The Outsiders - The Complete Novel (1983) ***1/2
When it comes to rebel teen films released by director Francis Ford Coppola in 1983, I prefer the more experimental, poetic qualities of Rumble Fish (my review here), but I still really enjoy The Outsiders. The movie is a bit melodramatic and the actors feel like they're trying just a bit too hard, but teenagers are like that, right? Plus, it's got an unbeatable cast of young actors. It also features beautiful cinematography by frequent Brian De Palma collaborator Stephen H. Burum, employing frequent use of split diopter and strong placement of the cast within the frame to create striking shots.
It's a different experience (for me, at least) to watch The Outsiders through the 2020 lens. The 1967 novel,—once considered controversial for its portrayal of gang violence, underage smoking and drinking, strong language, and dysfunctional families—I'm sure seemed pretty tame by 1983 standards (and certainly does so now). It's also worth noting that both the book it's based on and the screenplay for the 1983 film are written by women, despite the majority of the cast being male and the treatment of women characters being pretty poor. It's unsurprising given the time period, but it's interesting to note the sensitivity (and machismo used as a front) of the male leads. While I was never as brazen as the characters in The Outsiders, I can certainly relate to some aspects from my own teenhood—some maybe uncomfortably so.
You can find my Francis Ford Coppola Feature Films Ranked list here.
It's a different experience (for me, at least) to watch The Outsiders through the 2020 lens. The 1967 novel,—once considered controversial for its portrayal of gang violence, underage smoking and drinking, strong language, and dysfunctional families—I'm sure seemed pretty tame by 1983 standards (and certainly does so now). It's also worth noting that both the book it's based on and the screenplay for the 1983 film are written by women, despite the majority of the cast being male and the treatment of women characters being pretty poor. It's unsurprising given the time period, but it's interesting to note the sensitivity (and machismo used as a front) of the male leads. While I was never as brazen as the characters in The Outsiders, I can certainly relate to some aspects from my own teenhood—some maybe uncomfortably so.
You can find my Francis Ford Coppola Feature Films Ranked list here.
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