Blue City

BLUE CITY (1986)

Directed by: Michelle Manning
Screenplay: Lukas Heller & Walter Hill
Starring: Judd Nelson, Ally Sheedy & David Caruso

An almost unheard of gem from the 80s, Blue City is a thoroughly enjoyable piece of Florida noir, starring the then hot brat-packers Judd Nelson and Ally Sheedy. Based on the novel by crime writer Ross McDonald and co-produced and co-scripted by Walter Hill (The Warriors), Blue City is a short, sharp and sweet tale of Nelson’s, Billy Turner, returning home to avenge the death of his estranged father. Peppered with sharp dialogue, intense action and a streak of black humour, the film allows Nelson to shine in a very enthusiastic performance. Ry Cooder’s souped up score adds to the buoyant mood, as do excellent performances from Scott Wilson, Paul Winfield and a very young David Caruso. Only Ally Sheedy is a little underused as the token girlfriend but she would go on give better performances in films such as High Art and Fear.

Clocking in at a brief 80 minutes, Blue City never outstays its welcome and despite featuring several members of the Brat-Pack, is much more adult in tone than say the Breakfast Club or St Elmo’s Fire. The story may be nothing new or overly challenging but that’s not to say it doesn’t have something to offer. Worth seeking out if you can find an old VHS copy (no DVD as of yet), as this forgotten flick is a great slice of Florida soaked fun.