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One of the great lost buddy films of the 1970s, this Jerry Schatzberg movie somehow never found its audience, despite the fact that both lead actors were riding high: Hackman from The French Connection, Pacino from The Godfather. They play a pair of drifters, seeing America by thumb, who hook up and discover unexpected soul mates in each other. Hackman is the loner who would rather pile on another layer of clothes than chance letting someone get close to him; Pacino is the likably funny loser who gets under Hackman's skin and teaches him to open up. Together, they hatch a plan to save up and buy their own car wash. But try as they do to keep each other out of trouble, their friendship provides only limited protection, though each take something positive away. Endearing performances that never sink to sentimentality; Pacino, in particular, proves that he could just as easily have been a screen comic as one of the great dramatic actors. --Marshall Fine ... Read more

Reviews (4)

ordinary film but Morgan FreeMan takes it up a notch
saw this film years ago&thought it was fairly hit&miss at best. this was when Christopher Reeve was still a A-list Actor.but Morgan Freeman [was really good]here.He has gone on to become one of the Greatest Actors Ever.the Guy continues to take His craft further&adds so much depth to His roles.this film was a step along the road to Greater things.

High points worth it.
This is an uneven movie. And while movie ad excerpt quotes praising performances are almost always the sign of a stinker (damning with faint praise), in this case, I think Morgan Freeman's performance is worth this movie alone. It's nuanced, and a perfect study of a sociopathic personality. Freeman plays a total predator, who will brutalize without conscience, but will pour on immense charm in the next second as a way of manipulating others. No one had ever heard of Morgan Freeman before this movie...but he was nominated for an Oscar for this performance. He should have won it. He's up there with Brando. A great actor. And this is a great performance.

Ladies and Gentlemen: Introducing Morgan Freeman
Christopher Reeve plays magazine reporter Jonathan Fisher, who is about to lose his job. So he promises to come up with a hard-hitting story on prostitution. The only problem is no one will talk to him, so he ends up making up a story about a pimp. The story goes over so well the police think there really is a pimp who got away with murder and they start pressuring Fisher for the guy's name. But then, to make matters worse, Fast Black, the pimp the police suspects and who also thinks the story is really about him, shows up. He wants to know what Fisher knows and how. No matter what Fisher does, he is in big time trouble. Directed by Jerry Schatzberg ("The Seduction of Joe Tynan" and "Honeysuckle Rose") has a fine supporting cast, with Kathy Baker as Puncy, Mimi Rogers as Alison Parker, and Ted Avery as Andre Gregory. But it is Morgan Freeman as Fast Black who absolutely steals this movie. I remember Siskle & Ebert going on and on about Freeman's performance and when you think of all the hundreds of pimps you have seen in the movies, you realize this is truly a standout let alone a breakthrough performance by one of the best actors working in film today. Bottom line, neither the script nor Reeve's performance is up to Freeman's performance; he is the reason to see "Street Smart."

Matt Kocik, Parker Ford, Pa. "Street Smart" is a must see"
Christopher Reeve was great in this film. Morgan Freeman was even better and more serious, this film will somewhat hold your attention because of the pimp state of mind. But never the less it's more hope taken, "Baker" is a superb woman looking for her own modern sex experience, with men or without men. The first hour is "GREAT" but the last half-hour is kind of boring, but it has a reasonable ending, with "LAUGHS AND TEARS" ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Cryer's 1st picture and one of his best performances!
He is EVERY bit as good as one could expect someone that age to be in this endearing romantic comedy.

Grounded Till I'm 40...
What Jon Cryer had over Matthew Broderick, was his ability to play "Simple Geekieness", in an endearingly awkward sort of way, and in this movie, he's at his most poignant, playing a photography geek, who falls hard, for a women whom he's accidentally photographed, on one of his early morning photography jaunts.

Up to this point, his world had pretty much revolved around his camera, and a dream of using it, to get the money needed to go to photography school in a different city, so he could escape his hum-drum existence and crappy home life, were his mother's new boyfriend is trying to be his "Best Friend", and in peal advice that he doesn't want to hear (as sound and poniant as it may be).

But, enter Demi Moore, a down on her luck rock singer, playing at a dive bar, with big dreams of the big times, hampered by disserting band members, a sleazy bar owner, and very little luck.

And suddenly, Jon Cryer's world changes, as his infatuation grows for Demi, and he becomes obsessed with seeing her dream full filled (whether she wants to let him help her or not). We see his little world, where everything is seen from a distance, through his cameras lens, opens up, and through his struggles to help Demi, we watch him matures from a geeky kid, to a young man

This film has a lot going for it, in comedy of situation, depth of character, and charmingly gratifying story, that makes this a "Must See" film, for 80's nostalgia fans, and any fan of a great comedy with heart.

OH MY GOD!!! THIS MOVIE IS AWSOME!!!
This is a great movie about a kid who spends his life savings and throws away his dream of photography only to help a lovely lady get her dream of becoming a famous singer. You have to watch this movie! It never gets boring and the story is great. And the only thing that makes it alot better is that its got Demi Moore and she looks mad HOT in this movie!!!

EG Daily's ten minuets on screen save the day
Jon Cryer is little too hormonal, Demi Moore is a little too "husky" but E.G Daily in the small role of Cryer's older brothers' girlfriend rocks. If is wasn't for her talking him into going to a bar he would never have met Laura (Moore) and had his virginity taken and his heart stomped on (all the while taking great candid's of a pre-boob job Moore).

FUNNY! FUNNY! FUNNY!
If you liked JON CRYER in "PRETTY IN PINK", you'll find him especially charming in this cute flick! As a matter of fact, I found all the characters uniquely charming and clever...DEMI and JON work great together as 'ageless' companions. ... Read more