Ive been hearing the major theme to this movie (John Parrs St. Elmos Fire (Man in Motion)) regularly since the film first came out in 1985. It gets occasional radio play, and its catchy enough that I enjoy listening to it. But somehow St. Elmos Fire itself had managed to remain on my unseen movies list until now. Unlike some other Brat Pack films, that might actually be a good thing, since this isnt a high school movie. Instead, St. Elmos Fire focuses on a septet of college graduates, as they learn the hard way that entering the real world does not automatically confer adult wisdom. Its the sort of movie that ages well as the viewer gains more perspective on that time of life.
This is helped, of course, by having an ensemble cast of great actors, under the direction of Joel Schumacher.
There isnt really a singular plot line that runs through St. Elmos Fire, nor any primary star. There are seven major characters, and each has their own character arc through the course of the film. The seven are all graduates of Georgetown University, and still reside in the area, where they are all friends and sometimes more. Judd Nelson plays Alec, who is the de-facto leader of the group. Hes the one that seems to have brought them all together in the beginning in the film, and at first glance appears to have his life in order, being an up-and-comer in political offices (though his friends tease him about his recent switch to Republicanism.) Hes living with Leslie (Ally Sheedy), and wants her to marry him, but she seems reluctant to face the commitment and he doesnt help his own cause there, as he has commitment issues of his own. His best friend Kevin appears to want to commit to nobody at all, having decried love as an illusion, and his sole ambition is to become an actual journalist instead of an obituary writer. Jules (Demi Moore) is flighty, a habitual drug user, and bad with money; shes also prone to flights of fancy specifically, she thinks Kevin is fancy due to his apparent lack of interest in women.
If she caught him singing along to a female empowerment song, shed probably consider that the clincher.
Forming the third counterpart to mostly-grounded Leslie and space cadet Jules is Wendy (Mare Winningham), a demure and somewhat coddled child of privilege. She has all the money that Jules lives like she has, but shed prefer to work with the homeless and have her own apartment both of which are things that her father disapproves of, and though shes in her twenties he still treats her as someone to be led by the hand. Given his willingness to arrange a marriage for her, this probably has nothing to do with her age. Her best friend in the group, despite the fact that she knows hes trouble, is Billy (Rob Lowe); Billy is married and has a child, but would like nothing more than to return to being the frat boy he so recently was. The last member of the group is Kirby Keger, played by Emilio Estevez, who after a chance encounter at the hospital (following a minor crash caused by Billys drunk driving) becomes obsessed with Dale Biberman (Andie MacDowell), a woman he went on a date with in college.
Emiliophobia: The irrational fear that somehow, somewhere, Estevez is watching you.
The plot is a simple slice of life, bouncing these characters personalities off of each other and their situations. And though there is objectively nothing remarkable about the lives of these characters, its deeply entertaining. Part of this is because its full of witty one-liners and conversations, but perhaps part of it is the very fact that its not remarkable. Its relatable. Even people who havent gone through these specific situations can recognize them, and understand them. And though theres no singular plot, there is an overarching theme; all these characters, ostensibly grown-ups by societys terms, need to deal with what it means for them to actually grow up. Alecs on the verge of a mid-life crisis at 22. Leslies caught between her ideas of how a career and a relationship should co-exist. Jules has no foresight. Billy has no sense of responsibility. Kirby is fixated on a woman with the same sense of destiny that fuels juvenile romances. Wendy is smothered by her family. Kevin is aggressively detached from life. Theyre adults, but only technically; they may have adult roles and responsibilities, but they have juvenile outlooks. But theyre all likeable. You want all of these characters to succeed even at the same time as its obvious where theyre going to self-destruct.
Part of it is the actors; there isnt a stand-out actor here, but thats only because theyre all great. Each character is possessed of a great deal of energy and life, with the only arguable exception being Wendy, and thats because the character is meant to be subdued. The character development was not only acted well, but written well; the progression each character takes is believable given their situations, the negative actions are balanced with lighter moments, and none of the characters ever goes so far as to be completely unrelatable or unlikeable, no matter how pathetic they get. And the interplay within the group of friends ensures that theres always a leavening aspect to the drama.
St. Elmos Fire is a very good film, and its one I suspect gets better on multiple viewings. I may have to pick up a copy for my personal library.
I like that picture too. And EE's scowl always reminds me of the look that Charlie Sheen gives Jennifer Gray in the police station scene of Ferris Bueller's Day Off.
That is true. I read somewhere or saw/heard that during SEF filming, the scene where EE smells Dale Bibermans pillow was cut short because he kept laughing every time he did it - and he des have a very infectious laugh, so everyone else kept laughing too.
Oh, I would love to see what was on the cutting room floor! And the same for Pretty in Pink--I want to see the original ending (because AM looked way too cute in the pictures of the original ending).
The poster for this movie the characters sitting on a bench in front of the St.Elmo's Bar was shot between takes. Mr.Schumacher noticed they were sitting on a bench and he asked his photographer to take that picture. And they weren't aware while they were being photographed. It was all spontaneous. I love that movie!
I heard Andrew came to the audition in a limo, but the audition did't go well. So he was taken back home in a Volkswagon. For me it's sort of Keven = Andrew. I know I 'm nut. God love that movie.
SEF is such a great movie. For the life of me, though, I can't accept the fact that Ally Sheedy (Leslie) would choose to be alone after being with Andrew (Kevin), considering the way he clearly loved her and was so smokin' hot, too.
Sandy, I think I saw the movie at the movie theater at least 24 times. At that time we could stay at the movie theater ALL DAY. So I could see the movie 3 times a day! I miss good old days. Nowadays I have to pay 1,500 yen (about US$19.00) for just one movie. Too expensive!
Gosh, I am embarrassed to write this, but when I saw PIP and SEF in the theatres with my high school friends, I remember very clearly loving Rob Lowe in SEF and really connecting with Wendy (straight-laced goodie-goodie type...that was me without the wealth). In PIP, I fell so in love with Molly's character that I hardly noticed Andrew (yet clearly remember hating Stef and adoring Dukie). And I did like the PIP ending with Blane and Andie. It really wasn't until John Hughes death that I started rewatching 80's films w/ hubby, who watched PIP and SEF for the first time with me. And the whole time thinking...how the heck did I miss Andrew the first time around? My theory is that my goodie-goodie self liked the appeal of the wild boys. Glad I finally wised up .
I remember being really hooked on Rob Lowe when I saw class and loving the two of them in the same movie. Then I saw PIP and that was all over for RL. I remember saying to the person that showed me PIP that AM looked amazing in it.
Off topic, I did relate to Wendy but if we are talking John Hughes characters, I would have to say I mostly connected to Allison from the breakfast club. Minus the compulsive lying.
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