Review of Streets of Fire

Walter Hill’s rock opera is an over-the-top, ridiculously loud and excessive film in every sense. But it fulfills its claim to be a “rock opera” precisely because of its no-holds-barred attitude.

It begins with a lively rock anthem being performed at a local venue in a run-down, unspecified urban location, and from the very outset the story gives the viewer a hook when the lead singer of the band (Diane Lane) is kidnapped by a local biker gang.

Streets of Fire is visually rich, with vivid primary colours saturating the interiors, creating a strong mood. The sound of the film also gives it a real in-your-face attitude. Everything is amped up to the extreme: the sound of motorbikes revving, people clapping, guns firing, bikes exploding, people getting punched and slapped, bottles getting smashed.

All in all it’s an explosive, save-the-girl, eighties affair that is very entertaining, Diane Lane is one of the sexiest women to ever grace the screen. What more could one ask for on a Friday evening to accompany a few beverages?