A fine achievement

Rating: 9/10 (19 December 2009)

This is an extraordinary movie. I found myself watching it on TV without knowing what it was... if someone had told me what I would be watching, I wouldn't have given it a chance. Why? Because of its being so often paired with grease. But it is everything grease isn't. Saturday night fever is gritty, pretty hopeless futures await the protagonists, the sheer jungle of youth and young mens culture is highlighted marvelously. The weak don't survive, the weak are shown no pity... there is no saccharine here. The dilemma facing Travolta's brother is an all too familiar one in Catholic countries. Travolta himself emerges a likable decent lad, which in itself is no small feat.