The Boost (1988)

User Rating:

5.8/10   

Director:

Harold Becker

Writers (WGA):

Ben Stein (book)
Darryl Ponicsan (screenplay)

Release Date:

23 December 1988 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Romance

Tagline:

Imagine having all the power, passion and pleasure money can buy. Now imagine losing them.

Plot:

Lenny Brown moves to California to find his fortune in tax shelter investments. When the federal government changes the tax laws...

Plot Keywords:

Drugs | Drug Addiction | Cocaine | Hospital | Domestic Violence

Awards:

1 nomination

Cast

James Woods	...	Lenny Brown
Sean Young	...	Linda Brown
John Kapelos	...	Joel Miller
Steven Hill	...	Max Sherman
Kelle Kerr	...	Rochelle
John Rothman	...	Ned
Amanda Blake	...	Barbara
Grace Zabriskie	...	Sheryl
Marc Poppel	...	Mark
Fred McCarren	...	Tom
Suzanne Kent	...	Helen
Libby Boone	...	Delores
Greg Deason	...	Michael
David N. Preston	...	Surfer (as David Preston)
June Chandler	...	Secretary

Runtime:

95 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Australia:R | USA:R (certificate #29541) | Finland:K-16 | UK:18 | West Germany:16 | Iceland:12

Filming Locations:

Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Hemdale Film

Trivia:

All the scenes set in Mexico were actually filmed in Venice, California; the crew was unable to travel to Mexico, again because of the movie's low budget.

Quotes:

Lenny: [on Linda's birthday] I got you a $40,000 car and a $2 mutt. Go figure.

Movie Connections:

References Svengali (1931)

Woods at his finest

Another great performance by Woods, first playing his typical schemer who this time gets a lucky break to go to LA and be respectable and even rich. He's now a fast-talking real estate salesman who still has no self esteem, but for the first time has the money to buy the look that can kind of hide it. Unfortunately, the paper reports the tax laws might be changed, so the incredibly profitable business of selling real estate so people can get a tax exemption dries up overnight. Woods is left with no money because he's p****d it away on planes and other luxuries. Woods and then his wife Sean Young become druggies and their life continually spirals down until it reaches rock bottom with disillusion, no future, and no life beyond the drugs. They are left with nothing, but each other, except Woods always knew she was too good for him, so she is the final domino in his now sad life that's left to fall. Woods is the best at making you think he could crack at any moment. He's always trying to get ahead, but at the same time you know he's always on the verge of snapping and totally screwing his life up. The portrayal of Woods & Young's drug addiction is dark and unsettling, but that makes it so much more convincing.