Fame

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Cast & Crew

Irene Cara
Coco Hernandez

Eddie Barth
Angelo

Lee Curreri
Bruno Martelli

Laura Dean
Lisa Monroe

Paul McCrane
Montgomery MacNeil

Barry Miller
Ralph Garci, Raul Garcia

Gene Anthony Ray
Leroy Johnson

Maureen Teefy
Doris Finsecker

Antonia Franceschi
Hilary van Doren

Anne Meara
Mrs. Sherwood

Alan Parker
Director

Christopher Gore
Writer

Michael Gore
Music

Michael Seresin
Cinematographer

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Critic Reviews for Fame

Audience Reviews for Fame

• Nov 11, 2018

  The movie is way too overstuffed to be an effective examination of these kids (on top of covering four years, the movie has so many characters you barely get a chance to learn all their names) and whenever the movie tries to be realistic in one scene it often swings wildly to an after-school special plot in the next. Also, I know this came out in 1980 but I refuse to believe that at this school there would only be one gay kid.
  

  Alec B Super Reviewer
• Oct 12, 2018

  I love so many aspects of this film that I'm surprised it doesn't have a higher average rating. From its very beginning, with a brilliant audition sequence that has director Alan Parker switching between a number of characters and scenes, the film had me. Soon afterwards he hits it with the first of the musical numbers, an impromptu song and dance that breaks out in the lunch room, which captures the power of creative people feeding off one another. How that leads to the quieter girl (Maureen Teefy) escaping the noise to sit with a sensitive young man (Paul McCrane) and start up a friendship is also very nice. 'Fame' was ahead of its time in giving us a diverse cast, and that's in a lot of ways - race, language, body shape, sexual orientation, and economic background. It really captures the spirit of New York, and this is heightened by shots on the streets and in the subway. There are so many items it touches on - homophobia, abuse, violence, sexual harassment, and abortion. It celebrates the beauty of the arts, while at the same time cautioning just how difficult it is to make a career out of them. Its spirit is infectious, and it's filled with poignant moments. Parker effectively uses an ensemble cast, each of whom contributes, but Barry Miller stands out as Ralph Garci, with a number of fine scenes: his impromptu acting during the audition ("I'm God, see?"), his recounting the pain of finding out Freddie Prinze had died, his telling his friends the real truth about his father, his lashing out a priest after his 5-year-old sister is assaulted ("Since when are you in the thinking business?"), and in bombing at a standup comedy club. It's a brilliant, powerful performance. Irene Cara sings on a number of the tracks, including the wonderful title song, and also provides a heartbreaking moment when she's lured into posing topless in the apartment of a man posing as an indie film director. There are so many dangers that surround these kids, and the honesty of this predatory scene is a forerunner to the #metoo movement. It's too bad it's offset somewhat by Parker himself giving us two immature voyeuristic scenes of the boys peering into the girls changing room. McCrane's descriptions of his growing sexual awareness, and the reaction he relates from his therapist ("He said it was probably a life choice"), is also touching. I liked the simple earnestness with which he portrayed this character, and his scene consoling Ralph Garci at the end (where Garci says "How do you know if you're good? Maybe you never know"). Without going through the rest of the big cast, I'll just add that I loved Jim Moody as the drama teacher, and wished his role hadn't tailed off after the sophomore year. That is one of the film's weaknesses - stories are unfinished and characters either disappear or certainly aren't all wrapped up with a big bow as in other movies - but this is also a strength in some ways. It gives the film the sense of how memories from the past are, and the ambiguity leaves it to us to imagine how the characters' lives played out. I think of 'Fame' as a collection of great moments, highlighting the arts, the human spirit, and growing up in a tough world which has so much danger and disappointment. Heartfelt and captivating, it's a great film.
  Antonius B Super Reviewer
• Jan 15, 2011

  "I celebrate the me yet to come." Recognizing all its flaws, I unabashedly love <i>Fame</i>. I understand that the characters fall into stereotypes, and I think many of their stories never reach a cathartic or dramatic conclusion; this is especially true of Ralph and Leroy. Also, these are oh-so-clearly adults playing teens; it even seems written that way most of the time. However, <i>Fame</i> achieves a complexity found in few films and almost no musicals. How is it that - for me - this film worked as both a cautionary tale and an inspiration? How is it that I recognized so many people from the acting world in these loosely drawn characters? Parker's direction and the rather spontaneous musical numbers embody the passion, ambition, dedication, triumphs, disappointments, and blindnesses that afflict these people. More to the point, I've known some artists whose talent amazed me, but yet you don't know them. You know talentless hacks, many of whom can't act dead. Each of these people recognizes that what most likely awaits them is a boulevard of broken dreams, spoiled ambitions, and a life counting their tips, hoping enough is there for rent, but each is also driven by an indomitable spirit. <i>Fame's</i> achievement is capturing all that on film, even to some degree into one fantastic scene toward the end (Irene Cara's nude scene - you'll know what I mean if you see the film). Additionally, I enjoyed the peripherals: the stage mother, the broken home, the absent but financially generous parents. All of these exist in varying forms. Overall, it takes some effort to see past this film's flaws, but once you do, you won't be disappointed with what lies at its core.
  Jim H Super Reviewer
• Sep 26, 2010

  When I was was growing up in the 80s, I wanted to go to the NYC High School for the Performing Arts that is depicted in this movie. Fame is all about New York City. It is grimy and bittersweet and big-city. It is a thousand miles away from the quiet traditions of my high school in the Midwest.
  Juli R Super Reviewer

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