Today is my birthday, so I decided to pick a movie made in the same year I was born and I stumbled upon this disturbing little gem. Wow, was 1983 really 28 years ago?
I've never heard of Star 80 before so I assumed it probably sucked, but was intrigued by the description: the true story of Playboy Playmate of the year Dorothy Stratten who was murdered by her estranged husband Paul Snider. I decided to give it a shot and was hooked five minutes in. This is a really really good movie.
There are no mysteries in this film; it begins with the ending, Paul Snider covered in blood and Dorothy Stratten laying dead on the floor. The film is shown in a series of flashbacks; how Paul met Dorothy, her rise to fame, his growing instability and paranoia, all events leading to the tragic end. And in case you've forgotten, the film will remind you where it's all headed by weaving in the blood soaked ending throughout. Knowing the ending to the film makes all the events even more tragic. We see Dorothy's sweet innocence, her youth and nativity, her stunning beauty and we are disheartened to know that it does not end well for her and it comes in the most brutal way imaginable.
While watching Star 80 I was immediately reminded of a criminally underrated Martin Scorcese film, The King of Comedy. Both films share many of the same themes of an outsider trying to get in, desperation, rejection and isolation. Paul, a small time salesman, hustler and pimp discovers Dorothy and immediately takes advantage of her nativity and insecurity. The two become romantically involved and he convinces her to send photos to Playboy. She is his ticket to the big time, to his dreams of riches and fame. As you can guess, she becomes famous and he desperately tries to hold on to her coattails. Watching him try to rub elbows with the likes of Hugh Hefner and Hollywood stars makes you cringe in embarrassment. It is clear that Dorothy doesn't really need Paul anymore and we can see him slowly losing his grip on her and ultimately himself.
Eric Roberts' portrayal of Paul Snider is disturbing to say the least. He hits all the notes so well; paranoia, jealousy, insanity, and rage. He goes from slick con man who has this gorgeous girl under his thumb to a desperate man who's lost his grip on reality. He is almost a sympathetic character until you remember that he kills her, but even then maybe you sort of understand where he's coming from.
Dorothy is played by Mariel Hemingway, who I remember from Manhattan. She exudes a sweet innocence that makes her fate all the more tragic. (It's all in her wide puppy eyes.) She is a victim even before she gets killed. You can see it a mile away, marrying a much older man at eighteen, taken advantage of and manipulated. She never even realizes what a psychopath Paul is. It is easy to forget that Dorothy was only twenty years old when she died.
Star 80 is disturbing to think about let alone watch yet you feel compelled to see it all the way through. There are no moments to relax for the viewer; the build up to the inevitable makes the final moments drag on in despair, almost as if her death would be a relief. What a horrible thing to feel.
Grade: A-
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