Over the Edge (1979)

You won't be disappointed!

Thanks for the memories!

Good story, Not enough for a whole film

The plot isn't so bad, but the pace of storytelling is too slow which makes people bored. Certain moments are so obvious and unnecessary for the main plot. I would've fast-forwarded those moments if it was an online streaming. The ending looks like implying a sequel, not sure if this movie will get one

Carl (Michael Kramer), Ritchie (Matt Dillon), Claude (Tom Fergus), Johnny (Tiger Thompson) and the other neighborhood kids are restless and rebellious against their suburban lives. They do drugs and hang out at the rec center. They get into trouble and hassled by the cops. After an incident, a curfew is imposed. After Carl gets beaten, cops close the rec center. The clash between the kids and the establishment only escalates.It's Matt Dillon's debut. He's not the lead but he steals the movie. There is some good music but only in the background. The material is edgy for its era. The kids are doing more than a little weed. It's got an indie feel with real amateur kids playing the roles. It reminds me of Kids (1995) except it's in suburbia. It does need to play up the rock music of that era. When Carl gets beaten up, traditional classical music gets played. It's the wrong idea. That violence needs to be backed up by a pounding rock anthem. There is too much traditional scoring. Otherwise, this is a really interesting cult classic.

Over the Edge is an intense teen drama that marks the acting debut of Matt Dillon (he had no formal training before the cameras rolled). For me, this stands as one of the best films of the 1970's (released in the U.S. in 1981) and a clear bonified snapshot of that era. This is a well acted, angst driven vehicle with many unknowns (it marked the first screen appearances for a majority of the cast members). It tells the story of some troubled Colorado kids who cause havoc (gunfire, vandalism, drug dealing, etc...) in their neighborhood at the expense of their mostly misunderstood parents.Director Jonathan Kaplan (admittedly) filmed a lot of scenes with wide shots that let things play out naturally. It's a cinematic technique that was prevalent in that decade. I found the method very effective and in turn hail this flick as a minor classic. There is a time capsule type feeling to what's on screen. It's intoxicating and "Edge" concludes with what I believe to be an ironically powerful ending. Watch for the image of Dillon (Richie White) standing on top of a police car. It's iconic!

I can't offer any new observations on this movie, except like many of you it was a timewarp back my own junior high school years of the late 70's. The depiction of what those kids did then was pretty on spot. I also think the parents shown ,in the movie, was accurate as well.Like New Granada, we were bored and pretty much left to our own devices to find entertainment. We managed to con our parents and adults long enough to get away with most of what we did.For the longest time I thought it was just my particular generation and our area that was screwed up in the head...that was until I saw this movie. I swear there was lot of anger in us and it took itself out in guerrilla style rebellion against anything the adults held Holy.Then as now, I can point out supposed stable adults who were alcoholics, gamblers, kid/wife beaters, druggies and general losers as people.Then as now, kids spot hypocrisy fairly fast.

After reading reviews, both here on Amazon and elsewhere, I was expecting much from this film. And, whilst it undoubtedly stirred impassioned emotions for many, it left me rather more questioning than sympathetic.Maybe I'm just too middle-aged now, to really take the side of rebellious youths who then go on to, well, riot. With the riots over here last Summer appalling all but the perpetrators I'm afraid I wasn't hugely moved by their angst. Sure, I can understand the boredom and frustration of youth but I, myself was brought up on a farm and so there was always work and things to do when I was their age and so didn't suffer with that particular affliction.I didn't mind their dalliance with drugs, at least as far as the film was concerned; that seemed very natural and added interest and I think it was these elements that bumped the certificate up to 18. The soundtrack may have appealed to those who liked those bands, they were before my time, at least in '79, when the film was released, so I can't even say that the music was great.The young cast is undoubtedly the movie's strong point and much praise has been made on Matt Dillon's debut role. Again, maybe because of my now tender age, I found the politics and economics of it all that were causing all the social problems rather more interesting than that of the youths, which could be a bit worrying!Despite what I've said about not fully appreciating Over the Edge, it is a good film and well made and I hope that when I come to see it again, sometime, I'll get into it more.