Anybody actually seen this? - Smooth Talk (1985) Discussion

[–] Direngrey15224 19 years ago

This was played in my Advanced Creative Writing class in Sophomore year but I was only able to see a little bit of it, about to the part where Arnold Friend is introduced. What I did see, however, was decent.

reply

[–] laylanelle 19 years ago

i havent seen the movie but i ordered it online. i love the story and i chose to write about it for my college composition research paper. there are a lot of different interpretations of arnold friend: some say he was an alien, the grim reaper, satan, or a serial killer.

reply

[–] tinkerbelle1985 19 years ago

I don't understand the movie or i should say the ending. It just ends. And i never read the book. Whatched it today, actully on TMC.

"It goes there!"

reply

[–] texasbluesrox 19 years ago

Okay people. It's not a book, it's a short story, so really it could have been faithful, They would have had to embellish, not cut.

But the ending is a total rip off because COnnie is dead at the end of the story, she goes off with Arnold and you know what's going to happen to her. But since when does the heroine die at the end of a coming of age movie?

The Numbers are a bible verse, the Book, Chapter, Verse. Judges 19:17 And when he had lifted up his eyes, he saw a wayfaring man in the street of the city: and the old man said, Whither goest thou? and whence comest thou?read thestory that it's included

reply

[–] TKJns 18 years ago

I don't think the ending of the story would have sold for most audiences, because it leaves the reader to draw their own conclusion as to what happens to Connie, whether or not she dies. I think that Arnold Friend represents the Grim Reaper, and Ellie is perhaps an assisstant. If you read the story you can see several hints that point to him being the Devil like the fact that his boots dont't fit (possible cloven hooves?) and he goes into a chanting like state two or three times when he just starts rattling through names and phrases to get the one that is in style at the time.

reply

[–] cupcakesinc 18 years ago

not only owuld i say this movie is great. the ending i think was enduring. i wsa like 9 when i first saw it and it totlly tramatized me.

reply

[–] kxdosch 18 years ago

I don't think the ending of the short story had her die. The short story IS called... "Where are you going WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN" It's a play on the nagging parent taunt but with a more spooky tone once you know what Connie has gone through. Although I like the vaguness of the story the movie wasn't that far off for including the coda at the end.

reply

[–] ARH 18 years ago

I liked both the story and the movie. I agree that some things like the added friend and such were annoying but Laura Dern gives a knockout performance and the first half of the film is excellent.

reply

[–] lkfitz 18 years ago

I saw this movie late last night on TBS. Despite being edited somewhat poorly [with a few scenes ending abruptly], the production of this film was savvy and the acting was good all around. Every major character was convincing- especially Treat Williams.
The movie's mood changed so effectively that it was difficult to know whether I was watching a lighthearted teenmovie or a sick psychological thriller. It was difficult also to predict, and had an irksome air about it that reminded me what dread felt like time and time again.
Laura Dern portrayed her character, Connie, with impressive believability [though she was at times UNbelievably naive- making me think that either the 80s were a far more naive era than I ever concieved, or the creators really underestimated the intelligence of 15-year-olds]. The movie was frightening not for blood, murder or special effects, but for it's lifelike qualities. There was a very real danger, and the fact that it never stated itself outright, made me feel as uncertain as Connie did.

- LK

reply

[–] ThisbeDave-1 18 years ago

I just saw it, to me it was the devil stealing a girl's innocence.

reply

[–] ionic66 17 years ago

story good, movie blows, should have been 30-40min max

reply

[–] rolltide14 14 years ago

I read the short story a couple of years ago and just now watched the film. The film wasn't "awful", but the story cuts off with her walking outside to get in the car with him. The movie ends with him bringing her back and her talking to her sister. I'm not sure why the writers decided to add this part. To me, the original ending is much more chilling and much less confusing, or maybe it was only confusing to me because I was used to the story ending before that.

As far as the rest of the film goes, the acting was good and the plot stayed true to the story, although there were a couple of parts they added in. If you really love the short story, I would recommend the film. Obviously, the short story is better but the film was alright too.

reply

[–] BettyX 13 years ago

The film wasn't awful, actually OK. Since the story is short, think the extras were added to make the movie longer. The ending is different. Watching the film you do realize & see the immaturity of a naive teen girl. Think it worth seeing. Not oscar worthy but it reflected the undertones of the story well, even it didn't completely stick with the short-story

reply

[–] jdforyou1983 (1470) 4 years ago

Watched it today and I thought it was okay

reply