SUBWAY Movie Review

France's Luc Besson first drew attention with his stylized, post-apocalyptic, New New Wavish Le Dernier Combat; his 1985 Subway was a more direct bid for the francs of disenfranchised, movie-loving French punks. It's the story of a spike-haired renegade (Christopher Lambert) on the lam from the law, the mob, and a rich man's beautiful wife (Isabelle Adjani). When he chooses the Parisian subway system as his hideout, he discovers a complete—and completely bizarre—subculture of youthful rebels living beneath the city streets. As is the case with all of Besson's work (including La Femme Nikita and The Fifth Element), Subway looks great. As is also the case with most of Besson's work, that's about all there is to say for it. This particular package of eye candy is packed with nothing but empty calories, though the set designs by the legendary Alexander Trauner (The Man Who Would Be King, Land of the Pharaohs) are cool. And no film with Isabelle Adjani can ever be completely worthless.

NEXT STOP … Le Dernier Combat, Diva, THX 1138

1985 (R) 103m/C FR Christopher Lambert, Isabelle Adjani, Jean-Hugues Anglade, Jean Reno; D: Luc Besson; W: Luc Besson. Cesar Awards ‘86: Best Actor (Lambert), Best Art Direction/Set Decoration, Best Sound; Nominations: Cesar Awards ‘86: Best Supporting Actor (Anglade). VHS, LV, Closed Caption FOX