☆★☆★☆★☆★
Four stars; praised as a fearless, intelligent love story.
Ebert praises the performances and character focus while criticizing Top Gun’s avoidance of a real relationship.
In the discussion (4)
- The review gives the movie four stars and calls it rare for dealing fearlessly with real people rather than special effects.
- The review says the film gives its two leads their best acting opportunities and that both make the most of them.
- The review calls it a warm-hearted, intelligent love story and one of the year’s best movies.
- The review criticizes Top Gun for avoiding a real relationship in favor of airplanes.
Bill Murray and Nick Nolte; alternate director and Debbie contenders.
Reported casting history is retained with uncertainty where the transcript signals it.
In the discussion (4)
- Bill Murray and Nick Nolte are reported as having been attached before a disagreement ended the pairing.
- Jonathan Demme is reported as attached before another commitment.
- Melissa Leo and Mariel Hemingway are reported as serious screen-test contenders for Debbie.
- Phoebe Cates is discussed as another rumored Debbie possibility, with uncertainty about the report.
Keep the director, city, and principal cast.
A suggestion for one more friend for Debbie is raised but not adopted.
In the discussion (2)
- The released director, city, and principal cast are left unchanged.
- A suggestion to give Debbie another friend is raised but not adopted.
Demi Moore and Rob Lowe’s uncertain dating history.
The panel cannot reconcile the retrospective accounts.
In the discussion (1)
Pat friendship; apartment painting; light continuity; diner financing; character ages.
Additional sports, wardrobe, and workplace objections are retained in the findings.
In the discussion (9)
- Debbie continuing to socialize with Pat after Pat pursues Danny is challenged.
- Danny’s hostile reaction to Debbie painting the apartment is challenged.
- The breakup scene’s light continuity is challenged.
- Danny’s ability to finance and open the diner is challenged.
- Danny’s claim to have spent his life in restaurant-supply sales is challenged because he is about 24.
- A sentimental cloth left on the kitchen table is criticized as an implausible place for an item that must stay clean.
- Danny’s wardrobe and narrow Chicago-sports interests are questioned.
- The omitted basketball game is identified as a missing chance to establish Danny and Bernie’s playing roles.
- Debbie’s boss pursuing her so openly is challenged as inconsistent with her response.
Did Bernie see the Cubs win? Were his stories true? Where are the four leads from?
The panel answers tentatively while preserving each question.
In the discussion (3)
- The panel asks whether Bernie lived to see the Cubs win the 2016 World Series and concludes he likely did not.
- The panel asks whether Bernie’s stories were real and answers no.
- The panel asks whether all four central characters came from Chicago or nearby.
St. Elmo’s Fire.
Two voices choose it for the same leads and close release date.
In the discussion (1)
- St. Elmo’s Fire is selected by two voices because it also features Demi Moore and Rob Lowe and was released close in time.
Roger Ebert's review