Straßenkinder

I absolutely love this film but I can only watch it once a year because it makes me so sad, I have never cried so much in a film ever, I'm left a nervous wreck, I don't know if it's because I'm happy or sad the way things worked out, but my hat is off to the writer, director, and all the actors, especially Sean Astin's portrayal of Greg. Very emotional film, I suggest you don't watch it alone, as you need to have someone with you to laugh and cry with! Extraordinary filmmaking!

I first saw this movie at a friends house when I was 14 or 15. I was crying like a baby at the end of it, and have seen it maybe 50 times since, and last year I finally found a copy of it that I could buy. Not the most well-known movie, despite it's famous and brilliant cast. Storyline goes as follows; A group of homeless kids on the streets of LA, lead by the young man King (Dermot Mulroney) struggles with drugs, cops, love, life, each other and themselves. The movie starts as King is being released from jail after serving three months for 'assault with a deadly weapon'. When he hits the streets again, his 'family' as he calls them has become a broken one. He is slowly trying to piece it back together. Heather (Lara Flynn Boyle) is the new comer to the group, and King takes a liking to her. Greg (Sean Astin) has delved into drugs, Little J (Balthazar Getty) is trying to deal with aggression and growing up. But with all the temptations around to make a quick buck, how to survive on the streets, parents who call the police on you, and the ultimately a murder it's hard to stay together as a family. A love story about all the things you want and need, but is hard to make happen in an impossible world.

Mentions also to Will Smith, Ricki Lake, James LeGros,Laura San Giacomo, Kyle McLachlan and Alyssa Milano. A story that could easily be a true one, considering how many homeless kids there are on our streets. Never patronising, never indulgent, never moral, but brilliantly written, directed, casted, acted and the soundtrack leaves you yearning for Melissa Etheridge and Buffalo Springfield. A 10/10 for me and I agree that it should be released on DVD and re-released as a whole for a new audience. Beautiful, beautiful... 'Just go where the day takes you.....'

It bears repeating, I absolutely loved this movie! It is one of my favorite movies of all time! I admit that initially I only wanted to see it because of Balthazar Getty, but it has so many great stars! Everyone does a fabulous job. Great story and characters. I have nothing to base this on, but it seems really realistic. There is some humor and some really sad parts. The director and writer Marc Rocco gives them a lot to work with. I don't see how anyone could not like this movie. Dermot Mulroney, Balthazar Getty, Sean Astin and Lara Flynn Boyle give fantastic performances! I highly recommend this movie! It does make you appreciate what you have and makes you realize how some people, kids, can end up and what can happen to them. Awesome flick!

This movie is a classic example of what a bunch of talented actors can do without being showcased. Most of the cast in this film have gone on to become bigger stars (some MUCH bigger as in the case of Will Smith) in far bigger budget movies, but they'll all have this one to look back on as something to be truly proud of. Sure, one can quibble with the fact that these people, despite being "glammed down" for the street look, are better looking than "real" homeless youths, but this is Hollywood after all. A promising feature from director Marc Rocco, who went on to make another movie, and now I haven't seen anything from him for half-a-decade. What happened?

A social worker (Laura San Giacomo) interviews King (Dermot Mulroney) about his life on the Hollywood streets as a part of a program for his parole. It's a world of drugs, prostitution, petty crimes, and outright violence. Greg (Sean Astin), Little J (Balthazar Getty), crippled Manny (Will Smith), Crasher, and Brenda (Ricki Lake) are some of his street friends. Brenda brings along new girl Heather (Lara Flynn Boyle). King is out of county looking for his girlfriend Devon who has gone missing. Ted (Kyle MacLachlan) is Greg's drug dealer.

There are a lot of big names from the 90's and beyond. There is also Alyssa Milano, David Arquette, Christian Slater among others. I'm surprised that I've never heard of this movie but these old indies can slip by. It's hard to be ultra-realism when there are so many named actors but this has the simple grim reality. It's not too flashy. The plot is a bit scattered with a lot of different characters. I would like a story with a more distinct direction and more agency. I would make Tommy Ray a more concentration of King's attention and he could be the central target of the plot. Overall, it's interesting to see some of these actors pop up in this indie.