Vision Quest(released in the United Kingdom and Australia asCrazy for You) is a 1985 Americancoming-of-ageromantic drama/sports filmstarringMatthew Modine,Michael Schoeffling,Ronny CoxandLinda Fiorentinoin her first film role. It is based onTerry Davis's 1979novel of the same name.[1]
Vision Quest | |
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![]() Theatrical release poster | |
Directed by | Harold Becker |
Screenplay by | Darryl Ponicsan |
Based on | Vision Quest byTerry Davis |
Produced by | Jon Peters Peter Guber |
Starring | |
Cinematography | Owen Roizman |
Edited by | Maury Winetrobe |
Music by | Tangerine Dream |
Distributed by | Warner Bros. |
Release date |
|
Running time | 107 minutes |
Country | United States |
Language | English |
Box office | $13 million(US) |
Modine plays aSpokanehigh schoolwrestlerwho falls in love with an older woman, an aspiring artist fromTrenton, New Jersey,on her way toSan Francisco.
The film includes the first major motion picture appearance byMadonna,who plays a singer at a local bar, where she performs the songs "Crazy for You"and"Gambler".In some countries, the title of the film was changed to" Crazy for You "to capitalize on Madonna's emerging fame and the popularity of her song of that name.[2]The film has become acult classic.[3][4]
Plot
editLouden Swain is awrestlerat Thompson High School who has just turned 18 years old. He has decided that he needs to do something truly meaningful in his life. He embarks on a mission or, in aNative Americanterm, avision quest.His goal is to drop two weight classes to challenge the area's toughest opponent, Brian Shute, a menacing three-time state champion from nearby rival Hoover High School, who has never been defeated in his high school career. In his zeal to drop from 190 pounds (86 kilograms) to 168 pounds (76 kg), against the wishes of his coach and teammates, he disrupts the team around him and creates health problems of his own.
Meanwhile, his father has taken on aboardernamed Carla fromTrenton, New Jersey,who is passing through on her way toSan Francisco.Louden falls in love with her and begins to lose sight of his goals as a wrestler. Worse, his drastic weight loss culminates in an unhealthy situation, where he gets frequent nosebleeds which, Louden assumes, is due to a lack of iron in his diet (and results in him having to forfeit a match he was winning). The two finally admit their love for each other, but Carla realizes she is distracting him from his goals.
Carla decides to move out and continue on to San Francisco, but not before seeing Louden's big match, in which he makes a comeback from losing and pins Shute in the final seconds with anO-Goshi(over-under hip toss).
As Louden celebrates his victory, he monologues to the audience "...I guess that's why we got to love those people who deserve it like there's no tomorrow. 'Cause when you get right down to it—there isn't."
Cast
edit- Matthew Modineas Louden Swain
- Linda Fiorentinoas Carla
- Michael Schoefflingas Kenny "Kuch" Kuchera
- Ronny Coxas Larry Swain
- Frank Jasper as Brian Shute
- Harold Sylvesteras Gene Tanneran
- Daphne Zunigaas Margie Epstein
- Charles Hallahanas Coach Ratta
- J.C. Quinn as Elmo
- R.H. Thomsonas Kevin
- Gary Kasper as Otto Lafte
- Raphael Sbargeas Kenny Schmoozler
- Forest Whitakeras Jean-Pierre "Balldozer" Baldosier
- Roberts Blossomas Harry Swain
- James Gammonas Mr. Kuchera
- Madonnaas Club Singer
- Ken Pelo as Coach Charlie Swann
- Jana Marie Huppas Sally
- Andrew Shueas Bar Patron
- Pat Brown as Wrestler (Extra)
Production
editProduction took place inSpokane, Washington,in the fall of 1983.[5][6]The film was shot atRogers High Schoolin northeast Spokane, referred to as "Thompson High School" in the film.[5]Interior cafeteria scenes were filmed atFerris High Schoolon Spokane's South Hill. Some of the locker room scenes were filmed in the boys' locker room ofShadle Park High Schoolin northwest Spokane. Madonna's scene was filmed at the Big Foot Tavern on North Division Street in Spokane.[6]Other scenes were shot at The Onion Restaurant downtown and theNorth Central High Schoolgym. The scene where Louden's big match happens was shot in the gym atSpokane Falls Community College.[7]
Reception
editThe film had moderate success in theaters in the U.S. in 1985, earning a gross of $13 million. It has received a rating of 63% atRotten Tomatoesfrom 16 reviews,[8]and has gone on to become acult classic.[3][4]
Roger EbertofChicago Sun-Timesgave the film 3.5 stars out of a possible 4, saying while the core storyline was a formulaic sports drama "it is nevertheless a movie with some nice surprises, mostly because it takes the time to create some interesting characters", with standout performances from Modine, Cox, and Fiorentino.[9]
Soundtrack
editThe soundtrack to the motion picture was released byGeffen Recordson February 12, 1985. The soundtrack does not include "No More Words"byBerlinor tracks fromREO SpeedwagonandQuarterflash,which appear in the film. The background instrumental music byTangerine Dreamis not included, but was later released on the fan projectTangerine Tree73: Soundtrax.
