Review of The Outsiders (1983) by Mike

Title: The Outsiders

Original US Release Date: 25^th March 1983

UK Rating: PG

US Rating: PG-13

Director: Frances Ford Coppola

Genre: Drama

Plot: A snapshot of the lives of two different class groups growing up in the 60’s The Greasers, a gang from the “wrong side of the tracks” and the Socs the more privileged gang. Rivals over everything, the violence escalates when a young greaser, Johnny kills a rival gang menber in self defence.


Mike's Review

A very hard hitting and moving story about rival gangs and the effect it has on the lives of the people in and around the gangs. The story follows two of the younger greasers after one of them accidently kills a rival gang member in self defence. They leave town and believe they will have to remain on the run forever.

With a cast to die for, The Outsiders is an incredible, hard hitting film. Portrayed in a believable and moving way, the cast includes Matt Dillon, Emilio Estevez, Diane Lane, Patrick Swayze, Tom Cruise, C. Thomas Howell and Rob Lowe. But Ralph Macchio stands out in this film as Johnny Cade.

The direction of Francis Ford Coppola along with stunning performances from the cast bring this film to life. You feel for the characters as they take you on an emotional rollercoaster. You laugh along with them and share in the anguish and feel the pain they all go through just to survive. It is hard not to watch the film now without comparing other films the cast have made since this film. But for many of the cast, it is up there with the finest performances of their career.

The film is an adaption of a classic novel by S.E. Hinton who was just 16 when the novel was first published in 1967. It was also her first novel. The book has become part of school English curriculum.

10 out of 10

Additional Information

Stand out performance: Ralph Macchio – Johnny Cade

Trailer