Francis Ford Coppola directs this stunning adaptation of the S.E. Hinton novel about coming of age in urban Oklahoma. Rusty James (Matt Dillon) is a troubled juvenile delinquent trying to live up to the legendary reputation of his older brother, Motorcycle Boy (Mickey Rourke). One night, while Rusty James and his friends Smokey (Nicolas Cage), Steve (Vincent Spano), and B.J. (Christopher Penn) are involved in a rumble, Motorcycle Boy returns home from California after a two-month absence. Rusty James gets stabbed and Motorcycle Boy saves him, but their alcoholic father (Dennis Hopper) is oblivious to the brothers' lives and only Rusty James's girlfriend, Patty (Diane Lane), seems to care about him. After Motorcycle Boy reveals some family secrets about their mother, both brothers become determined to escape their lives or die trying. The film is shot in black and white except for the shots of the rumble fish--colorful Siamese fighting fish--that provoke Motorcycle Boy into desperate actions. Drummer Stewart Copeland (formerly of the rock group the Police) composed the film's score.
Francis Ford Coppola directed this beautiful black-and-white version of S.E. Hinton's popular youth novel. RUMBLE FISH explores the relationship between a young street thug, Rusty James (Matt Dillon), and his older brother, the legendary Motorcycle Boy (Mickey Rourke). When Motorcycle Boy comes back to town, he finds Rusty James trying to imitate his former gang leader ways and their father (Dennis Hopper) trying to drink away a troubled past. The only color images in the film are the shots of the Siamese fighting fish that the color-blind Motorcycle Boy admires.
Filmed on location in Tulsa and Sapulpa, Oklahoma.
Sprocket holes can be seen running across the film during the entire scene when Matt Dillon meets Diane Lane unpacking groceries in front of her house. Despite the availability of other takes, Coppola liked the take with the damaged film the best and kept it in the movie.
Sofia Coppola, starring as Diane Lane's young sister, is billed as Domino.
Coppola dedicated the film to his own older brother, August, whom he much admired growing up.
Rumble Fish Reviews:
"...Beautifully photographed in black and white....Nicolas Cage is a strong presence..."
-- Har., Variety
"...It's a kick to watch so many actors who are still with us posturing in a movie this self-consciously stylized..."
-- Mike Clark, USA Today
3 stars out of 5 -- "[With] moody monochrome visuals, Police man Stewart Copeland's sparse, percussive score and blatant riffs on THE WILD ONE."-- Matt Mueller, Total Film
4 stars out of 5 -- "[I]nformed by the director's upbringing....[The film] played like an homage to a 1950s teen movie."-- Alastair McKay, Uncut
4 stars out of 5 -- "As an atmospheric expression of existential male anxiety, it's got a lot going for it and leaves quite an impression."-- Simon Crook, Empire
3 stars out of 5 -- "[E]njoyable for the young cast. We're talking Matt Dillon, Nicolas Cage, Mickey Rourke and more. Interesting."-- Jason Caro, Ultimate DVD
"...[The] film achieves the status of monochrome dream-poem almost effortlessly..."
-- Chris Auty, Sight and Sound
rumble fish Rumble fish. Is almost completely in black and white. it adds a understanding to the movie that would be lost in color. the is a lot of use of the f word and a nude Seen in the middle. but a good interpretation of the book. it is the closest one of the movies done from s.e. books. Submitted by adam (r ohio) Was This Review Helpful? YesNo 1 of 1 found this helpful.
HELP! I don't have a review. I just wanted to know if anyone who has seen this movie can tell me if "the cop" is Robert Duvall. I made a bet that it wasn't... Submitted by samoon73 (Michigan,USA) Was This Review Helpful? YesNo
great film why is it in black and white? when i seen Rumble Fish i liked it cause of Matt Dillon but why is it in black and white? the dvd should have been in color still in all a great movie Submitted by Megan (Reserve La) Was This Review Helpful? YesNo 1 of 1 found this helpful. This review is for a different format.
great movie most of the time movies cannot even be compared to the book but in this case is a definate exception. the movie is so well done and really captures the mood and expressions that you get from the book. i loved this movie its one of my favorites. Submitted by Brittany (pittsburgh, pa, usa) Was This Review Helpful? YesNo This review is for a different format.
Great Movie! If You Have read the book it makes this movie even better but even if you havent, the movie is still really well done. Submitted by Rusty James (Wallingford, CT, USA) Was This Review Helpful? YesNo This review is for a different format.
rumble fish
great film why is it in black and white?
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