Better Late Then Never

At first rather annoying in its heavy emphasis on reenactments, this movie ultimately proves fascinating, simply because the complicated, highly dramatic tale it tells still almost defies belief.

If you like to be scared, if you like to laugh, and if you like to learn a thing or two at the movies, this absolutely cannot be missed.

Mostly, the movie is committed to the value of a good time.

This was a fun story about two teenage girls who came from very different backgrounds, but formed a special friendship in which each had something very important to offer the other.Pammy had always lived a sheltered life, the daughter of a prominent politician. It is just as her dad is gearing up for an important campaign that she has a breakdown that leads to her sharing a hospital room with a homeless punk rocker, Nicky. Pam is immediately drawn to the uninhibited Nicky, and together they steal an ambulance and flee.Over the course of the movie, Nicky helps Pam build confidence by encouraging her to do things she never would have on her own, such as dropping TV sets off of rooftops. Pammy seems to provide a sort of stability for Nicky that allows her to finally utilize her creativity in a positive fashion.Because the story of the politician's daughter makes the news, the girls gain a reputation throughout the city, which is helped along by encouraging words from a DJ, played by Tim Curry. At first, he only speaks to the girls on the air, giving them words of support. Eventually, he allows them to perform on-air and spreads word of their deeds, creating a cult following. Calling themselves "The Sleaze Sisters," the teens build a cult following. Yet, with all the resources of his position of power, Pam's father is unable to find where the girls are hiding.The important parts of this movie are the girls' friendship, the setting, and the soundtrack. I didn't like Tim Curry's performance that much, but I think that's just because I don't like him in general. I found his broadcaster more annoying than anything.The movie ends with Nicky disappearing into a crowd after a successful performance on top of a movie theater marquee. It is left open as to whether she and Pam keep in touch, and where their lives go from here. It seems to be suggested that they will both be healthier and more successful because of the friendship they shared. They helped each other learn to deal with things they couldn't before, taught each other valuable life skills.Suggested double feature: watch this movie back to back with Liquid Sky. Both look at life in early-80's Manhattan and place a large emphasis on creating their atmosphere through their soundtracks. But whereas Liquid Sky focuses on death and sex, Times Square shows lives full of joy and hope.

I grew up in the Detroit area - there was an underground punk scene in the city, but I didn't know much more about punk until I saw this movie.My name is Pam, and my best friend and I called each other Nicky and Pammy for months after seeing this movie. Great teen rebellion flick, great gritty scenes of NYC. The concert at the end is awesome - Damn Dog was my favorite song. Loved Trini Alvarado. Surprised she didn't do a lot more acting.I wish I still had the album; it is even better than the movie. I'm looking in used record stores for it, and hopefully will find it.

I just saw Times Square, on DVD recently. What a blast! It's a film centered around teen rebellion, in NYC during the end of the 70s. In that era, New York's Time Square, where the film took place, was seedy and run-down. And yet it also swirled with a crackling, decadent energy.Two young teens are the main protagonists in the movie. There's Pammy Pearl, who's an insecure, affluent adolescent. Her dad, is a smarmy politician. He promises to 'sanitize' Times Square, to help further his own political ambitions. Pammy's father is oblivious, to his daughter's typical teenage emotional tribulations. So, he has her placed in a local hospital, for neurological tests.Once there, Pammy meets Nikki (brilliantly played by Robin Johnson). Nikki is a wild, orphaned teen, who has had run-ins with the law. She's considered incorrigibly rebellious, by her social worker. And she's also placed in the hospital for a neurological evaluation, by her misguided social worker. Pammy and Nikki, end-up sharing the same room at the hospital. At first, Pammy seems alarmed by Nikki, and her wacky habits (she casually eats flower petals, while Pammy looks on in bewilderment). But Pammy is secretly fascinated by Nikki, even writing poetry about Nikki in her diary. Nikki peeks at Pammy's diary one day, when Pammy's asleep. Nikki's impressed that Pammy expresses admiration for her, in her poetry.One day Nikki decides to run away from the hospital. She urges Pammy to join her. The two flee in an ambulance that they stole from the hospital parking lot, with Nikki driving recklessly through the streets of NY. Taking up residence in an abandoned warehouse, Nikki and Pammy learn to survive on their own. And they develop a friendship so intense, that it has romantic overtones.Meanwhile, Pammy's father is engaged in a frantic search for his daughter. He thinks that Pammy's been kidnapped by Nikki. Pammy keeps in contact with her father through cryptic poems, that she supplies to an all-night radio DJ in Times Square. Pammy has listened to this DJ on the radio regularly. Pammy considers his show to be a sort of catharsis, for her teenage angst. The DJ (played by the eclectic Tim Curry) thinks that Pammy is a deeply talented poet. He encourages Pammy to continue communicating with him through her poetry. He's also supportive of Pammy and Nikki's quest to be free, and live life to the fullest.Pammy and Nikki soon realize that they have to have a steady income, in order to live on their own. So, Nikki suggests that Pammy audition at a sleazy nightclub as a topless dancer, because she thinks that Pammy is 'the pretty one', in their dynamic duo. Though she's basically a shy gal, Pammy decides to go for it, and gets offered the job. All the while, Nikki is developing her skills as a rock guitarist and singer. Nikki starts to get regular gigs, playing with local punk bands. For a while, Pammy and Nikki keep a step ahead of Pammy's father, and the law, in their pursuit of a free existence. Nikki and Pammy's friendship also evolves, as Nikki reveals how vulnerable she really is, under her tough exterior. Pammy realizes that Nikki really needs her. And she remains loyal to Nikki throughout the film. Even when they have a serious rift in their relationship, due to the meddling all-night DJ.Above all, Times Square is a film about the importance of peer friendship, during adolescence. It's a stage of life fraught with ups-and downs, on the road to maturity. This film shows that teen rebellion is all a part of growing-up, no matter how misunderstood it is by parents. The performances of the two main characters, are what drive the film. Especially Robin Johnson's portrayal of Nikki. Robin infuses the character of Nikki, with a roguish, delinquent charm. And Trini Alvarez as Pammy, projects her own understated charisma.The soundtrack is also superb. It features many prominent punk bands of that era, including Patti Smith, Roxy Music, The Talking Heads, etc. The music really keeps the film juiced with an electric, anarchic energy.Times Square is truly a classic cult film. I'd consider it a must-see. Especially for those who are fond of the urban Punk music, and fashions, of the late-70s era.

