Johnny Montana is a wild child with a heart of pure gold. He is young and ambitious with the entire world laid out before him. As he progresses through life, he finds most of the world stuck in a stupor, busy chasing something no one will ever have enough of. Around him no one seems truly happy as he states "Everyone's so caught up in making money,[...] no one thinks about what they really wanna do", he begins his journey to find what happiness means for himself. His quest puts him on quite the journey of self discovery as one opportunity taken leads to a path of self definition, destruction, and redemption. Throughout his endeavor he learns who he is for himself and who he can actually be. This is a story for every young person to learn that the important thing in life is to maintain yourself and your own definition of happiness, even if the road to that is a bit more lackluster than initially perceived.
Taking place in New York City, this film features many notable areas New Yorkers will recognize and appreciate, from the inner city's most notable skyscrapers, to the suburban streets of Brooklyn. The Cinematography is perfect for maintaining a late 80's to early 90's vibe, in light of its 21st Century induction, which adds an element of nostalgia to the overall feature. The soundtrack appears only when necessary to drive the scenes forward, and each track is fitting to the harmony of a moment at hand. The cast portrays real people dealing with real situations, in a way that relates directly to the struggles each viewer may have encountered in their own lives. Johnny Montana is a story about all of us.
Personally, this movie inspired me to live a more fulfilling life. Living in a congested urban area had driven me to believe having enough money was the most important aspect of sustaining life. After watching John D. Gavins film, I personally feel the biggest message is to go after what you want with full intentions. Seeing Johnny Montana as a struggling dreamer, defining his own success resonates with me. His fearlessness in taking opportunities, while doing what he feels is needed to sustain his life is influential. There are many sacrifices in the line of making money, and Johnny's display a divide involved in making money and having quality time with those you care for.
Overall this film is great. The writing is solid, soundtrack is fitting, and the story is highly relatable. Each character has a memorable trait that will stay with you. Over the span of a year, Johnny Montana dynamically changes, from a young man with no sense of the real world to a man who knows he needs to find who he really is in his life. One of the most relatable stories to any young adult looking to find a perception of the world that works for them, is this film. Personally I am considering this film a classic for reasons such as; its replayability, the nature of the soundtrack, its nostalgic vibe, the fluidity from scene to scene and the consistently fitting actor portrayals. I highly recommend watching this film, then watching it again.
