DVD Review: Edge City (A-)

Edge City (1998)
Directed by Eugene Martin
Starring Charlie Hohheimer, Heather Gottlieb, Ryan Carmody and Jill Horner
MPAA: UR
Grade: A-

Review by Scott Standish

Edge City is a remarkable movie. Not since Larry Clark's controversial film Kids have I seen a movie that so accurately captures the intense pressures that young adults face today. A talented ensemble cast brings this modern day West Side Story saga to life and the results are fantastic.

The story takes place in a small suburb outside of Philadelphia. Two separate groups of teens face peer pressure on a variety of issues: sex, drugs, and most of all, just acting tough 24-7. Gangster hip hop culture dominates the young male's lives as they try to outdo each other as to who is the toughest. The girls compete as to who has the most sexual conquests and of course that lifestyle for young girls is a ticking time bomb.

All of the kids hang out in the parking lots of drive through burger stands as they smoke joints, drink champagne and gossip about each other. Stories gain exaggeration as they are retold, and before long a simple prank among one of the groups escalates into a misunderstanding that leads to violence.

Loosely based on a true story, Edge City is a passionate portrayal of young teens trying to live as adults in a very unhealthy environment. Their parents are not involved in their kids lives and at times, the parents seem even more childish than their kids. Director Eugene Martin weaves all of these characters together with a distinct editing style that adds flavor to the over-all package.

Edge City is one of the best films I have seen about the teenage experience in America today and it's highly recommended.

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