Search - Blue City on DVD

Definitely a Teen Anger Flick

07/09/1999

(3 out of 5 stars)

"While, admittedly, the budget for the film was nothing extraordinary, the film deserves better treatment than it has received over the years. This was Judd Nelson's first lead in a film and despite the lack of worldly support in the creation, he does possess the flare and sarcastic ferocity for which he was noted in earlier films. Therein lies the problem, however - Nelson, throughout his earlier movie years, has often been type cast as a troubled, loud and intentionally unpalatable vigilante whose exploits seem worthless in the eyes of a more "mature" crowd. The film is clearly designed for young adults suffering from some of the same issues and who also have the drive to correct observed injustices in their world. The film was not meant to be a Shakespearean play set to the glitter and glamour of the silver screen, but other films featuring adolescents in dire need to right the wrongs have been accepted into society if for no other reason than who was in them. Basically, if you're looking for a gripping drama that takes you to the paragon of the human dilemma, look no further than somewhere else. If you are young and want to see teen-power in full force for the cause of good, I recommend this film."

"Be seein ya"

Azien Munro | Chelsea, Quebec Canada | 05/05/2002

(4 out of 5 stars)

"I saw this film and thought Judd Nelson acted almost completely the same way he did in The Breakfast Club. This film is about a boy who returns to Blue City and finds out that his father was murdered by an unknown person. Though he suspects the most rich and powerful man in town he could be wrong and is forced into his old time naughty behavior such as, robbing a bank and messing up a dog race, smashing up a casino, fist fights. Ally Sheedy plays a Police office clerk who falls for this guy, and helps him to uncover the tracks of the killer. This film is humerous in many ways such as his money robbery, the encounter with his Ex-mother in the grocery store. If you want a movie to enjoy and show your friends, I would recommend this one. My favorite tagline from this movie was "Be seein ya"."

P.U. City

Annie Van Auken | Planet Earth | 03/02/2009

(3 out of 5 stars)

"As adapted from the Ross Macdonald novel, BLUE CITY ultimately fails due to plot transparency.

It doesn't take long to figure out that Billy Turner's stepmom (Morris) and her new husband Perry Kerch (Wilson), the man Billy (Judd) suspects of being his father's murderer, have some sort of past connection. We also immediately question just why Sheriff Luther Reynolds (Winfield) almost benignly tolerates Billy's felonic behaviors, like the disruption of a greyhound race and gunpoint robbery of $30,000 during the confusion, or his trashing a nightclub owned by the despised Kerch (lost in the disco chaos is June Lockhart's daughter, Anne). Even Kerch's shill, Debbie Torres (Carmen) is a blatantly obvious plant to both viewer and young Mr. Turner.

David Caruso as Billy's best friend Joey Rayford adds life to this story until the predictible happens. Billy's rekindled romance with Joey's sister Annie (Sheedy) is painfully trite and superfluous. Action scenes become welcome relief from mediocre acting, as we wait for the inevitable and expected "twist" ending. When Billy and Annie ride off on his motorcycle, the feeling is these kids were fleeing the set of a movie both wished they hadn't gotten involved with.


"Blue City" is also available on DVD.

Also recommended:
Judd Nelson and Ally Sheedy appear in THE BREAKFAST CLUB (1985) (VHS) (DVD), and ST. ELMO'S FIRE (1985) (VHS) (DVD).


Parenthetical number preceding title is a 1 to 10 viewer poll rating found at a film resource website.

(4.2) Blue City (1986) - Judd Nelson/Ally Sheedy/David Caruso/Paul Winfield/Scott Wilson/Anita Morris/Luis Contreras/Julie Carmen (uncredited: Anne Lockhart)"

One of the Most Underrated Films of the 1980's.

Frank R. Schoonover | Niagara Falls, New York USA | 01/05/2009

(4 out of 5 stars)

"This film is finally on DVD. What took them so long, anyway?

Blue City, a 1986 film that was loosely adapted from the novel of the same name by Ross McDonald, is one of the most underrated films of the 1980's. The film reunites the team of Judd Nelson and Ally Sheedy who appeared in two other favorite 1980's films The Breakfast Club and St. Elmo's Fire. It also has a scorching soundtrack by Blues/Rock legend Ry Cooder.

Blue City is about a young man named Billy Turner(Nelson)who returns home to reconcile with his father, who was at the time the mayor of the town, only to learn that his father was murdered. Almost immediately, he starts a campaign of finding out who murdered his father and make him pay for what he did. Along with his best friend Joey(played by a young David Caruso), they start a two man crime wave that sets the small town on fire (so to speak)and where they have run-in's with the crooked police chief(Paul Winfield). Along the way, he admits his feelings to Joey's sister Annie(Sheedy), who in turn admits her feelings for him, and the two start a romantic relationship. With mounting evidence building up, the trio feel that they have enough to nail a local night club owner named Perry Kerch(Scott Wilson)who is married to Billy's father's widow Melvina(Anita Morris)for the murder of Billy's father. The question is; Is Perry Kerch really the man responsible or is someone else very close to Billy's father responsible?

Nelson and Sheedy still make a great team as Billy and Annie and Caruso delivers a very good performance as Annie's brother and Billy's best friend Joey. Paul Winfield steals the show as the crooked police chief Luther Reynolds who is determined to stop Billy from finding out who really killed his father(a plot twist that actually makes you wonder)following some good supporting performances by Scott Wilson and Anita Morris as Perry and Melvina. Rounding off is an early supporting performance by Julie Carmen as a two-faced prostitute named Debbie Torres. Combined with a sizzling soundtrack composed by the great Blues/Rock legend Ry Cooder, this film is a very entertaining actioner from the time period and a very watchable film that you can enjoy again and again. I saw this film back in 1986 at a local bargain cinema and it was well worth the money that I paid to see it. Nelson and Sheedy are wonderful as Billy and Annie and the action never lets up until the bitter end.

One important trivia note: This film was on Paramount's shelves for almost a year before release. I know this because the soundtrack's copyrighted year was 1985, which states this on the right picture of Nelson and Sheedy on the soundtrack album cover, which I happen to have on vinyl.

Pros: The colors are bright. The audio sounds much better and the soundtrack music sounds even crisper.

Cons: No special features like a theatrical trailer, TV spots(there were lots of them back in the day on television when the film was released. The film was intensely promoted by Paramount repeatedly)or even a commentary track by director Michelle Manning or even by Nelson, Sheedy and Caruso and above all, no interviews with the cast and crew or even trivia sections like awards or backgrounds of the actors and crew involved.

Still, it is on DVD finally and that is still great.

Overall, Blue City is severely underrated and is an entertaining film to enjoy again and again. If you saw this back in the day and want to rediscover it again if you enjoyed it, by all means rent it or better yet but it to enjoy over and over. No fan of Nelson, Sheedy or any action film fan should be without this gem."