When people talk about Bad Boys it annoys me cause they are always on about those lame films with Will Smith in, the real Bad Boys came out many years before, back in 1983 to be precise and it was an American crime drama film primarily set in a juvenile detention center, starring Sean Penn, Esai Morales, Clancy Brown and Ally Sheedy in her film debut. The film is directed by Rick Rosenthal. The original music score was composed by Bill Conti. It was violent, dark and edgy – it sometimes has you cheering, sometimes screaming at the screen regarding what was happening. I was far too young to watch it but hey I’m glad I did!
OK here comes the plot so be warned!
Mick O’Brien (Sean Penn) is a 16-year-old (apparently!) Irish-American hoodlum from Chicago. While most of Mick’s crimes involve snatching purses, vandalism, and getting into brawls, he aspires for bigger and meaner things, which leads him to attempt ripping off a rival, Paco Moreno (Esai Morales). Of course everything goes wrong: Mick’s partner and best friend, Carl (Alan Ruck), is killed, and Mick, while trying to escape the police, accidentally runs over and kills an eight-year-old boy who happens to be (drum roll!) Paco’s brother!
As a result of his crimes Mick is sent to the Rainford Juvenile Correctional Facility rather than a state prison for adults. Most of the wardens and counsellors do not care about the inmates, with the exception of Ramon Herrera (Reni Santoni), a former gang member who talks tough to the inmates, but holds out hope for some of them, especially Mick.
Mick’s cellmate is Barry Horowitz (Eric Gurry), a small, wiry Jewish kid who firebombed a bowling alley after some boys there severely beat him (for hitting on their girlfriends). Their cell block is dominated by a pair of brawny sadists named “Viking” Lofgren (Clancy Brown) and Warren “Tweety” Jerome (Robert Lee Rush). As soon as their alpha male status is established, Mick takes his first step toward defining himself by standing up to them. Can of coke anyone?
Meanwhile, to avenge his brother’s death, Paco rapes Mick’s girlfriend, J.C. (Ally Sheedy). After hearing of the rape, Mick is desperate to see her, so he and Horowitz escape the double perimeter fences during football practice via the use of a corrosive liquid placed on the fences, making them weak enough to kick open. Mick escapes, but Horowitz falls on barbed wire and is then caught where a counselor beats him up for calling him names and escaping. Ramon senses that Mick had gone to J.C.’s house, and soon picks him up. He then takes him on a trip to a maximum security prison to show what’s in store for him, should he continue down the path of crime.
After Paco’s arrest, he is sentenced to (you guessed it!) the same dormitory at Rainford that Mick is in. The staff are fully aware of this potential danger, but no other reform school has a vacancy. Meanwhile, in an attempt to injure Paco for Mick, Horowitz plants fertilizer into a radio that he has placed in Paco and Viking’s cell. When the charge explodes prematurely and only injures Viking, Horowitz is condemned to permanent solitary confinement, a fate he fears more than any other. Eventually, Paco’s transfer is arranged, so he plans his showdown with Mick for the night before. In order to avoid staff intervention, Herrera, who was on night patrol, is injured by Paco after he pretends to have a ruptured appendix. The door into the cells is then barricaded, and the entire dormitory is aroused by the brawl. Eventually, Mick comes out on top, and the film ends with him very nearly killing Paco but resisting at the last second. He then drags a beaten Paco in front of the caged Ramon and other detention officers and heads back to his cell, crying in remorse.
You can buy the film HERE.
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Brett Summers
Founded Cult Faction in 2014. Some would describe him as a teacher, writer, dream weaver, and visionary... some would not...
2 thoughts on “Bad Boys (1983)”