Reckless

I saw this movie 20 years ago and have never seen it since, yet I keep waiting to see it on cable or at the video stores or in discount bins or any place so I can purchase it, and watch it over and over again. This was the first time I ever saw Aidan Quinn, but his acting left a deep impression on me and has ever since. After "Reckless" if I saw his name on a movie I made a point of seeing it, in my opinion he never seems to get enough credit even back then. His movie love interest (Darryl Hannah) well I didn't even remember it was her, so I guess that says it all for me. I recently have been addicted to Firefly the TV series ("Serenity" the movie) and was discussing with my spouse that I believed the character Jayne Cobb (Adam Baldwin) was the same person who played opposite Aidan in "Reckless" sure enough when searching for this I found he was, so I would have to say he left an impression as well.

I believe if a movie you've seen only once can stick with you for this long, it must be good. And hearing many others, who also have seen it 20 years earlier, still talking about it, then I think it should become a classic and re-released.

I saw this movie when I was just 10. I was up watching movie late one night with my older brother. So maybe it was just the happy memory, but this movie was always in a special place for me. Aidan Quinn was great! I think he is what made the movie. To bad they don't show it on late night cable that much any more, but if you ever get the chance to see it, I think its a good way to spend an hour and half. :D

On the surface, there's a lot about Reckless that spells turkey. Troubled and angry boy from the wrong side of town falls for the pretty rich cheerleader. Well, we all have seen that a million times, from Rebel Without a Cause to The Breakfast Club. Then there is the casting of actors who are transparently too old to play teenagers. Yet there is something about Reckless that draws one in and keeps them there for the full 90 minutes, and that something is in two words: Aidan Quinn. His performance is so on the mark, we can so easily feel his pain and angst, and that's not easy considering much of his lines are insipid. And yes, we cant overlook the fact that he is very easy on the eyes (the word dreamy comes to mind). But Quinn shows in this picture and most of his subsequent work that he is not merely just another pretty face, but a fine actor.

I'll admit I love this film. Quite a bit of the dialog doesn't make any sense; some of the characters are just there to hang the plot from; and Cliff DeYoung as the football coach gets most of the bad lines and his character, as well as the snotty cheerleaders, are all clichés. But these flaws don't detract from the appeal of the film.

Darryl Hannah, and Aidan Quinn in particular, have a presence and a chemistry that keeps the film vibrant and alive. This was Quinn's first film, and I've liked him ever since I first saw it. Even as a novice he's a great actor. Hannah is not as good as he, but she's still very good as a well-to-do high school senior who's looking for something different but not sure what she wants. Quinn plays the misunderstood poor boy with an alcoholic father, who is beset by teachers, father, peers and police every way he turns. Due to a random pairing for a charity dance, they are brought together and eventually discover that what they are looking for is in each other. The last shot of the film, as the camera speeds down the highway to Bob Seger's "Roll Me Away", is one of my favorite shots of any movie. I'll agree it's corny, but it works and so does this film.

The authentic steel-town atmosphere also helps to give the film a gritty realism; dark, smoggy, atmospheric and disturbing, it reminds me of the feel of the 80's. The soundtrack is superb; Romeo Void, INXS, and Kim Wilde's "Kids in America." Whenever I want to recapture that 80's feeling, when watching MTV was still new and exciting and they still played music you could take pleasure in listening to, and when the 80's groups were so avant-garde and on-the-edge, I watch this film. Sure enough, it can take me right back. Look past the sometimes inane dialog and be sure to catch this film; if you immerse yourself in the music it will work its spell.

It hasn't been shown on on regular cable in years (it's rated R for some candid but convincing sex scenes), but in mid-2005 it was playing on the high definition cable channel INHD, looking and sounding fantastic, so it does show up occasionally. Warner Archive (http://www.warnerarchive.com) now (2011) offers it for sale as an "on demand," widescreen DVD. A great film for Friday or Saturday night, and don't forget to turn the volume way up!

A poor rebellious high school kid named Johnny Rourke (Aidan Quinn), from the wrong side of the tracks, falls in love with rich beautiful Tracey Prescott (Daryl Hannah). She's attracted to him too but has a jealous jerk of a boyfriend (Adam Baldwin) and she can't date anyone who is poor and rebellious. Three guesses what happens next.

There's absolutely nothing new here story wise but I saw it only once OVER 20 years ago and have never forgotten it. For one thing the acting is excellent. Quinn and Hannah really clicked together on screen. They also have two lengthy sex scenes where you get to see plenty of skin on both of them. (Quinn does a quick full frontal) The soundtrack really rocks too. I LOVED how they used "Kids in America" when Quinn and Hannah are "fighting". Even though the story is completely predictable it moved pretty quickly and I was never bored. I especially loved the final scene (I'm not gonna give it away). This movie should have made Quinn (he's just incredible) but didn't for some reason. If you can see it it's worth catching. Don't bother with the commercial TV print--the steamy sex scenes are completely gone.