Street Smart

Rating:
Summary: High points worth it.
Review: 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."

Rating:
Summary: Ladies and Gentlemen: Introducing Morgan Freeman
Review: 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."

Rating:
Summary: Matt Kocik, Parker Ford, Pa. "Street Smart" is a must see"
Review: 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"

Rating:
Summary: Bet on Black
Review: Farfetched story of ambitious magazine reporter (Christopher Reeve) who fabricates a story about a pimp only to be manipulated by the defense of a real pimp(Morgan Freeman) on trial for a murder rap and the assistant D.A. trying the case. The movie is not helped by it's lackluster direction and movie-of-the-week storytelling. Reeve was more convincing as a journalist when he was playing Clark Kent. Movie is redeemed by the charismatically vicious Yoo-Hoo swilling turn by Freeman as Fast Black. The energy level on screen goes down infinitely when Freeman is not present. Kathy Baker also does a decent job as one of Fast Black's prostitutes.

Rating:
Summary: ordinary film but Morgan FreeMan takes it up a notch
Review: 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.

Rating:
Summary: Great Morgan Freeman, Good Movie
Review: This is a movie that comes so close to being a first-rate thriller that it's disappointing when it misses. It still is a good, hard-edged story, thanks to Morgan Freeman as Leo Smalls, Jr., aka Fast Black, a domineering, charismatic and vicious New York pimp.

Christopher Reeve stars as Jonathan Fisher, a magazine writer who to meet a deadline fakes a story about tough street life and the women and pimps who work it. His main character is just as phoney as the rest of the story, but the article creates a sensation. The DA thinks the pimp in the story is really Fast Black, who is on trial for murder. He wants Fisher's notes, but, of course, Fisher doesn't have any. And then Fast Black, out on bail, sees an opportunity. At first he thinks someone has been talking about him to Fisher and wants to know who. But then he'll show Fisher real street life and verify that he was the character, saving Fisher from journalistic disgrace...but Fisher has to give him an alibi. The story plays out partly through Fisher's squirming attempts to get out of his fix and partly through Fast Black's ruthlessness.

The movie is dominated by Freeman's performance as Fast Black. Fast is a product of the streets, who has survived and flourished because he is ruthless and smart. He can turn violent in an instant, but you're never sure if he's actually lost control. He can be charming and even fascinating. Part of Fisher's problem is that being accepted by Fast Black is a little like being on a drug.

Morgan Freeman over the last few years seems to be the one directors go to when they want world-weary wisdom (Unforgiven, Shawshank, Million Dollar Baby, many others). He can do this kind of stuff with his eyes shut. His turn as a completely believeable charming, vicious pimp is something to see.

The movie feaures some other strong performances. Kathy Baker plays Punchy, one of Fast Black's prostitutes who befriends Fisher. She still has a few ounces of self respect, and seeing Fast Black terrorize her is not pretty. Andre Gregory plays Fisher's magazine publisher and steals every scene he's in. Shari Hilton as Darlene, another of Fast Black's women, and Erik King as Reggie, Fast Black's muscle and go-fer, make strong impressions.

However, the movie has two weaknesses. Fast Black's story and Fisher's story never quite come together. And Reeve simply doesn't dominate the movie the way his character should. His moral conflict seems more yuppie angst.

Even so, this is a good movie with a first-rate performance. The DVD transfer looks good and there are no extras to speak of.

Rating:
Summary: High points worth it.
Review: 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.