4K UHD Review – St. Elmo’s Fire

1985’s “St. Elmo’s Fire” is a divisive picture, but it does have a place in film history. It’s commonly regarded as the birth of the “Brat Pack” era, when young stars were taking over Hollywood, using their style and beauty to help mix personal and professional interests, which some viewed as too aggressive. It’s also the first major commercial and cultural hit for co-writer/director Joel Schumacher, who grew as a visual storyteller throughout the rest of the 1980s (including “The Lost Boys,” “Cousins,” and “Flatliners”). However, there are the characters in the feature that cause intense debate, as the script submits seven post-college people newly dealing with the demands of adulthood without a fully developed sense of maturity. It’s a tough sell for some, and while “St. Elmo’s Fire” makes curious creative choices, the offering actually manages to connect ideas concerning stunted emotional growth, fading friendships, and the troubling demands of life without a perceived safety net. That’s not to suggest it’s an intellectual exercise, but there’s more to the endeavor than the soap opera Schumacher occasionally wants to make. Read the rest at Blu-ray.com