The Outsiders is one of those movies I always heard about but never bothered to watch. The cast is full of A-listers before they became A-listers, but that's all I ever heard about the movie. No one ever really said it was good. The quality just wasn't mentioned. It gets referenced enough that I felt I owed it a shot and I finally sat down to watch.
The story, set in the 50's, centers on Ponyboy (actual name) played by C. Thomas Howell. He's the main character and definitely the least known actor of the cast. He spends most of his time with his best friend Johnny, played by Karate Kid, and Dallas, played by Matt Dillon. They're part of the greasers gang, who are mostly poor kids who look dirty, hence the grease. One night at the movies Ponyboy and Johnny make friends with a cheerleader, Cherry, played by Diane Lane, and her friend. Of course she's dating a "soc" (think socials without the 'ul' sound), played by Leif Garrett (told you the cast is stacked) and when he finds out the greasers were talking to his girl, he gets pissed. Johnny and Ponyboy, due to trouble at home, are roaming the streets later that night when the socs come back for vengeance. Some bad things happen, forcing Johnny and Ponyboy into hiding. After about a week, Johnny decides to turn himself in to the police. On the way back, the drive across a burning church with children inside and Johnny goes in to save what he can. He's mortally wounded in his attempt.
Some other stuff happens but that summary got way too long. I think I hit the main talking points I need. It's a pretty good movie and the story is decent. Ponyboy and Johnny don't really want to be gang members and it shows. They mostly just follow Dallas' lead, who's a much more dangerous character. Their fight with the socs turns desperate quickly, as Johnny and Pony are outnumbered. There are nice scenes of bonding between Johnny and Pony while in hiding, and there's a nice scene between Pony and a soc after the church fire.
I have two problems with the movie. First, the church burning is stupid. Not the idea or the turn in the plot, but the execution. When Johnny and Ponyboy go into hiding, the church is their hideout. It's abandoned, boarded up, and not a single person comes near it the week they are there. Apparently, as soon as they go for food with Dallas, a school bus full of children stop at the church and the adults allow the children to get inside the abandoned church. WHY THE HELL WOULD YOU ALLOW THIS TO HAPPEN? Why are they even at the church? Why would anyone think this is a good hide out if you have school buses stopping there? It makes absolutely no sense. Coppola could have easily chosen some other setting for this and not pissed me off. As it is, I'm upset. The other problem I have is the music. Too grandiose. Just doesn't fit the mood and setting of the movie.
Not a bad movie, in the end. Simple and well made.
First Viewing: 2+2+2+2+2 = 10