruel, cold, de-humanizing institution.
This was unique to the 80's ?
Arguably, there's more pseudo-history now than ever. One tweet can be taken as fact by millions of "followers" - how I loathe that use of the term. Way way too much "following" - far too little originality. Once upon a time - originality was the goal of expression. Now anything that is not exactly as deemed "sweet" is summarily rejected.
If this films represents the 80's, so be it. At least there was some courage to protect a single person's right to differ.
There are still those who value individuality and will defend it. Snide, spoiled kiddies be damned.
I'd take Turk 182 as champion over any of the cheesy, faint "literary" heroes or heroines of today.