Criterion Press Release: Smooth Talk (Blu-ray) (1 Viewer)

[Ronald Epstein]

Suspended between carefree youth and the harsh realities of the adult world, a teenage girl experiences an unsettling awakening in this haunting vision of innocence lost. Based on the celebrated short story “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?” by Joyce Carol Oates, the narrative debut from Joyce Chopra features a revelatory breakout performance by Laura Dern as Connie, the fifteen-year-old black sheep of her family whose summertime idyll of beach trips, mall hangouts, and innocent flirtations is shattered by an encounter with a mysterious stranger (a memorably menacing Treat Williams). Winner of the Grand Jury Prize at Sundance, Smooth Talk captures the thrill and terror of adolescent sexual exploration as it transforms the conventions of a coming-of-age story into something altogether more troubling and profound.
FILM INFO

• Joyce Chopra
• United States, United Kingdom
• 1985
• 91 minutes
• Color
• 1.85:1
• English
• Spine #1068

DIRECTOR-APPROVED SPECIAL EDITION FEATURES

• New, restored 4K digital transfer, supervised by director Joyce Chopra, with uncompressed monaural soundtrack on the Blu-ray
• Conversation among Chopra, author Joyce Carol Oates, and actor Laura Dern from the 2020 New York Film Festival, moderated by TCM host Alicia Malone
• New interview with Chopra
• New interview with production designer David Wasco
• KPFK Pacifica Radio interview with Chopra from 1985
• Joyce at 34 (1972), Girls at 12 (1975), and Clorae and Albie (1976), three short films by Chopra
• Audio reading of the 1966 Life magazine article “The Pied Piper of Tucson,” which inspired the short story by Oates
• Trailers
• English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing
• PLUS: An essay by poet Honor Moore, a 1986 New York Times article by Oates about the adaptation, and Oates’s 1966 short story “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?”
• More!
  
  New cover based on an original theatrical poster by Vincent Topazio
  
  February 23, 2021

 

[Ronald Epstein]

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[titch]

I'm intrigued by this. I've always thought Laura Dern to be a marvellous actress. After seeing her in Little Women and Marriage Story this year, it will interesting to go back and see her in one of her first major roles.

 

[bujaki]

Treat Williams in an excellent, smooth, creepy performance. Unforgettable film.

 

[darkrock17]

Has the artist for the cover art ever seen a woman in their life?

 

[B-ROLL]

I would argue that Ms. Dern's "breakout performance" was in Mr S's "Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore" ...

Her filmography prior to Smooth Talk

Year	Title	Role	Notes
1973	White Lightning	Sharon Anne	Uncredited
1974	Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore	Girl Eating Ice Cream Cone	Uncredited
1980	Foxes	Debbie
1982	Ladies and Gentlemen, The Fabulous Stains	Jessica McNeil
1983	Grizzly II: The Predator	Tina
1984	Teachers	Diane Warren
1985	Mask	Diana Adams
1985	Smooth Talk	Connie Wyatt

 

[Robert Harris]

“Thank the merciful bloodstained gods!”

it’s restored!

long story on this one, made short.

the camera neg was being stored in a carton with the word Knorr on the side, and returned from a lab, had been left on the loading dock. Someone inadvertently dropped it at a local food kitchen for migrant workers (domestic), and the entire carton was dumped in a giant pot. Water added, brought to a boil, along with some fresh vegetables.

needless to say, once the bits of carrot and celery were rinsed away, it was in quite a state.

never looked quite right after that. Worse than the damaged reels of Brothers Grimm.

very good film, which deserves this superior treatment.

 

[titch]

Has the artist for the cover art ever seen a woman in their life?

Really? It's actually the original poster done from a publicity still.

 

[darkrock17]

Really? It's actually the original poster done from a publicity still. View attachment 81897

That is a man in a wig.

 

[Bryan^H]

I watched this years ago when the MGM DVD was released. I can't say I remember much about it, which usually means I didn't much care for it.

Why can't we get the ultimate scorching hot Lara Dern role in 'Rambling Rose' on BD with great performances by all involved...especially Robert Duvall.

 

[PMF]

Laura Dern has always been great from her earliest of starts.