Reception
editReview scores | |
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Source | Rating |
AllMusic | [10] |
Singapore Monitor | [11] |
The soundtrack received generally positive feedback from music journalists.Singapore Monitorcalled the album a "very timely collection by some of the bigger up-and-coming names in today's pop and rock scene".[11]Similarly,Rick Shefchik,in his review forKnight Ridder,named the release as "the best soundtrack album in the racks these days".[12]Brian Chin fromBillboardcomplimented Madonna's songs on the soundtrack.[13]The album charted in Australia, Canada, and the United States. Upon release, Jeff Bunch fromThe Spokesman-Reviewnamed it one of the "best examples of profitable soundtracks" of unsuccessful movies.[14]Thehome videorelease also peaked at number five onCash Box's Top 40 Videocassettes.[15]Vision Questended as one of the Top 50 Albums and Top Soundtracks onCash Box's Pop Album Awards.[15]The album was included amongYardbarker's list of the 25 Best Soundtracks From the 1980s.[16]In 2024, the soundtrack was included inRolling Stone'slist of the 101 Greatest Soundtracks of All Time.[17]
Impact
editThe movie was renamedCrazy for Youin New Zealand, Australia and the UK, by a still-on-the-rise singerMadonnaand her song "Crazy for You".[2][17]Cashbox's Julius Robinson retrospectively commented in 1988, that the song "really put [her] on the map".[18]
Writing forCashboxin 1985, Peter Berk explained the film "offered a valuable lesson to the industry", showing "how much a hit song can do to promote an otherwise soon-to-be forgotten movie". He continued, writing that, althoughJourney's "Only The Young" drew attention to the album, Madonna's "Crazy for You" made the soundtrack "so magnetic to record buyers". He complimented that films likeVision Questhave "made many people aware of just how invaluable the film-music connection is today".[15]In December 1987,Billboardmagazine dedicated an article to the links between a movie and a hit single and music videos.[19]In July 1985, Jan DeKnock fromChicago Tribunenoted what he called a "movie mania", when various singles from motion pictures reached the first spot in the U.S.BillboardHot 100that year, beginning with "Crazy for You".[20]It was the first song produced byJohn Benitezto climb to the U.S. charts, breaking the nine-week steak of "We Are the World".[21]Australian music editor Marc Andrews, inMadonna Song by Song(2022), wrote that "Crazy for You" is now "considered one of the greatest, if not sexiest, love songs of all time".[22]Len Comaratta, fromConsequence,called it "a classic in the rock ballad canon".[23]According toBillboard,"Crazy for You" is one of all-time biggest movie songs on theBillboardHot 100.[24]The Arizona Republicpicked it as one of the Best 10 Madonna songs From movie soundtracks.[25]
Track listing
editNo. | Title | Writer(s) | Performer | Length |
---|---|---|---|---|
1. | "Only the Young" | Journey | 4:01 | |
2. | "Change" | Holly Knight | John Waite | 3:14 |
3. | "Shout to the Top!" | Paul Weller | The Style Council | 4:18 |
4. | "Gambler" | Madonna | Madonna | 3:54 |
5. | "She's On the Zoom" | Don Henley | 3:18 | |
6. | "Hungry for Heaven" | Dio | 4:12 | |
7. | "Lunatic Fringe" | Tom Cochrane | Red Rider | 4:20 |
8. | "I'll Fall in Love Again" | Sammy Hagar | Sammy Hagar | 4:11 |
9. | "Hot Blooded" | Foreigner | 4:24 | |
10. | "Crazy for You" | Madonna | 4:08 | |
Total length: | 40:24 |
Charts
editChart (1985) | Peak position |
---|---|
Australian Albums (ARIA)[26] | 46 |
Canada Top Albums/CDs (RPM)[27] | 42 |
USBillboard200[28] | 11 |
US Top 100 Albums (Cash Box)[29] | 30 |
Certifications
editRegion | Certification | Certified units/sales |
---|---|---|
United States (RIAA)[30] | Platinum | 1,000,000^ |
^Shipments figures based on certification alone. |
Potential sequel
editIn 2009, interest in a sequel was generated afterTaylor LautnerofTwilightexpressed interest.E! Newsclaimed a script existed, which Lautner reportedly approved.[31]
References
edit- ^Edgington, K.; Erskine, Thomas; Welsh, James M. (29 December 2010).Encyclopedia of Sports Films.Scarecrow Press.ISBN9780810876538.
