On B List of Movie Reviews

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The Boost (1988)

Rate: 8
Viewed: 4/20

Boost
4/20: The Boost is perfectly tailor-made for James Woods.

It's a top five performance of his career. Nobody could've played the role of a charmingly smooth, fast-talking salesman better than James Woods. His chemistry with Sean Young was electrifying, and the fallout of their real-life relationship became legendary during the late 80's that wouldn't stop there for her.

After the completion of The Boost, Sean Young stalked James Woods so badly that he had to file a restraining order and then a $6 million lawsuit against her for sending him hate mails and pictures of corpses and dismembered animals, krazy gluing Woods' penis to his leg, making threatening phone calls, putting him and his then fiancée on anti-abortion mailing lists, and leaving an iodine-splashed headless baby doll on his doorstep. Nobody knew for sure what happened between these two or if there was truth to any of these stories.

Sean Young was fired by Oliver Stone and Warren Beatty during the makings of Wall Street and Dick Tracy, respectively, for failing to tow the line. Most of all, she achieved a lasting notoriety by dressing up as Catwoman on The Joan Rivers Show to win the role for Batman Returns after being left off Batman cast due to breaking her arm by falling off a horse.

That's why Sean Young disappeared after the 80's despite being a good actress with star quality. I think refusing to give into the sexual advances by powerful men played a big role in her decline. Anyway, Sean Young has done an excellent job in The Boost. On the other hand, it's nice to see Steven Hill. He looks like himself as if it's just another Law & Order episode. John Kapelos and Kelle Kerr are fun to watch, and of course, their characters only care about themselves. If somebody lacks wealth, he's no good to them anymore.

All in all, there may have been tons of anti-drug movies in existence, but The Boost ranks among the best of them.