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Flashdance

Flashdance

Drama · Romance · 1983

Alex Owens, a young woman juggling between two odd jobs, aspires to become a successful ballet dancer. Nick, who is her boss and lover, supports and encourages her to fulfil her dream.

Movie details

Flashdance

“Something happens when she hears the music... it's her freedom. It's her fire. It's her life.”

1983 Drama · Romance 1h 35m

Critical arithmetic

One number, for now.

TMDB

6.5 / 10

Community rating

Alex Owens, a young woman juggling between two odd jobs, aspires to become a successful ballet dancer. Nick, who is her boss and lover, supports and encourages her to fulfil her dream.

CriticWise case file

What this film says about your taste.

Not a recommendation score. A measure of how closely the film’s taste signals resemble yours.

The archetype split

Who fights over Flashdance?

The split comes from the same five-axis model used by the test, not audience ratings or review sentiment.

Taste neighbourhood

Nearby on the taste map.

TMDB supplies the candidates. CriticWise reorders them by craft, strangeness, prestige, emotion, and pace.

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Dr. Archie Bollen is having a midlife crisis. He's just divorced his wife and is establishing a new life for himself. One night, he catches the eye of Petulia Danner, a charming, free-spirited young woman. Petulia's vibrant personality hides her fear of her abusive husband, David, whose father is a powerful society figure. As Petulia and Archie's feelings for each other grow, they must decide what it is they truly want.

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The Golden Bowl

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Where it lives

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Names above the title

The people responsible.

Directed by

Adrian Lyne

Written by

Joe Eszterhas · Thomas Hedley Jr.

Jennifer Beals

Jennifer Beals

Alex Owens

Michael Nouri

Michael Nouri

Nick Hurley

Sunny Johnson

Sunny Johnson

Jeanie Szabo

Kyle T. Heffner

Kyle T. Heffner

Richie

Cynthia Rhodes

Cynthia Rhodes

Tina Tech

Lee Ving

Lee Ving

Johnny C.

Ron Karabatsos

Ron Karabatsos

Jake Mawby

Court is in session

Put Flashdance on trial.

Two incompatible taste archetypes. One film. Read the arguments, then issue a completely binding cultural ruling.

The defence The Sentimental Softie

“Sincerity is not manipulation.”

The film risks embarrassment to make emotion communal, and that openness is harder than fashionable detachment.

The prosecution The Cool Ironist

“The strings are showing.”

Every cue tells you exactly what to feel and when, leaving sentiment to do the work character should have done.