Laura Dern in "Smooth Talk" (1986)

I just caught a little bit of this movie on Encore and was maddeningly searching for a torrent of it, to no avail. I finally found something that I mistakenly thought was the movie. Apparently, a Laura Dern superfan (a novel species to be certain) strung together these clips. Hilariously, a lot of the cuts make no sense! This, coupled with the fact that there is only a trailer for this here on YouTube, prompted me to share with you all. This is the kind of esoteric bullplop I live for. However, this not being the movie, by a long shot, it looks like I'll have to buckle down and actually buy the $4 DVD.

Category:

Howto & Style

Tags:

• laura
• dern
• smooth
• talk
• joyce
• carol
• oates
• adaptation
• 1986
• treat
• williams
• teenage
• girls
• 80s
• mall
• boombox

[TheColorBug]

@lurch321 In our Critical Analysis class, we also talked about how Arnold could symbolize the devil, because of the fact that he seems to be all-knowing and exhibits demonic behavior, such as being able to so easily lure and mentally terrorize his "victim". We also uncovered how if you take all of the "r"s out of Arnold Friend, you get An old Fiend.

[herbal1971]

I think she looks better now than then. Who looked good in 1986 anyway? :0)

[Sephiroth0031]

I think she's a very sexy woman. She looks very hot in Smooth Talk also in Jurassic Park and together. But that is sick she could be my mother. ;D I am born 1989

[TodKopfstein]

I think what's great about this movie is that you can watch it without even recognizing its metaphors and ambiguities. It almost seems like a superficial coming of age story. but it exists on 2 different planes completely. You can see it as a girl who has 3 different encounters with boys one summer. or you can take it as a girl's inner struggle with her own burgeoning sexuality projected outwardly, with all the beautiful and sweet and dark and dangerous feelings it stirs in her.

[TodKopfstein]

And arnold friend (A Friend) is the final embodiment of this newly forming sexuality, that's why he knows so much about her and can really turn her on to him or off with very little effort and without having to say too much. Arnold's friend asks whether he should cut the phone line, this could be a metaphor as to whether Connie's new, unbridled sexuality will completely cut the lines of communication between her self and her mother. Her final date is almost like a moral crossroads for her.

[TodKopfstein]

also, when she recounts the story about Eddie to her sister, it doesn't coincide with what happens. she also lies to her parents, saying she is going to a movie when she is actually on a date. When she meets with her friend after the date, her friend asks how the movie was. Connie answers "Oh, the show. You should know." This almost points to the idea the date is to be interpreted as a made up story, just like the one Connie told her mom about going to the movie.

[TodKopfstein]

i think her dates could be seen as daydreams or fantasies that her new sexuality takes her on. all through the movie she is lost in her head or in a daze. each date scenario is either highly idealized (a really nice guy, who says she is the prettiest freshman in school, takes her in his car to a beautiful night scape view of the twinkling city underneath them) or dangerous (Eddie jokes he'll give her a fat lip before he takes her to an underground parking lot and paws at her continuously).

[TodKopfstein]

i think it's her newly forming sexuality that has tinted the world in a new shade to her. it's all very bright and alluring but also very dangerous and carnal. She does not fully understand what she is going through or the intricate details and rules that govern this new mysterious plane but she goes through the motions, using her inchoate experiences to navigate her way through it.

[SparingPolymath]

@herbal1971 Rob Lowe!

[EvilTediz597]

ELLIE, THE DOOR LOCKS!

[19ars92]

HAVE TO WATCH IT FOR ENGLISH lX