Baby It's You

This wonderful film of youth struggling with disappointment, was released in the era of all the great John Hughes movies like The Breakfast Club and Some Kind of Wonderful. Well, Sayles possesses that same extraordinary level of sensitivity to the aspirations and virtues of teenagers. It is one of my favorite screenplays, possibly my favorite work of Sayles'.Arquette is highly believable as Jill, one of the most popular girls at her suburban New Jersey high school. The film is set in 1965 or 66 when almost 4 million other kids her age were teetering on the brink of 18, Excellent grades and the top school theatrical roles come easily to Jill, and she's loaded with self confidence.In one of those odd little situations that can happen to teenagers, good girl Jill meets a young Sinatra-worshipping greser nicknamed The Sheik, played with remarkable sensitivity by Vincent Spano. An uneasy but genuine bond forms just before Jill goes off to her seven sisters type university. And nothing goes as expected for either of them. ThisWell, I won't spoil anything else about the film, for it's great to see how Jill and The Sheik react to the radically changing social situations that were written as uniquely of the 60's, yet become utterly relatable to anyone who's survived the teenage years. The screenplay is flawless.It's absolutely fantastic to have this film back in distribution, because after its theatrical release it did not go to video, due to some lack of contract with Bruce Springsteen's label. The soundtrack manages to both evoke some sort of eternal Jersey teenage passion (all the Springsteen songs) and also look back sweetly to the era with evocative hits by The Supremes, The Shirelles, and so on. Anyway, I was hoarding a Pal VHS copy taped off the tv in a 1991 Hong Kong broadcast, because I thought this would never again appear in the western world. But whatever soundtrack licensing issues kept this thing locked up, have been handled. Got the version with the cover with brown background and stills like a film strip.And this is everyone's gain. What a fabulous movie about young love, about the cruelties of strangers, about the clash of innocence and the greater world out there. Super gift for a teen getting ready to go to college, great gift for someone who forgot what it's like to be that young.

Baby It's You is John Sayles 1983 movie take on the 1960's with a Jewish Rosanna Arquette hooking up with working-class Italian Catholic Vincent Spano. Both are very good in their roles and Sayles catches the sounds, feel and talk of the time and area, but kind of loses it as she goes off to college and Spano tries to make it as a no-talent Sinatra wannabe. Supporting cast is very good with well known actors in early (or even their first) roles.The DVD copy is good and clear...but having said that it is necessary to point out that some of the music in the original movie has been changed for the video release. It doesn't hurt too much (although the credits still list the original music), but it is an unfortunate fact that all too often the music in a movie or TV show has been changed when released on DVD or Blu-Ray. Clearly this is because the holders of the music rights wanted too much to let the songs remain on the show or movie for a video release, but to change the soundtrack is almost as bad as messing with the presentation of the movie (such as editing for content, pan and scan, etc.).The 4 stars is for the movie itself, with 3 1/2 stars for the DVD. Still a very good movie to watch if you haven't seen it before, or even if you have.

I can't exactly tell you why but I think this has become my favorite movie. Is it because a young Rosanna Arquette is so cute and sexy and beguiling ? Does she remind me of someone I knew ? Is it the great period music or the rememberance of High School days in a world long ago and far away ? I can't say for sure but I do know one thing , I LOVE THIS MOVIE ! I can't stop watching it. Every time I try to watch something else it pales in comparison and I stop and go back to get my " Baby It's You " fix. This movie is pure magic and has everything you could want. Vincent Spano is Macho with the Springsteen background music but I'm totally infatuated with Ms Arquettes' performance. The flashing eyes, the pouty face and that laugh. To die for ! She is fabulous. You can see the real person come thru. Be sure to watch the ending credits to hear the dreamlike title song from the " Shirelles". Perfect ! ." It's A Wonderful Life" was a flop in its time and now its considered one of the greatest ever. I put this movie in that class. Its pure gold .Do yourself a favor and watch this movie, but be warned. It's addictive.

The great film director John Sayles delivers with this magnificent film. Its release date is 1983 while the setting is essentially 1960s Trenton New Jersey. Arquette tosses in one of the best acting performances you'll ever see and Spano more than holds his own in what is probably the best love story of the last twenty years.What makes this one work is the incredibly real dialogue along with the progression of time and setting. Unlike other similar films this one is special because it charts the relatively typical high school romance into the post high school work and college world. The smallest lines in the script are truly brilliant and filled with realism. The scene where Arquette meets an old classmate in a working class bar is priceless ("We used to be in gym class together"). Later her portrayal of drunken and stoned college reminiscing is also sensational.Sayles sprinkles some timely 60s Motown and rock n roll into the scenes and also adds in some 70s Springsteen fare that help to give the film an authentic texture. He absolutely nails the scene in which they take a weekday trip to the deserted boardwalk. Also, the depiction of the argument and conversation in her dorm is brilliant in its simplicity and reality.Baby It's You has sort of an independent film feel to it, which isn't unusual given that Sayles made his bones with excellent works such as the Return of the Secaucus Seven and Matewan. Do not miss this one, it's definitely one of the best love stories ever produced.

This has been one of my all-time favourite films since first seeing it back in the 80s. A touching love story between two mismatched youngsters with some great moments and a wonderful period soundtrack. I had a VHS recording of this years ago which bit the dust long ago, so was delighted to be able to get a new DVD copy!

really good movie and hard to come by in the uk,that's if you can get it at all. quality very good and would recommend

Great