I must confess up front to a favorable bias toward "Times Square". Just before its release I recall seeing the trailer and being won over by the scene in the hospital where Nikki begins eating the flowers. Since this was only about 10 seconds into the trailer it is fair to say that I immediately connected with the film. The same trailer is included with the DVD and I was happy to see that my memory of the event was accurate. After seeing the actual feature I went out and bought the double album, which I still own.I know more about films now than I did 25 years ago and thanks to the DVD commentary (by Director Allen Moyle and Robin Johnson-who played Nikki) I now know a lot about what went into the making of "Times Square". Unfortunately Robin's co-star Trini Alvarado (Pammy) was not available for the commentary. Although most viewers consider Nikki the central character, Nikki really needs Pammy to play off (much like Charlize Theron needs Christina Ricci's reaction shots in "Monster"), plus Pammy's scenes without Nikki are some of the best in the film and Pammy is the character who undergoes all the changes in the story, so you can't really say that one of them is more important than the other."Times Square" suffered the same fate that Orson Welles' "The Magnificent Ambersons" did 40 years earlier. The producers took control of the final cut, re-shot some scenes, deleted others, and released a version that did not reflect the director's vision. Apparently no one has ever been able to find the deleted footage for either film. Although "Times Square" was butchered even more than "Ambersons", it seems to have been less damaged. In part that is because the originally intended version would never have approached the perfection of the original "Amberson's". Perhaps more importantly, "Times Square" has a Haskel Wexler gritty documentary style that simply transcends the narrative elements of the story. So changes to the storyline could not take away from its basic ambiance nor from its preservation of the look of 1979 Times Square-something that was even then a ghost world.Moyle now wishes he had not left the production after a dispute over including additional songs (so they could have a double album) because his continued presence would at least have had some damage control value. Producer Robert Stigwood ("Saturday Night Fever", "Saying Alive", "Jesus Christ Superstar", Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band" ) was determined to release yet another of his musical exploitation films designed to make a lot of money on the soundtrack. This accounts for the inclusion of the completely inappropriate "Help Me" (The Bee Gees), the movie actually goes out on that song although they switch to something more appropriate midway through the credits.The commercialization of the film also included dropping all obvious hints of a lesbian relationship between the two girls. This was probably a commercial mistake because a public controversy might have actually increased attendance. Ironically, if the lesbian angle had remained Moyle would have been accused of exploitation because it is really unnecessary for the storyline. Likewise the script changes needed when Alvarado refused to dance topless saved Moyle from looking like an exploiter.While what survives has major continuity and character development issues, the core of the story may actually work better. Two emotionally damaged girls-polar opposites- bond and help each other. It ends with Altman's cool "Kansas City" twist where the seemingly weaker girl becomes protective of the tough girl. I like the way that Pamela's father finally gets it and backs away, letting her continue to help Nikki until she feels that Nikki can continue without her. You first realize how strong and together Nikki has made Pammy by the end of my favorite montage sequence. After ordering her out, Nikki trashes their room, tries unsuccessfully to commit suicide, and completely breaks down at the radio station. Inter-cut with this is a shot of Pammy standing outside her father's home. At the station Nikki is screaming "Pammy" over and over as they agreed to do earlier in the film in moments of total despair. The audio of these screams is extended into the morning after establishing shot of their dock building. Johnny comes into the seemingly empty room and lifts the blanket revealing a peacefully sleeping Pammy sucking her thumb-she has returned to help Nikki.Another highlight is the scene I already mentioned of Nikki eating the flowers in their hospital room. What makes this work is its point-of-view dynamic. Moyle artfully connects us to Pammy for the first time by allowing us to see Nikki from her POV. Later he places us back into Pammy's POV as Nikki non-verbally convinces Pammy to leave the hospital with her. The hospital exit scene only works credibility-wise because the first scene set us up for it.Finally there is Nikki's "people dig dyin on me" line.