Flashdance is at times cheesy — as many of these 1980s dramas tended to be — but it’s entertaining, features a great soundtrack and incredible performance from a phenomenal performance from Jennifer Beals.
Flashdance
(1983)
Genre(s): Drama
Paramount | R – 95 min. – $25.99 | April 11, 2023
Date Published: 04/03/2023 | Author: The Movieman
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Paramount provided me with a free copy of the Blu-ray I reviewed in this Blog Post.
The opinions I share are my own.
The screen captures are from the Blu-ray disc and do not represent the 4K resolution.
THE MOVIE — 3¾/5 |
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Plot Synopsis: Alex Owens (JENNIFER BEALS) is a beautiful young woman who works a day job in a steel mill and dances in a bar at night. When Alex discovers that her handsome boss, Nick Hurley (MICHAEL NOURI), is both interested in her and supportive of her performing career, she renews her efforts to get accepted into a prestigious dance conservatory. Although Alex is frightened of failure, she is cheered on by Nick, as well as by her mentor, former ballet performer Hanna Long (LILIA SKALA).
Quick Hit Review: Despite owning the original DVD release and later Blu-ray, Flashdance wasn’t a movie I had yet watched, though know of its cultural importance and the numerous references to both iconic scenes and the soundtrack, including “Flashdance (What a Feeling)” which won an Academy Award. This being my first viewing, although the story was on the lackluster side and a loose structure, it is a breezy film that goes through the motions of a romantic-drama (couple falls in love, has fight, comes back together). And thankfully we don’t get some forced antagonist to our main character, with only one scene with a smarmy character, but any tension is diffused and we move on. Speaking of the main character, Jennifer Beals as Alex is terrific, just has a great innocence and vulnerability, which I assume Beals did channel this being her first major role (and only second film total). She shines bright and really no wonder that she has lasted quite a while in Hollywood, though the physicality on display. With no hyperbole, it could be argued Beals deserved Academy Award recognition.
Flashdance was directed by Adrian Lyne who hasn’t helmed a whole lot over the course of 30 years, yet has turned in some other fine works including Unfaithful, Fatal Attraction and, after a nearly 20 year hiatus, has Deep Waters, starring Ana de Armas and Ben Affleck. |
SPECIAL FEATURES – 2½/5 |
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This release comes with a glossy slip cover and inside is a redemption code for the Digital HD copy. Filmmaker Focus: Director Adrian Lyne Discusses Flashdance (5:51) — Lyne looks back at the project and the impact it has over the years in this new featurette. The Look of Flashdance (9:12) is an older featurette on the filming locations, sets, etc. and has interviews with Lyne, Jerry Bruckheimer and others. Releasing the Flashdance Phenomenon (8:52) is on the uncertainty of how the movie would do upon its release and how it broke out. Theatrical Trailer (1:41) |
VIDEO – 4½/5 |
| It was only two years ago that Paramount released Flashdance as part of their “Paramount Presents” line and that one already had a new transfer remaster in 4K. This one just upgrades from 1080p to the full 2160p HD transfer. And for the most part this does look rather good. Close-ups especially are noteworthy and nicely detailed with some of the more distant shots losing some definition. However, colors are well balanced even if it’s on the darker side with the lighting. Comparatively, this one is slightly better over the Blu-ray but only just. |
AUDIO – 4½/5 |
| In all likelihood the DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track is probably the same as the original 2007 release, however that’s not at all a bad thing. While the dialogue levels are strong, the biggest effect this lossless track has is with the iconic and classic 1980s soundtrack, most notably “Flashdance (What a Feeling)” that blares out for both the opening title and the final scene, to “Maniac” midway through. All in all, it sounds absolutely incredible. (copied from Blu-ray review) |
OVERALL – 3½/5 |
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Flashdance is at times cheesy — as many of these 1980s dramas tended to be — but it’s entertaining, features a great soundtrack and incredible performance from a phenomenal performance from Jennifer Beals in her first leading role. |