There’s handful of movies that I can remember having a big impact on me as a kid. Of course the classics like Scarface, Goodfellas, Wallstreet, etc are a given. However, certain flicks, low-budget ones at that, resonated with those of us that were actually “kids” in the 90s more than those Hollywood classic. Specifically, I can remember Belly and Harmony Korine & Larry Clarks’ KIDS having a lasting impression on me. KIDS definitely came first. Honestly, I think I was way too young when I first watched it. It’s portrayal of young Manhattan teens running wild through the city was almost mesmerizing. In retrospect, a lot of their behavior with sex and drugs weren’t that different from what a lot of city kids from all over the map experienced but to see it captured so honestly and vividly made these group of KIDS underground stars. Most of the characters had never acted before, which just made things even more realistic. Stars like Chloe Sevigny, Rosario Dawson, Leo Fitzpatrick, Justin Pierce (RIP) and of course Harold Hunter (RIP) were introduced to the world. It’s been nearly two decades since the film was released, but it’s still a cult classic to this day. Fans of the movie must read this retrospective piece on the film. It covers EVERYTHING.
Two decades after a low-budget film turned Washington Square skaters into international celebrities, the kids from “Kids” struggle with lost lives, distant friendships, and the fine art of growing up.
Read the article after the jump
(more…)