Street Smart

March. 20,1987      R
Rating:
6.4
Subscription
Trailer Synopsis Cast

A New York journalist lies when his fake story about a pimp describes a real pimp up for murder.

Christopher Reeve as  Jonathan Fisher
Kathy Baker as  Punchy
Mimi Rogers as  Alison Parker
Jay Patterson as  Leonard Pike
Andre Gregory as  Ted Avery
Morgan Freeman as  Leo "Fast Black" Smalls, Jr.
Anna Maria Horsford as  Harriet
Frederick Rolf as  Joel Davis
Erik King as  Reginald "Reggie" Liggens
Michael J. Reynolds as  Art Sheffield

Similar titles

Fire on the Amazon
Fire on the Amazon
When a well-known environmental researcher is murdered in the Amazon jungle, an arrogant photojournalist joins forces with a beautiful young activist to find out who is responsible. Along they way, they fall in love as they discover the men responsible for the killing would be more than willing to murder again if it will keep them quiet.
Fire on the Amazon 1993
Jet Boy
Jet Boy
A coming-of-age story of a reluctant 13-year-old hustler named Nathan who will do whatever it takes to feel loved.
Jet Boy 2001
City for Conquest
City for Conquest
The heartbreaking but hopeful tale of Danny Kenny and Peggy Nash, two sweethearts who meet and struggle through their impoverished lives in New York City. When Peggy, hoping for something better in life for both of them, breaks off her engagement to Danny, he sets out to be a championship boxer, while she becomes a dancer paired with a sleazy partner. Will tragedy reunite the former lovers?
City for Conquest 1940
Agatha
Britbox
Agatha
England, 1926. An American journalist looks for mystery writer Agatha Christie when she suddenly disappears without explanation, leaving no trace.
Agatha 1979
Four Shall Die
Four Shall Die
Helen Fielding, heir to the fortunes of the late millionaire Roger Fielding, Sr., has broken off her relationship with the unscrupulous Lew Covey to pursue a romance with reporter Bill Summers. Covey, determined to get at Helen's inheritance, vows to win her back.
Four Shall Die 1940
The Skeleton Twins
Prime Video
The Skeleton Twins
Estranged twins Maggie and Milo coincidentally cheat death on the same day, prompting them to reunite and confront the reasons their lives went so wrong. As the twins' reunion reinvigorates them, they realize the key to fixing their lives may just lie in repairing their relationship.
The Skeleton Twins 2014
Whiplash
Prime Video
Whiplash
Under the direction of a ruthless instructor, a talented young drummer begins to pursue perfection at any cost, even his humanity.
Whiplash 2014
A Most Violent Year
Max
A Most Violent Year
A thriller set in New York City during the winter of 1981, statistically one of the most violent years in the city's history, and centered on the lives of an immigrant and his family trying to expand their business and capitalize on opportunities as the rampant violence, decay, and corruption of the day drag them in and threaten to destroy all they have built.
A Most Violent Year 2014
Incarnate
Netflix
Incarnate
An exorcist comes up against an evil from his past when he uses his skills to enter the mind of a nine year old boy.
Incarnate 2016
tick, tick... BOOM!
Netflix
tick, tick... BOOM!
On the brink of turning 30, a promising theater composer navigates love, friendship and the pressure to create something great before time runs out.
tick, tick... BOOM! 2021

Reviews

Grimerlana
1987/03/20

Plenty to Like, Plenty to Dislike

... more
InspireGato
1987/03/21

Film Perfection

... more
Dynamixor
1987/03/22

The performances transcend the film's tropes, grounding it in characters that feel more complete than this subgenre often produces.

... more
Suman Roberson
1987/03/23

It's a movie as timely as it is provocative and amazingly, for much of its running time, it is weirdly funny.

... more
lost-in-limbo
1987/03/24

Morgan Freeman has a commanding presence and he does it with such little ease. Here is no different in a pimp role, as you could say outside the fittingly gritty and authentic urban location work that really puts you there. He is the best thing about this movie. Giving his character plenty of personality with weight, but an underlining edginess that sees him playing it rough when he "had" too. That's not taking anything away from the likes of Christopher Reeve, Kathy Baker and Mimi Rogers. Reeves is rather accomplished as the reporter who finds himself in a difficult position --- career and personal life, but his morals are really put to the test. The ladies are the ones who come off being the ones you care for. New York journalist Jonathan Fisher is not getting anywhere in his attempt to write an article on prostitution, so he writes a fictional expose on a pimp, that ends up seeing him gather numerous praise for its realism. However this fake piece seems to resemble that of a real life pimp; "Fast Black" who's on trail for murder. As things become unstuck, Fisher now finds himself caught in a dangerous predicament with the distract attorney on one side wanting these notes and Fast Black on the other trying to get him on his side by showing him in the real life of a pimp. How one little lie can escalate into something much more. This smoky dramatic thriller doesn't exploit the glamorous nature, but gets dirty as things spiral out of control and circumstances are manipulated to suit one's own favour. This leads to some dangerous consequences for both sides. The interplay between Freeman and Reeves' characters are always gripping and at times quite intense and spontaneous. The rigid narrative does have some questionable details, but remains digestible and cleverly explosive up until its sudden ending of street justice that the courts couldn't supply. Also memorable is the swaying jazz flavour to the music soundtrack and Baker as one of Fast Black's hookers. This enterprise was produced by Cannon."We don't like to lose."

... more
bhurstgent
1987/03/25

If only Paul Newman, Steve McQueen, Jon Voight, or maybe Pater Falk or Robert Blake, or even Robert Redford played that part, it would have been much better. Reeve was weak, and did not deliver what was needed. AND it needed a good soundtrack, something like shaft. There is also some bad editing and direction. What is amazing is the locations. New York has changed so much and so fast, it's really great to see the street scenes I forgot, especially when SOHO was still somewhat not overcrowded. And many interior shots of the run down buildings are just great. What they missed was fitting in a few landmarks, and the fulton fish market, of course. Still, Reeve was good for the comic strip Superman portrayal, but I have never seen him do anything worthy of praise. He had looks, and was well rewarded for that.

... more
wellsortof
1987/03/26

I found this movie to be very entertaining and well done, with good performances across the board. I agree with previous reviewers that the late Chris Reeve's performances in other movies, and at times this one, could be seen as wooden. That being said, I think he played his role extremely well, because it was able to work with Morgan Freeman's outbursts and explosions. Because of the problems encountered by his fabricated story, Reeve's performance was handled well being outside of his environment as much as he was. He was unsure and understated, and being a reporter, being unemotional was in his well being. On the other end, Morgan Freeman was fantastic! Seeing him in a role like this makes you want to see him take on a role where he can be the loose cannon. This movie can show what happens when you "create" a story and you do it TOO well. More people should see it and comment on it.

... more
risaacs
1987/03/27

This film brought Morgan Freeman to my attention for the first time. After, I became a devoted fan. The "scissor scene" between he and Kathy Baker was absolutely chilling and a tribute to both actors. I was mesmerized. The love scene between Christopher Reeves and Baker was sensuality personified.

... more