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Matt Dillon, Mickey Rourke, Diane Lane, Dennis Hopper, Diana Scarwid ... see more see more... , Vincent Spano , William Smith , Nicolas Cage , Dominot , Laurence Fishburne , Lance William Guecia , Michael Higgins , S.E. Hinton , Chris Penn , Herb Rice , Kristi Somers , Tracey Walter , Glenn Withrow , Sofia Coppola , Tom Waits , Bob Maras , Emmett Brown

One of two S.E. Hinton novels Francis Ford Coppola directed in 1983, Rumble Fish is a stylized black-and-white film about the death of gang culture in a rough-and-tumble town full of stunted youths. T... read more read more...he central character is the strutting Rusty James (Matt Dillon), a foul-mouthed lunkhead clad in sweaty tank tops, who passes his time at the billiards hall waiting for "something" to happen in his life. That something might be the return of his brother, known only as the Motorcycle Boy (Mickey Rourke), from exile in California. Charismatic and intelligent, the Motorcycle Boy once led numerous wide-eyed followers into battle, into the "rumbles" once commonplace in town. Rusty James wants to take over that role, but lacks the smarts necessary for leadership, nearly getting himself killed in an opening fight. The Motorcycle Boy stops the fight with equal parts efficiency and cool, and Rusty James seems delighted by his brother's return. But it quickly becomes clear that a local cop (William Smith) is still gunning for the Motorcycle Boy, waiting for him to slip up, even though the mysterious youth has developed a weary philosophy of life and a skeptical view of his former power. As the Motorcycle Boy seems more and more distant, lost in deaf and color-blind fugues, Rusty James gets into greater trouble, running afoul of his girlfriend (Diane Lane) and friends (Nicolas Cage, Christopher Penn, Vincent Spano), and seeming on the path to destruction. ~ Derek Armstrong, Rovi

Flixster Users

77% liked it

22,169 ratings

Critics

71% liked it

24 critics

R, 1 hr. 35 min.

Directed by: Francis Ford Coppola

Release Date: October 7, 1983

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DVD Release Date: September 8, 1998

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Stats: 1,055 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (1,055)

  • SirPant
    March 13, 2012
    SirPant
    I remember when The Outsiders came out, I watched it and enjoyed it but what I remember most is my sister and her friends going mad over it, more precisely, its cast. Rumble Fish passed me by, probably because of its higher rating but until now I have to admit I never knew of the... read more connection between the two. It's a little bit like a mainstream Jim Jarmusch film, an '80s doing the 50's' Rock n' Roll noir, complete with ultra cool characters, striking black and white film (with occasional splashes of colour) and a certain disjointed charm. It feels like there is something not quite right about it though, but in turn, that might be what I really liked about it - it didn't quite work but if it had been this ultra-glossy tidy production, it would have been laughable. Definitely of its time and great to look back on, the cast is pretty unbeatable. The Outsiders for the Girls and Rumble Fish for the Boys? Matt Dillon's 'out of body experience' scene is fantastic!
  • blkbomb
    November 29, 2011
    blkbomb
    The Motorcycle Boy: If you're going to lead people, you have to have somewhere to go. 

    "No leader can survive becoming a legend."

    Since first watching Rumble Fish, it has grown and grown on me. Initially I liked it, but thought it was lesser Coppola, not nearly as bad as Jack, ... read morebut not even as good as one of his more average movies, Tetro. The more I have thought about it, the more I have really started to like the film. I love these brother movies, where the younger brother tries to be the older brother, but can't. There is so much truth in them and this one one is extremely well done.

    The movie opens with Rusty James being told that another street punk wants to kill him and challenged him to fight. We then learn through conversations with his friends that Rusty's brother has been gone for awhile. His brother is a legend on the streets; he is The Motorcycle Boy. When Rusty James and his gang go to the fight, The Motorcycle Boy shows up too and the two brothers start hanging out again. From there, there isn't too much plot. It is all about the brothers and what it means to be a leader and shit like that.

    The Motorcycle Boy is such an awesome character. He is played by Mickey Rourke and I don't think there was an actor better suited to play him. The character is like James Dean's from Rebel Without a Cause reincarnated. The guy is tough, but he is also soft spoken. He is color blind and doesn't hear all that well. He looks old for his age, probably from all the partying and fighting. The Motorcycle Boy is a leader and a smart, philosophical brother to  Rusty James and all Rusty wants his to be like his brother when he grows up. 

