You may have heard there is a new version of the movie "Fame" coming out September 25. This one costars the lovely and talented Kherington Payne, from "So You Think You Can Dance," and features a cover of Irene Cara's iconic title song.
I had to go back and watch the original, since I like to have all my references in order (see previous Harry Potter confession). I think "Fame" was the first R-rated movie I ever saw, and after watching it again I'm still impressed with how edgy it is. This is not the clean, tidy "Center Stage" kind of teens-in-the-arts movie. There's drinking, drugs, abortion, homosexuality, parental abandonment (or complete parental absence), extreme poverty, illiteracy ... in short, issues that are rarely explored in teen-oriented movies, and almost never in this kind of matter-of-fact way. The challenges facing these kids are, to them, secondary. Their ambition is their primary struggle and the object of their ambition (fame, of course) is worth whatever they have to suffer.
I may have mentioned that I see just about any movie that has dancing in it, and I'd say the only recent movie that dealt comparably with tough material was "Save the Last Dance." Being a more straightforward script, following only one protagonist, that movie was perhaps easier to take. (On consideration, the first "Step Up" movie covered some hard ground pretty well, too.) But to me, the original "Fame" holds up really well because it doesn't pretend that ambition, or craft, or talent are enough. It acknowledges that most of those beautiful, talented kids will fail.
Somehow, I doubt the new version will be as uncompromising. (For one thing, it's not rated R.) I'm looking forward to it anyway and have little doubt that it will end up in the permanent collection. I hope that some of those who see this new one will go back to the original, which to me has a lot to say about the artistic process - and about the nature of artists.
Updated: Having seen the new "Fame," I am confirmed in my appreciation of the original. The new movie has a few good musical or dance numbers, but little else to recommend it. Too bad!
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