- ^abGuilbert, Georges-Claude(2015).Madonna as Postmodern Myth.McFarland, Incorporated, Publisher.ISBN9780786480715.RetrievedOctober 4,2023.
- ^abLoukides, Kaitlin (January 23, 2016)."Spokane to host Vision Quest 30th anniversary".USA Today.Gannett Company.RetrievedNovember 4,2017.
- ^abLoukides, Kaitlin (January 23, 2016)."Spokane to host Vision Quest 30th anniversary".KREM.RetrievedOctober 4,2023.
- ^abTaylor, Kevin (November 20, 1983)."Movies and the mat stuff".The Spokesman-Review.p. E16.RetrievedOctober 4,2023.
- ^abClark, Doug (May 19, 1991)."Spokane saw Madonna's modest start".The Spokesman-Review.p. B1.RetrievedOctober 4,2023.
- ^"Home".
- ^"Vision Quest".Rotten Tomatoes.15 February 1985.
- ^Ebert, Roger(February 5, 1985)."Vision Quest movie review & film summary (1985)".Roger Ebert's Official Site.RetrievedOctober 4,2023.
- ^Henderson, Alex."Vision Quest [Original Soundtrack] > Review".AllMusic.Retrieved25 May2014.
- ^abSek, Lim (29 April 1985)."High adventure from Kenny".Singapore Monitor.p. 20.Retrieved4 October2023.
- ^"Notes & Quotes: Stations all over the dial spin record at same time".The Spokesman-Review.April 6, 1985. p. 51.RetrievedOctober 5,2023.
- ^Chin, Brian (February 23, 1985)."Dance Trax"(PDF).Billboard.p. 58.RetrievedOctober 4,2023.
- ^Bunch, Jeff (August 2, 1985)."See the movie, but the record – if you dare".The Spokesman-Review.p. 24.RetrievedOctober 5,2023.
- ^abcBerk, Peter (December 28, 1985)."Film Music '85: Another Year On The Righ Track"(PDF).Cash Box.p. 35.RetrievedOctober 4,2023.
- ^Mezydlo, Jeff (2023)."The 25 best soundtracks from the 1980s".Yardbarker.RetrievedOctober 4,2023.
- ^ab"The 101 Greatest Soundtracks of All Time".Rolling Stone.September 24, 2024.RetrievedJanuary 28,2025.
- ^Robinson, Julius (August 13, 1988)."Demos Of Hit Songs On Cypress LP"(PDF).Cash Box.p. 10.RetrievedOctober 5,2023.
- ^Bales, Kate (December 26, 1987)."1987 THE YEAR IN MUSIC & VIDEO: Soundtracks Wars".Billboard.Vol. 99, no. 52. p. Y-46.Archivedfrom the original on August 5, 2022.RetrievedMarch 13,2021.
- ^DeKnock, Jan (July 12, 1985)."For Third Time, Song From Film Soundtrack Takes Top Honors".Chicago Tribune.Archived fromthe originalon October 5, 2023.RetrievedOctober 5,2023.
- ^Doyle, William; Failde, Augusto (1997).Exito Latino (Latino Seccedd).Touchstone Books.p. 162.ISBN0684833433.RetrievedOctober 5,2023.
- ^Andrews, Marc (2022).Madonna Song by Song.Fonthill Media.RetrievedOctober 5,2023.
- ^Comaratta, Len (August 14, 2010)."Guilty Pleasure: Vision Quest: Original Soundtrack".Consequence.RetrievedOctober 5,2023.
- ^Reilly, Dan; Pascual, Danielle; Lynch, Joe (March 11, 2023)."The Top 65 Movie Songs of All Time".Billboard.RetrievedOctober 4,2023.
- ^Mitchell, Garrett (August 16, 2018)."Madonna at 60: Her 10 best songs from movie soundtracks".The Arizona Republic.RetrievedOctober 4,2023.
- ^Ryan, Gavin (2011).Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010.Mt. Martha, VIC, Australia: Moonlight Publishing.
- ^"Top RPM Albums: Issue 0529".RPM.Library and Archives Canada.Retrieved 6 February 2021.
- ^"Tops in Pops".The Spokesman-Review.April 30, 1985. p. 43.RetrievedOctober 5,2023.
- ^"Cash Box Top 100 Albums"(PDF).Cash Box.p. 20.RetrievedOctober 4,2023.
- ^"American album certifications – Soundtrack – Vision Quest".Recording Industry Association of America.
- ^"Taylor Lautner dans un remake de Vision Quest".La Presse(in French). Relaxnews. 4 January 2010. Archived fromthe originalon 8 August 2014.