Smooth Talk

If you want a drama that takes its characters as seriously as its plot, Smooth Talk is available in the US on Criterion Channel right now. It says what it needs to say in one sitting, no filler. With 72 viewer ratings on TMDB, this is not a title flying under the radar. Laura Dern leads a cast that never overplays its hand. There is no real reason to keep putting it off — it is right there on Criterion Channel.

Smooth Talk is not trying to be everything to everyone, and that focus is exactly what makes it work. Character-driven storytelling at its most effective — Smooth Talk earns every emotional beat it goes for. Connie, the fifteen-year-old black sheep of her family, finds her summertime idyll of beach trips, mall hangouts, and innocent flirtations shattered by an encounter with a mysterious stranger. Laura Dern and Treat Williams lead a cast that brings real weight to the material. It hit screens in 1985. What elevates Smooth Talk is a refusal to let any character off the hook too easily. It knows exactly what it is, and does not try to be anything else.

For anyone looking for storytelling that takes its characters seriously, Smooth Talk delivers. It does not lean on comparisons to make its case. A contained runtime means every scene is doing real work. Laura Dern is the centre of it, and it is one of their strongest performances on record. The patience it asks of you early on is paid back with interest.

Smooth Talk was released in 1985, directed by Joyce Chopra. The full 92-minute film is available to watch now. Find exactly where it's streaming below, and TV Butler Pro makes it effortless to track your progress as you go. Just search the name, and Butler finds it instantly, tells you which service has it, and remembers exactly where you left off.