A film can be made specifically for one actor only to ultimately benefit the other actor. This is what happened with Street Smart, 1987 crime drama directed by Jerry Schatzberg.
The script for the film was written by David Freeman, loosely based on the stunt he had pulled while working as reporter for New York Magazine in 1969. His fictional alter ego, played by Christopher Reeve, is Jonathan Fisher, ambitious reporter who wants to write a magazine article about life of New York pimp. He wanders Times Square and other seedy parts in town in order to get in touch with a pimp, but his efforts fail so he, faced with deadline, decide to invent a character called “Tyrone” and present him in article as real person. The ruse works and his editor Ted Avery (played by Andre Gregory) is so pleased with article that it puts it on magazine cover and turns Fisher into journalistic star that would soon get his own television show. However, while unsuccessfully researching the article, Fisher met Punchy (played by Kathy Baker), prostitute employed by Leo “Fast Black” Smalls Jr. (played by Morgan Freeman), pimp tried for murder after accidentally killing one of his girls’ customers. Assistant district attorney Leonard Pike (played by Jay Patterson) is convinced that “Tyrone” and Smalls are the same person, impression made stronger after Smalls and Fisher begin meeting each other after Avery demands follow ups on original article. Smalls’ lawyer wants to use Pike’s belief about “Tyrone” and subpoenas Fisher to give his notes about “Tyrone”; since they don’t exist, Fisher can’t give them, and that would be enough to create reasonable doubt among members of jury. Fisher is reluctant to go with the scheme and that makes Smalls angry and puts life of Fisher, Punchy and Fisher’s girlfriend Allison Parker (played by Mimi Rogers) in danger.
In mid 1980s Christopher Reeve was big star, but almost exclusively known as Superman. Like many actors in similar situation, he wanted to try something different and prove himself as serious dramatic actor who could play roles quite different from America’s iconic superhero. Script for Street Smart looked just like such opportunity and soon became Reeve’s pet project. When The Cannon Group obtained film rights on Superman, they wanted Reeve to repeat that role. Reeve agreed, but only on condition that they finance filming Street Smart first. Ultimate result, however, wasn’t what Reeve had hoped for.
This gritty urban drama looks quite different from Superman films and, at first glance, Reeve indeed plays role quite different from Superman. His character has serious ethical flaws and lacks any scruples, so he is almost an anti-hero. He deliberately puts his girlfriend’s life in danger only to later cheat on her with Punchy, while his scheme with invented pimp can’t be described as anything other than shameful fraud. Yet, despite the potentials for such complex character, Reeve is strangely bland in the film. He is easily overshadowed by other members of the cast. Kathy Baker, despite being burdened with stereotypical and potentially thankless role of hooker with a heart of gold, shows great talent and brings on screen believable and sympathetic character. But even more impressive is Morgan Freeman as Smalls in what ultimately become his breakout role. He plays a very realistic and convincing pimp, a person who has enough charm to seduce women into becoming his prostitutes and befriend unsuspecting Fisher; yet he can at moment’s notice transform in incredibly violent person, able to intimidate anyone into submission and kill people without any remorse. Freeman received nomination for Oscar for Best Supporting Actor and that allowed him to become one of the most recognisable and the most popular character actors in Hollywood. Other actors aren’t that impressive, especially Mimi Rogers in ultimately redundant and unnecessary role of protagonist’s girlfriend, as well as Andre Gregory as over the top buffoonish editor, a character more suitable for comedy.
Jerry Schatzberg, director who became famous for dark urban dramas in 1970s, does a decent job, especially in street scenes, making Montreal locations (where he was brought by penny-pinching Cannon executives) look very much like New York streets. Music by Robert Irving III, which also features segments by legendary jazz musician Miles Davis, is good and contributes a lot to the atmosphere. Yet, the general impression is underwhelming, mostly because of the script that sometimes tries too much to create drama and predicament for protagonist. It is, for example, never properly explained why anyone associated fictional “Tyrone” with actual Smalls, and Fisher’s rise to fame happens too fast to be convincing. Street Smart failed at the box office, which is often blamed on Cannon and their lack of proper marketing. Soon, the same thing happened with Superman IV: The Quest for Peace, which, for all practical purposes, ended Reeve ‘s reputation of bankable star. Morgan Freeman, who was much luckier, is the main reason why anyone should actually watch this film.
RATING: 5/10 (++)
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