Star 80
The straight-forward telling of the lurid tale of the rise to fame and murder of real-life Playboy centerfold Dorothy Stratten, played by Mariel Hemingway.
Dorothy Stratten will be America's dream girl, the Playmate of the Year. But the camera snapping her beauty doesn't capture the whole story. out of view is Paul Snider, the man who steered Dorothy to stardom...and finally killed her.
Member Reviews
Good Movie - CaptainRhodes
Horrible transfer. Get it if you like watching half the intended shots.
USELESS FACTS:
Filmed in the apartment where the real Dorothy Stratten was murdered.
The real-life inspiration for fictional character Aram Nicholas is director Peter Bogdanovich.
Mariel Hemingway received breast implants shortly before playing the role of Playboy model Dorothy Stratten, but denies that was the reason she got them.
Hugh M. Hefner sued the producers after the film was released because he did not like how he was portrayed.Portrait Of A Sleazebag - revsdd
"Star 80" is based on the book "Portrait Of A Playmate," about the life and eventual murder of Playboy Playmate Dorothy Stratten. If the movie is anywhere near an accurate representation of it, then it's mistitled. The story here has far more to do with Paul Snider - the sleazebag who "discovered" Dorothy, married her and eventually murdered her.
There are excellent performances in this movie. Mariel Hemingway did a good job of developing Dorothy - from a naive, innocent and shy young high school student in Vancouver to a worldly playmate and budding film star. Even in terms of looks, the resemblance between the two is eerie. As good as Hemingway was, though, Eric Roberts as Paul stole the show. He developed the character brilliantly, from a street-wise manipulator who may have been using Stratten but who did seem to care for her into a guy who was interested only in controlling her and getting what he could out of her, losing his grip on sanity as a result when she finally broke away from him and wouldn't consider a reconciliation.
The movie is interestingly structured. There are disturbing images from the beginning of Paul, having just committed the bloody murder, still talking to Dorothy's body, reflections from those who knew Paul and Dorothy (played by actors) about the events leading up t the murder, and a pretty good dramatized account of their relationship and how it fell apart as Dorothy moved into a different circle of people who never accepted Paul. Strangely, even though Paul is depicted as a total sleazebag, there's a certain sympathy that you feel for him as he loses Dorothy, if only because he was responsible for her success in a way and it seems that he really did love her - albeit it in that warped, obsessive, controlling and therefore unhealthy and ultimately destructive sense that so many of these stories revolve around.
This is a very interesting movie.A sad story.. - Cricri7
I am a bit too young to have know Dorothy Stratten and her early demise. I rented Star 80 because I had heard about her story and her affair with Peter Bogdanovich so I was intrigued by it.
The story told is very interesting because you see a young woman married to a man that can't handle her success and becomes despondent over it. Eric Roberts is very good in this movie. His career never quite took the turn it was supposed to at that time and many people wonder why because you can see that he has talent. You very much believe his portrayal of Paul Snider who ended up killing his young starlet wife.
It is not the movie of the year 1980 but I enjoyed watching it. I would have loved bonus features that told the real story documentary style.
Member Reviews
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Good Movie - CaptainRhodes
Horrible transfer. Get it if you like watching half the intended shots.
USELESS FACTS:
Filmed in the apartment where the real Dorothy Stratten was murdered.
The real-life inspiration for fictional character Aram Nicholas is director Peter ...Portrait Of A Sleazebag - revsdd
"Star 80" is based on the book "Portrait Of A Playmate," about the life and eventual murder of Playboy Playmate Dorothy Stratten. If the movie is anywhere near an accurate representation of it, then it's mistitled. The story here has far more to do with Paul ...A sad story.. - Cricri7
I am a bit too young to have know Dorothy Stratten and her early demise. I rented Star 80 because I had heard about her story and her affair with Peter Bogdanovich so I was intrigued by it.
The story told is very interesting because you see a young ...