    Maybe it isn't The Godfather or Apocalypse Now, but I still think this shows off just how good Coppola is. It shows how flexible he is as a filmmaker and further proves his immense talent. There is only one thing that hurt the movie and that was knowing the ending way too early. Not that we were told of it, but that it was too obvious. It was the only way it could end. Still a beautiful film from Francis Ford Coppola.
  • MrMarakai
    June 12, 2010
    MrMarakai
    Francis Ford Coppola has another attempt at adapting an S.E Hinton book and this time with better results. It's a bit more grown up, and he once again assembles a brilliant cast. The film is beautifully shot in monochrome style and at times it's almost surreal. Admittedly I never... read more read the book but enjoyed this one more than "The Outsiders".
    Matt Dillon is on good form as "Rusty James" a tearaway teenager who can't stay out of trouble, while trying to live up to the reputation of his older brother "Motorcyle Boy" played with quiet intensity by Mickey Rourke. The rest of the cast are great also with Dennis Hopper playing the alcoholic father and Laurence Fishburne, Chris Penn and Nicolas Cage making up the rest of Rusty James' crew. Also a welcome cameo appearance by Tom Waits mumbling his way through a short but funny character. Worth checking out, even just for the gorgeous cinematography.
  • shortcartoonist
    January 17, 2009
    shortcartoonist
    With some of the most impressive visuals that I have ever witnessed in film and a European inspired design sense, Rumble Fish is a unique, engrossing, and highly memorable film. It could easily be argued that its style tends to detract from the characters and any relevant themes ... read morein the film, but it instead amplifies the need for insight and concentration as we wade through Coppola's beautiful noirish visuals. There isn't a single frame from the picture that couldn't be considered instantly iconic imagery.
  • hobster1
    November 26, 2008
    hobster1
    Francis Ford Coppola's follow up to The Outsiders was a critical and commercial flop when originally released in 1983. Panned for being over-stylized and lacking a clear narrative, audiences shunned the film. Yet it is those artistic touches that set the film apart. Bla... read moreck and white cinematography, which recalls French New Wave cinema and German Expressionism, never looked so beautiful. In fact, this surreal film more resembles life in the mid-50s, despite being set in the modern day. Stellar cast adds to this visually arresting teen drama about streets gangs and sibling relationships.
  • pier007
    February 14, 2008
    pier007
    Mickey Rourke's laid-back charismatic attitude and Stephen H. Burum's hypnotic photography are the key elements of this striking surreal moral tale.
  • michaelcorleone
    December 4, 2008
    michaelcorleone
    This visionary burst of artistic expression is one of the strongest installments in Coppola's directorial canon. Rumble Fish is one of his most unique and compelling works, a film that pulsates with crazy energy and bold ideas. Beautifully shot.
  • Lemure
    November 2, 2009
    Lemure
    In the hands of some European wannabe director this would be a dull black and white noir. In Coppola's hands it's a mesmerising film with possibly the greatest use of black and white cinematography, plus a great score that keeps the film energised and stops drag. It's also the be... read morest I've seen Rourke. A must-see for film lovers. A deserved classic.
  • monkeybobbob
    June 2, 2009
    monkeybobbob
    Arty, noir-ish drama with Matt Dillon and Mickey Rourke about 2 brothers, one a cool as fuck biker who nearly everyone in town worships and the other, a thug and dreamer who tries to live up to his brothers reputation. Their boredom at the town they live in has forced to make up ... read morestories about the old days and gang fights but the reality is they come from a shitty little town and are desperate to leave like everyone else. This looks really good in black and white and has good performances from Rourke and Dillon as well as appearances from Dennis Hopper, who's brilliant as the dad, Diane Lane as Dillon fit girlfriend and Nicolas Cage as a friend of the brothers. This is a well made film by Francis Ford Coppola, visually stunning and well acted.
  • leekyle1968
    June 26, 2008
    leekyle1968
    Pretty good adaptation of the susie hinton novel, that has a very very cool matt dillon and a cool backing cast.

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Critic Reviews

Richard Corliss
December 11, 2007
Richard Corliss, TIME Magazine

If Rumble Fish fails as a traditional movie about real people, it is beguiling as an exercise in hallucinatory style. Full Review

Variety Staff
December 11, 2007
Variety Staff, Variety

Overwrought and overthought. Full Review

Roger Ebert
September 1, 2005
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

This is a movie you are likely to hate, unless you can love it for its crazy, feverish charm. Full Review

Janet Maslin
May 21, 2003
Janet Maslin, New York Times

A number of the images in Rumble Fish are more memorable than the film is as a whole, sometimes for the wrong reasons. Full Review

Dave Kehr
January 1, 2000
Dave Kehr, Chicago Reader

The action is clotted and murky, and Coppola obviously hasn't bothered to clarify it for the members of his cast, who wander through the film with expressions of winsome, honest befuddlement. Full Review

Nick Davis
January 22, 2012
Nick Davis, Nick's Flick Picks

Rumble Fish is like a unisex Sweet 16 gift for children whose favorite hangouts are the pool hall, the Cinématheque Française, and the rings of Saturn. Full Review

Charles Cassady
September 14, 2010
Charles Cassady, Common Sense Media

Teen-gang saga is more intense, violent than the book. Full Review

Cole Smithey
March 4, 2008
Cole Smithey, ColeSmithey.com

Beautiful.

August 1, 2007
Empire Magazine

A bit too over-stylized to allow for any great involvement, the most interesting part of this is spotting the young actors before they became stars -- most notably nephew-of-the-director Nicolas Cage. Full Review

February 9, 2006
Time Out

Coppola's recent viewing seems to have been German silent films of the '20s, so he has decided to coat the whole enterprise in a startling Expressionist style, which is very arresting but hardly appro... Full Review

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Rumble Fish Trivia

  • What SE Hinton movie stars both Nicolas Cage and Matt Dillion?  Answer »
  • What actor was in the movies The Outsiders and Rumble Fish based on the books by S.E. Hinton?  Answer »
  • Who wrote That Was Then This Is Now, Outsiders, and Rumble Fish?   Answer »
  • In Rumble Fish what was the only colored thing in the movie?  Answer »
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