This is a pretty good film depicting the darker side of the 1980s. The story behind the lead character in the film (portrayed by Michael J. Fox) is one that takes a turn for the worse but leaves the viewer with a glimmer of hope. This film encapsulates the indifference of the fast-paced professional world as it collides with the toxic indulgences of the 1980s.

I just finished watching 'Bright Lights, Big City' probably for the 5th or 6th time over the weekend. I actually have this movie on VHS cassette that I taped on HBO YEARS ago. Anyway, this movie still holds up after many viewings. I was a big Manhattan clubgoer from the late-80s to the mid-90s and this movie really captures that world pretty well. LOVE the beginning scenes at the now-gone-forever Palladium on East 14th Street (it was torn down to build dormitories for NYU). The movie superbly tells the story of a naive small-town young man (Jamie Conway, played brilliantly by Michael J. Fox) with dreams of being a modern-day 'F. Scott Fitz-Hemingway' (a phrase actually used in the movie) whose life is turned upside-down by the unexpected departure of his newlywed wife. She pursues her dreams to be a model at the expense of Jamie's heart. He drowns his sorrows in cocaine within the very-alluring Manhattan club life of the day (trust me - the Manhattan nightlife ain't what it used to be - the Golden Age is over). He is also dealing with the recent death of his mother to cancer and a very unfulfilling job. I love this movie because Jamie Conway could have been anyone - someone with big dreams who moves away from home to seek a better life and unwittingly has his dreams destroyed by users and backstabbers. Oh yeah, and the music is great too (Prince, Donald Fagen, Bryan Ferry, Narada Michael Walden). I highly, HIGHLY recommend this great 80s movie. (Word of warning, especially for NYC lovers....the long, endearing shot of the Twin Towers at the movie's end may bring a tear or two to your eyes....it did to mine.)

This movie showed me just how easy it is for things to fall apart in someone's life. We see the main character Jaime on a downward slide. His wife left him, his job is beginning to fall apart and he is living in this phase where he is using drugs and booze to wash away painful memories that he would like to avoid. This is a sad movie. Phoebe Cates was perfect in her role. It was a smaller role than I expected... I mean her character has a huge impact on Jaime, but she isn't in the movie very much. The times where she is present she plays the role of a self absorbed model-to-be perfectly. She always has this smirk on her face that just really sums up how vapid she is. This movie was also scary. With a job falling apart and a personal life that is a total mess, there is always the temptation to just sort of give up on things and live in the present. Looking for fun to hide the pain, only the fun that Jaime seeks is impossible to obtain. Drugs and booze become his crutch and the the fast life of New York in the 80's becomes his life... until he realizes that this is not a way to live, this is a way to die. The movie is perfect, the acting was outstanding, the story was believable, the screenplay well written, witty and deep. 5 stars for this gem of a movie that is among the best of any drug addiction movie I have ever seen. Powerful, captivating, emotional, entertaining and gives a message of hope. Oh, you really should see this.

Could this finally be a WIDESCREEN VERSION??!! I hope so! This is a classic movie that's sadly only been available in cropped full screen format.

** Time to celebrate! I just read somewhere that this will be a 20 year anniversary release! **

It has very little of the brilliance of the book, but Bright Lights, Big City provides a somewhat entertaining look at the decadent 80s. Most of the merit resides on Michael J. Fox, who manages, against great odds, to make Jamie a relatable character on the verge of self-destruction. Kiefer Sutherland is also great as his sleazy enabler and sidekick. Phoebe Cates, on the other hand, is the movie's worst mistake. She's pretty enough, but not for one second I bought that she was a runway model (how tall is she? Five five?) or, for that matter, that she'd inspire such passion from Fox.