Street Hero

Tired old tale of a rough boy from a hellish background whose heart's in the right place and who battles against the odds to make it because there's one radical authority figure who believes in him. Oh and of course, he's in love.

The only entertainment in it is the horror effect of the mid-80s Pat Benatar fashion, make-up and hairdos. Where do you buy a red leather sleeveless jacket these days?

Seeing as the other people who have submitted comments for this pile of old trousers have kept it short and sweet, I will keep the ball rolling by simply saying:

1. This is the first film I have been able to follow on fast-forward just as easily as if I was watching it on regular speed with sound, that's how predictable it was.

2. It's not only Hollywood that knows how to beat the old bad-boy-turns-good redemption tale to death with a stick, the Aussies can certainly give them a run for their money.

That is all. Oh, and the soundtrack was absolutely terrible.

To probably understand this film and it's pretence, imagine you were just entering high school in 1984. The big scary new world. Would you fit in? Would you be an outcast? Will the girls like you? Will you find your true calling? Why do you parents seem so dysfunctional... Along comes Vinnie. He's a bad guy, but he's like that bully that everyone likes. Partly because he's not totally a bad guy, and partly because you don't want to be the next guy he beats up. Luckily, he finds a passion. With a combination of street smarts, a little guidance & kindness and an ability to take his emotional pain out on the high school drum kit - Vinnie is able to show the world that he too could be more than just another street thug.

Colosimo's acting wasn't Oscar winning, but he played the role with enough gusto to convince your average teenage male (obviously the target audience).

Sigrid Thornton was cutting her chops, and some of the best scenes involve the teachers all gathered together discussing the humdrum of modern high school life in the quickly devolving post-nuclear era.

The sound track is great with some fine Australian bands offering up some great sonic memories for the audience.

It's a teenage romance movie. No more, no less. I was Vinnie, and my girlfriend was Sigrid - for just a brief moment at the back of the theatre as I wrapped my arm around my girl we had a movie that seemed to understand our angst & trepidation in this scary new world.

An early 80's suburban Melbourne film, about a boy in with the wrong crowd, bastard of a step dad and in love.

I bought this film for five dollars at the reject shop. I thought why not? I got about 15 minutes into the film and remembered I had seen bits of it or if not the whole film before. That is the type of film it was. Forgetible.

This film at times appears to be trying to be a Hollywood film and at other times sticks to it's Australian origin. Low budget props, particularly the policemen's uniforms.

Vince Colosimo has moved on to bigger and better things and I guess we all have to start somewhere, and for that I recommend that people see films like this.

You won't be constantly wowed but is worth watching at least once.

I'm quite appalled by the user rating, here. The film too, does not have bad acting, especially from it's lead, Colosimo, where after this, his career went on hold, where all I can say is thank you for The Wog Boy and Chopper. Like Moving Out, here's another tale of angst. Colosimo is a rebel, involved in some bad dealings, while dealing with own domestic troubles, on the account of his violent father. He finds an outlet, fronting for the new drummer of a school band, while he does fall out here and there with people, like authorities and one teacher in particular, he ends up decking in a cheer moment. Street Hero is an exciting if sort of glamorized drama, shot in quite nice color. The film never dulls and Colosimo is an acting revelation, while I really enjoyed Peta Toppano, as the suffering mother, while I really lied Sandy Gore, back on board with Colosimo, as a lesbian teacher who takes him in, after a quite heavy and shocking tragedy. It has a great soundtrack, plus other songs, featuring one of Leo Sayer's I really liked. Watch for Adelaide's Paul Makin in the starting, spouting some priceless dialogue.