80sfilms

I have never read Jay Mcinerney’s book by the same name (although I’ve heard it’s very good), I have always loved the 1988 film Bright Lights, Big City.

The film stars Michael J. Fox, who plays Jamie, a disillusioned young writer living in New York City who uses drugs and drinking to block out the memories of his dead mother and his failed marriage.

It’s a heavy film with a few laughs dispersed throughout, but at it’s heart, it’s dark and sad and brilliantly acted.

Bright Lights, Big City also stars Phoebe Cates (as the estranged wife of Jamie), Keifer Sutherland, Swoosie Kurtz, Tracy Pollan (Fox’s real-life wife), Charlie Schlatter, Dianne Wiest (as Jamie’s mother), Kelly Lynch, Annabelle Gurwitch, David Hyde Pierce, and Jason Robards.

This was the last film that James Bridges directed–his earlier directions included 1985’s Perfect and 1980’s Urban Cowboy. He died in 1993.

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