MOVIE REVIEW: Star 80 1983This is the story of Playboy Playmate of the Year 1980 Dorothy Stratten (Mariel Hemingway). Dorothy was a young, naive teen from Vancouver. While an employee at the local Dairy Queen, she meets sleazy hustler Paul Snider (Eric Roberts). Paul is a strip club promoter that is looking to make it to the "big-time". Paul sees Dorothy as his meal ticket. They begin dating and he escorts her to her senior prom, much to her parents disapproval. That night, Dorothy agrees to let Paul take some semi-nude photos of her that she thought were for his eyes only. Paul submits the photos to Playboy magazine. She is an instant hit and doors begin to open. With her new-found fame, Dorothy is headed on the fastrack to Hollywood stardom. As her fame grows, Paul's jealous and controlling nature is revealed. Friends and family attempt to pull Dorothy away from Paul's (now her husband) iron-clad grip. The ending results in tragedy. No more spoilers from me y'all.
This based on a true story. The real Dorothy Stratten was absolutely breathtaking and Mariel Hemingway does justice to her memory. Eric Roberts is truly terrifying as Paul Snider, another performance that was robbed of an Oscar. I've always dug Eric Roberts, even more so than his overrated sis. The ending is shocking and horrifying. This film is a cautionary tale of how an impressionable girl can get caught up with the wrong guy. The term Star 80 refers to the vanity plate Paul had on his car that he bought with Dorothy's cash. Cliff Robertson's portrayal of Hugh Hefner was dead on. If you've never heard Dorothy Stratten, please Google her. There is a pretty interesting backstory that goes along with it that is still ongoing to this day. This film contains nudity, strong language, and violence.
VERDICT: 4 Soul Claps
Labels: Movie Reviews
This entry was posted
on Sunday, November 12, 2006 at 6:45 PM.
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