Alphabet City

Overlooked movie from 1984. As a movie I give it a 7 but as a 1980's "street drama" I give it a 10. excellent performance by a young Jamie Gertz as the whiny little sister coming of age in the cement Jungles of NY. Vince Spano I thought gave a realistic performance as the young street hustler who was actually a nice guy underneath.

Michael Windslow, the human sound effects guy who made his fame in the "Police Academy" movies was really good as drug house leader who is slowly spinning into a life as a junkie.

The Music....Now the music was just amazing. It was written by Nile Rogers from the disco era Chic. There is music on there that I have never been able to find anywhere. Look for a song called "Lady Luck"

Anyone who was a young adult in the 80's will see a blast from the past especially if they were around the big cities. It has its cheesy moments but all in all a decent flick.

Rent it from Net Flix.

Young Italian-American drug dealer, Johnny (Vincent Spano) is trying to make it in the world. He gets double crossed and has to rethink his plans.

Amos Poe is a fine director who so far has never got his big break. This film is a true independent film, but it lacks the panache of other directors who made it big in the 80s such as Spike Lee and Joe Dante. Vincent Spano has sadly never been an A-lister, but he looks the part and is decent. After playing tough guys in films like Rumble Fish this isn't a departure for him in terms of character. The real star of the show is the cinematography by Oliver Wood. A lot of attention has been paid to the lighting, set design and camera work. The film has a neon look to it reminiscent of films like Blade Runner, Thief and Manhunter. It is style over substance and the derivative plot, one dimensional characterisation and corny dialogue make for a mediocre viewing experience.

The film is not widely remembered or respected, and it falls way short compared to similar hood thrillers like those by Walter Hill (Streets of Fire was released the same year) .

I watched earlier Amos Poe films (Foreigner, Unmade Beds) and then I watched Alphabet City. Although, the film is directed by Poe, it is just filled with clichés and stories you have already seen, worlds you've already explored. It has no comment whatsoever on NYC's Alphabet City. So, in terms of story and plot- I won't bother watching the film. If you are interested in the craft of film- this film has great editing and great cinematography. If you want to taste the period of the 80's, there's a good amount of clubs and drugs, even a little neighborhood explored in the film. How much of it is genuine, I don't know- but its definitely interesting to study. What really ruins the film is that Poe had little control over the film- thus it was butchered by studio heads and editing department.

Looking at film history, one can pick any decade and easily find a film that deals with the subject teen angst, crime, or juvenile delinquency. The 80's are no exception to that, as we can see with 1984's "Alphabet City". Taking place in the real life (and at the time troubled) neighborhood of New York City, it concerns the story of a young, punk street dealer named Johnny (Vincent Spano in his younger days). Johnny lives the life, has a hot girlfriend and young daughter, as well as a sweat ride. But he begins to have second thoughts about everything when he's ordered by his mob boss, Gino (a very effective Raymond Serra) to burn down the building where his mother and little sister are living. What follows next is a run for his life as Johnny does everything to collect old debts to get himself and his family out of dodge.

Before I go on, let me be honest: The film won't win any academy awards. It is what is, a low budget teen crime drama. And yet the film is memorable, if not for its writing than for the look and feel of it. "Alphabet City" perfectly captures the time it was made in, the early eighties, be it the fashion (the bright colored "tights" girls used to wear in night clubs, Oh Yeah!) or the quasi disco/early 80's dance music that was happening at the time. One song called "Lady Luck" is especially memorable since they play it throughout much of the film. It might not be anything special, but after a while, it is pretty catchy. Another point that helps is the dedication the actors give to their roles, despite the film being as low budget as it is. Vincent Spano is fairly convincing as the drug dealer who grows a conscience, as is Michael Winslow as Lippy, Johnny's drug addicted partner in crime. In particular, Winslow makes you feel for Lippy, as he inspires feelings of hopelessness and despair with his crazy antics and street rhythms. Rounding out the cast is Kate Vernon as Angie, Johnny's girlfriend, and a very young and just starting out Jami Gertz as Johnny's sister Sophia. But above all, perhaps what makes "Alphabet City" so memorable is a genuine feeling of the price one might be required to pay when he enters the drug game (Another commenter on this site who admits to being involved in the drug trade during this time said the same thing. Luckily for him, he was able to get out of the game but not before seeing many of his friends being "retired" for good). And on that note, if you're in the mood for some 80's fun and decent teen story, check out "Alphabet City". Directed by Amos Poe.

Alphabet City does have a cool style about it, with Spano, so good in this, mirroring a kind of younger Pacino (watch the way his eyes move in this) as 19 young street smart Johnny who controls the drug market for the big guys. But what AC scarcely makes up for in style, it lacks in it's prolonged and insufficient story. When asked by his boss to torch the building his parents reside, he's stuck between a rock and a hard place, literally, cause there's no way in hell, his folks are gonna split. He implores little sis (Jamie Gertz) to be the one to talk some sense into him, but like her parents will be, she's against it too. The movie is basically set over one night, with Johnny now wanting out, running back and forth, trying to figure a way out of this nightmare, first trying to collect his doe. You don't really have to be Einstein to figure out where the story goes from here. Yet still, with it's flashy appeal in a tame R rated movie, almost void or gore or bad language (I don't see how it earned this, like a few other movies of these 80's) this still manages to be an okay drama, on a bit of a flat running level. But honestly, this flick with some cool hip music, is worth watching, just for Spano's performance. Where the hell is this impressive 80's actor these days. Love Spano's boss's young floozy, Karen, in the red dress.