Watch Smooth Talk

Smooth Talk is a coming-of-age drama directed by Joyce Chopra, released in 1985. The movie is based on Joyce Carol Oates' short story "Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?" and explores the life of a teenage girl named Connie (Laura Dern), who is looking for something more in her mundane life in the suburbs of California. Connie lives with her parents, her younger sister and her older brother, who often mock her and put her down. Her father is an absent-minded man who spends most of his time watching TV while her mother is a nagging, overbearing woman who constantly berates Connie for her looks, her behavior, and her desire to fit in with the cool kids.

One day, while hanging out with her friends at a local mall, Connie catches the eye of a young man named Arnold Friend (Treat Williams), who starts flirting with her. Arnold is a smooth-talking, charismatic guy who exudes confidence and charm, and Connie is immediately drawn to him. However, as the movie progresses, we see that there is something sinister about Arnold, and his interest in Connie is not entirely innocent.

As Connie and Arnold's relationship develops, we see how their dynamic changes. Arnold initially seems like the perfect guy, but beneath his suave exterior lies a man who wants to control and manipulate Connie. He uses his charm and charisma to slowly get closer to her, offering her excitement, danger and freedom from her mundane life. However, as the movie progresses, we see that he has more sinister intentions, and Connie becomes more and more aware of the danger she may be in.

Throughout the movie, Connie struggles with her identity, trying to find a place for herself in the world. She is torn between wanting to fit in with her peers and wanting to rebel against her parents and their rigid expectations of her. She is also drawn to Arnold's danger, but at the same time, she feels fear and unease about his intentions.

In addition to exploring Connie's coming-of-age story, Smooth Talk also touches on several other themes, including family dynamics, gender roles, and the dangers of sexual predators. Mary Kay Place delivers a powerful performance as Connie's mother, who is overly critical of her daughter, pushing her to conform to traditional gender roles and be a "good girl." The movie also portrays the danger young women face from sexual predators, as Arnold's true intentions become clearer.

The cinematography of the movie is beautiful, capturing the sun-drenched California landscape perfectly, and the soundtrack helps to set the tone of the movie, with its mixture of pop hits and moody instrumentals.

Overall, Smooth Talk is a powerful coming-of-age drama that explores the themes of identity, family dynamics, and the dangers of sexual predators. Treat Williams and Laura Dern deliver standout performances as a pair of characters whose relationship becomes increasingly dangerous as the movie progresses. Joyce Chopra's direction perfectly captures the mood of the movie, and the result is a film that is both thought-provoking and emotionally resonant.

Smooth Talk is a 1985 drama with a runtime of 1 hour and 36 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 6.5 and a MetaScore of 74.