FRIDAY MOVIE SUGGESTION NIGHT PRESENTS: "ST. ELMO'S FIRE"!

In 2007, just for fun I intended to offer this film, but others were already on my schedule. Now comes the freezing temperatures of Winter, and a rather intense film was offered last week. I've decided that if ever there was a good time to "turn up the heat" and enjoy St. Elmo's Fire, now is a better time. This is a lighter fare film than last week's selection that finds its way to the heart without trying to be something more. I take exception to those who haven't taken a second look at the seven characters of "the brat pack" since its 1985 release. Against the backdrop of deep friendships, we follow seven characters who have just graduated from college and are staggering to gain a foot hold in the real world. Director Joel Schumacher allows plenty of room for character development. Rob Lowe's saxophone musician character has fathered a child, walked away from marriage, and is scared to death to discover that life is not a fraternity house party. He plays this coy by masking his fear as an edgy playboy buying time until he figures out his way. Demi Moore is the ultra-attractive "party girl" living in denial and sinking in debt by borrowing money to create an image of success. Emilio Estevez is memorably pursuing a "pipe dream" romance with a clearly unavailable girl (Andie MacDowell). Ally Sheedy (who was on the first season of T.V.'s CSI: Crime Scene Investigation and will be featured in "Harold" this year), loves Alec (Judd Nelson), but has good reasons to hold back and see what his motives are as a political hack. Andrew McCarthy is the lost writer who is in a serious limbo longing for the past and Mare Winningham is casted superbly as the different girl of the group who just doesn't fit in anywhere. But she's a solid and dependable friend. Say what you will. I'll admit that this film is a bit dated, but what many missed the first time around were the issues that real people confront. Unfulfilled dreams, drug use, forbidden love and romantic obsessions. This film really resonates with a nice cast and an ending that is quite unpredictable. Featuring: Rob Lowe as Billy Hicks; Demi Moore as Jules; Emilio Estevez as Kirby Keager; Ally Sheedy as Leslie Hunter; Judd Nelson as Alec Newbary; Mare Winningham as Wendy Beamish and Andrew McCarthy as Kevin Dolenz. Directed by Joel Schumacher, the film was Written by: Joel Schumacher and Carl Kurlander . I was surprised to find that the film was Produced by Lauren Schuller Donner, whom I once met at an L.A. social. Nominated at the 1986 Academy Awards for Best Original Music Score, again, this is just a nice film to watch comfortably from the sofa with hot Cocoa and a roaring fireplace.

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HAVE FUN!