Allan Moyle

Despite its troubled production history, “Times Square” is still a hugely interesting, intelligent, subversive, challenging, emotional and inspiring film – one of my all-time favourite films. The screenplay by Jacob Brackman (from a story by director Allan Moyle and Leanne Unger) was inspired by a young woman’s diary that was found by Moyle. Their story tells the tale of young street punk Nicky Marotta (Robin Johnson) whose dysfunctional behaviour gets her sent to a psychiatric hospital for “tests”. There she meets the shy and introverted Pamela (Trini Alvarado) who is in hospital at the behest of her wealthy developer father, David Pearl (Peter Coffield). Nicky and Pam become friends, escape from hospital, live as street punk nomads and through the support of late-night disc jockey Johnny LaGuardia (Tim Curry) gain a sort of fame and notoriety in the guise of the TV destroying Sleez Sisters. There are many flaws in “Times Square”, not least being the clumsy editing and continuity issues that result from the meddling of the producers against the director’s wishes. These issues aside this is still a powerful film shot through with a gritty realism and bursting with a fierce energy. It deals with social alienation, mental health, parental neglect and social decay. It is also determinately feminist; the story of two young women taking control of their own lives and in the process positively influencing other young women is both inspiring and empowering. The film is full of memorable scenes from the opening sequence with Nicky in her leather jacket jamming on her guitar in an alleyway through to the conclusion on a rooftop overlooking a soon to disappear Times Square. The performances are great throughout – Robin Johnson and Tim Curry, in particular, are superb. And to top it all off it has one of the greatest soundtracks ever: Ramones, Suzi Quatro, Patti Smith, Roxy Music, XTC, Desmond Child and Rouge and Lou Reed amongst many others pop up. “I Wanna Be Sedated” by the Ramones and Patti Smith’s “Pissing in the River” are both used to powerful emotional effect – the first wildly exuberant; the second painfully depressive. Overall “Times Square” is true cult classic – a powerfully emotional but uplifting film; a dark and gritty punk rock myth and a must for anyone with even a hint of rebellion in their soul.… (mere)

"How many Zsa Zsa Gabors can you fit in one room? The answer is the one and only Robin Turner (the incomparable Craig Russell), a hairdresser with a flair for the dramatic who takes to the stage doing impeccable full drag impersonations of Liza Minnelli, Barbra Streisand, Ethel Merman and Carol Channing. Cheered on by his roommate Liza (Hollis McLAren), who has recently escaped from a mental ward, they set out to make their dreams come true: Robin, to make it to the big time in New York, and Liza, to have a baby despite all medical advice to the contrary. For the first time on DVD, the cult classic that spawned so many imitators has been lovingly restored to teach us all a thing or two about love, firendship, and accepance."… (mere)