January 17, 2009
fab 5 freddy told me this one is fly!
Deborah Harry, Eszter Balint, Fab Five Freddy
A gritty, punk-rock fantasia starring legendary graffiti artist, poet and musician Jean Michel Basquiat, Downtown 81 was, for years, considered a "lost" film. It chronicles the hipper-than-hip downtow...( read more
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DVD Release Date: August 27, 2002
Stats: 97 reviews
Your Rating
Flixster Reviews (97)
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January 12, 2009Kind of a silly, but earnest, story tucked between a ton of amazing footage from NYC circa the early 80's.
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January 5, 2009Interesting seeing the dynamic of this young artist in that beautifully hectic city background. Basquiat himself speaks of the wonder of the city, the joy of walking around in the grit. And seeing the bronx when it was still in a state of decay was gives great insight into how mu...( read more)
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December 13, 2008Cheesy 80s movie but really cool to see lower east side in the 80s as well as bands like DNA and The Plastics. Debbie Harry and Fab 5 Freddy also have fun cameos.
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June 30, 2008Has some really good music and performances; Kid Creole and the Coconuts, James White and the Blacks, DNA, Tuxedo Moon, the Plastics, Melle Mel, Vincent Gallo, Lydia Lunch...etc, but aside from this there isn't much more to it. The dialogue, especial...(read more))ly the narratio...( read more)
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June 29, 2008Awesome performances by James White, DNA, Tuxedomoon, The Plastics, Walter Speding and Fab Five Freddy! The story is just so-so though.
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August 22, 2007the intersection between art and commerce dances street level like a passion play. the painter conflicted by his hungers ruminates to the sounds of this year's hot jazz. sociocultural studies are rarely as compelling and captivating, but basquiat's detournement of life feeds vo...( read more)
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