September
9th,
2012
Rumble Fish
(1983)
Nicolas Cage is
Smokey
Ostensibly this
project is about Nic Cage but, since I'm going in chronological
order, by default I'm starting with his bit parts. It's funny, with
the benefit of hindsight I think it's clear that Cage's most natural
fit is as a character actor, but he's made a career as an unlikely
leading man. I guess that's what happens to talented weirdos who also
happen to be extremely handsome (see also: Depp, Johnny; Ledger,
Heath). But Rumble Fish isn't Nic
Cage's film. He's here because when your brilliant, film director uncle sends out a casting call you put aside all that stuff about distancing yourself from him and jump on the wagon (three times).
I knew nothing going into Rumble Fish so the whole thing was a surprise to me. My familiarity with Coppola's work between Apocalypse Now and Jack is pretty limited. I've never read an S.E.
Hinton novel nor have I seen The Outsiders.
I didn't know it was starring Matt Dillon as a teenager that
everyone, including his family, calls Rusty James. I didn't know that
Rusty James lives in the shadow of his spacey older brother, an
ex-gang leader named The Motorcycle Boy (Mickey Rourke) whom he
idolizes. I didn't know it was scored by Stewart Copeland, drummer
for that band so dear to my heart, the Police. Hey, is that Tom Waits as a
soda jerk? Hey, is that Dennis Hopper? Is this all a beautiful dream?
