Something Wild (1986)

Did you people see the same film I saw?

A Masterpiece!

This film is so real. It treats its characters with so much care and sensitivity.

Blistering performances.

This movie is what I call entertainment. Melanie Griffith is so amusing as the sorceress - her performance here is my favorite. This film is pure art, so frugal and so full at the same time. Jonathan Demme manages to fulfill any possible expectation one may have from such a film, I mean you can find everything there: there is action of course, love, fun, and great songs. I love these rappers coming in the middle of the story from nowhere - this is art, when you feel you can do anything.

Something Wild is somewhat of a lost gem. It is by far and away the best thing that Griffith has ever done. She's gritty, intelligent, ironic and never plays for schlock. She was very well directed by Demme, appearing controlled and reserved in her character's journey. The veiled references to Louise Brooks and Frida Kahlo in Lulu/Audrey's character are a welcomed and an insidiously wonderful touch. She is brilliantly supported by Jeff Daniels and Ray Liotta. Something Wild also contains the best New Wave soundtrack ever attached to a film, of course assembled by Laurie Anderson and John Cale. Amazing what can happen to a soundtrack when the talent behind it is knowledgeable, pertinent and relevant. The music is integral and perfectly matched to the action.Good performances by all Melanie Griffith, with that little-girlie voice, is always an appealing actress, and Liotta is effectively funny and frightening. Jeff Daniels is perfect too he's one of these actors who never calls attention to himself, but never puts a foot wrong. Demme directs with splendid efficiency. Add lucid cinematography from Tak Fujimoto, and a great score, and you have a winner.Overall rating: 8 out of 10.

Melanie Griffith is Lulu, a manic pixie dream girl long before such a label existed, stylish and beautiful and carefree. Like all dream girls, it takes a certain suspension of belief, but it begins as a delightful romp into a life of throwing off obligation and self-imposed structure. Griffith is great, Jeff Daniels aptly plays the annoying milquetoast with many panicky lies, where silly and sexy things soon follow. One of the wonderful parts was the blasting reggae throughout.Then everything comes crashing back to reality as soon as she washes out the black hair; the fantasy is over and the depressing reality of leftover high school insecurity sets in and the past catches up. The mood whiplash is stark and the violence is sharp and brutal, but the climax is pretty satisfying.Ultimately, I can't help disliking the movie for completely demeaning what it started with. Lulu begins as the bossy, in-control dame leading a lost puppy, then the balance shifts, and she becomes the damsel in distress to Charlie's urban warrior, who's undergone a Straw Dogs/Falling Down moment and saves the day. She never even recovers a flicker of her old personality. In the end, it's just a fantasy, and a rather ugly one.And they woefully underutilized the shooting locations. New York and a wide swath of Route 1 up and down the mid-Atlantic gave such a chance for wide shots and a slice of Americana, but instead everything is too tight and focused to get the visceral feel of being along for the ride.

"Something Wild" is a pulpy-weird mess of a fantastic movie. The characters have depth, the dialog is sharp, and the music backing it all is glorious.Melanie Griffith is spot-on as a free-spirited woman who dabbles in petty-crime and men, but also successfully brings heart to the role. Jeff Daniels' physical comedy and innocence make him the perfect match, and what better estranged husband to bring into the mess than Ray Liotta. He was built for parts like this.Reminds me a bit of the directors earlier release, "Married to the Mob", only much better. There's something very serious about this film that really sets it apart. The violence and the threat of violence seems very real, and the characters actions seem extremely realistic, albeit totally wacky.There are many moments that make us read further into the characters and their situations... the trip to LuLu's(Griffith) Mom's house, and the moment when Daniels flees the hotel... these scenes are great because they don't treat the viewer like a 5 yr-old. You can really gather tons of insight into these characters without all of the information being spoonfed to the audience. It's a rather 'smart' film.The other great thing here is the music. It's truly fantastic. A great soundtrack is bolstered by some awesome Reggae/ska/rock selections and some live clips from the "Feelies" who are playing a reunion scene. The "Feelies" stuff is just incredible, and will make you seek out their stuff immediately, and the film incorporates all the music seamlessly and effectively throughout the film.The is one of the best 80's sleepers. It's right there with "After Hours", "Miracle Mile", "Body Double", "Gotcha", "Up the Creek" and "Let it Ride". A truly unique film. Risqué. Genre-bending. Sharp, witty, and thoroughly entertaining. I refuse to throw this the rom-com genre simply because the film is too good to be generalized like that.Highly recommended. 80/100You'll like this if you liked: Married to the Mob(not as good), After Hours(better), Gotcha(not quite as good) or Miracle Mile(close, very close, perhaps a touch better)Having Melanie Griffith running around naked the whole movie doesn't hurt, but even on that note there's a weird realistic edge to all the sexuality in the film. It's unbelievably sexy without being dirty, cliché', or overdone.So glad I revisited this little gem, and very happy to own it.I can see how some may not care for it's seedy characters, but that's life man... definitely don't see how anyone should dismiss it or hate it for that reason.