The Legend Of Billie Jean

While the majority of my recommendations have been older movies this one is about as "recent" as I'll get. The Legend Of Billie Jean is from 1985 and is once again a film loosely based on a novella, The Legend Of Michael Kohlhaas. While it was not well received in it's initial release it has grown into a cult classic. I have loved this movie since it first came out and don't see why it wasn't more popular.

Billie Jean Davy; played perfectly by Helen Slater, is nothing special. She is a normal girl from the trailer park; her only real concern at the start of the movie is to cool off in the hot Texas weather. So she and her brother head to the local pond to take a swim. Her brother Binx; played by Christian Slater no relation to Helen, tries to convince Billie Jean that they should head to Vermont to escape the heatwave. Their discussion is interrupted when some rich kids decide to steal Binx's scooter. They are long gone with the scooter before Billie Jean and Binx get to the shore. Binx wants to go get it back immediately but Billie Jean assures him that it is best to go to the police.
She reports the incident to Detective Ringwald (Peter Coyote) who doesn't pay much mind to it. Binx finally tries to get it back himself but is beaten and his scooter gets trashed. Outraged Billie Jean confronts the main bullies father; local business man Mr Pyatt, to get the cost of repairs for the scooter $608 exactly. At first it seems he is going to comply and lures her upstairs with the promise of the money. When they get there he tries to rape her but she runs back downstairs where Binx is waiting with a gun he found in the store. When Mr Pyatt tries to get the gun from Binx by saying it isn't loaded he fires it and wounds Mr Pyatt in the shoulder. Billie Jean and Binx flee the store and with the help of some of their friends from the trailer park become fugitives.
When the detective gets to the scene of the crime he realizes he has helped cause the situation to blow up. As the media gets involved Billie Jean starts to become an icon for teens and young adults. Throughout her journey she adds to her legend by deeds she actually performs and others invented by the media. And ultimately leads to a final confrontation with Mr Pyatt.
While the acting isn't great from some of the supporting characters there really isn't anything else negative I can think of. Helen is great in the role and easily transitions from "trailer trash" to unwanted martyr. The story is nicely adapted to the 80's culture at the time though it makes it seem dated now. To me it was ahead of its time with its use of the media creating both an evil fugitive and youth rebellion figurehead. There's not much more I can add other than check this movie out.