Smooth Talk (1985)

 

 

A free-spirited 15-year-old girl flirts with a dangerous stranger in the Northern California suburbs and must prepare herself for the frightening and traumatic consequences.

Laura Dern is extraordinary in this realistic, dark adaptation of a Joyce Carol Oates' story; the final sequence is particularly intense and harrowing.
 

Halliwell (no star): "Unattractive scenario about thoroughly dislikeable people."

Maltin**1/2: "Disarmingly realistic...Williams...all but deadens rest of the film. Worth seeing if only for Dern's fine performance. Impressive feature debut for documentary director Chopra..." 

 

 

Coal Miner's Daughter (1980)

Biographical story of Loretta Lynn,, a legendary country singer that came from poverty to worldwide fame.

From memory: Excellent musical biography with a superb Sissy Spacek plus a equally good cast especially gives an accurate picture of the Kentucky boondocks.

Halliwell***: "'With-it' version of the old show business story: gradual success, stardom, nervous breakdown, reconciliation. Based on the life of Loretta Lynn, but mainly notable for its depiction of backwoods Kentucky."

Maltin***1/2: "...among the best musical bios ever made, though final quarter does slideover some "down side" details. Spacek won well-deserved Oascar..., but Jones, D'Angelo, and Helm (drummer for The Band) are just as good."