Written by Joe Esterhas who penned Basic Instinct and Flashdance, apparently. Also the last thing Richard Marquand directed, also apparently. Rupert Everett as a New Romantic pop idol (Joe Colt), and he's quite convincing as usual, even if his music (by John Barry, apparently) and the rest of the fake musician names (Billy Walker, Pepper Ward, etc) aren't.Basically Bob Dylan, a blue-collar American rocker meets Thatcherite England while a groupie who says she isn't a groupie because she plays a guitar tags along. There's no valid emotional content in this film that was put there intentionally, but there are plenty of bizarre and hilarious scenes to savour. Bob skinny-dipping fully clothed, and of course The Punch.For music fans of a certain age - who are the only people likely to enjoy this, this movie has the Bobster, Ian Dury, Richie Havens, Ronnie Wood, Fred Fairbrass(!), Reg Presley and you may be able to spot a few more uncredited liggers. Such is Bob's charisma that everybody wanted in, and he's also very dishy in this, apparently.But as we all know, Bob, who is a top-drawer songwriter, cannot act for toffee. Elvis Presley was a better actor than Bob. At least Elvis didn't look as though he was forcing himself not to look at the camera. Bob's obvious impatience with the filming process corresponds to his apparent impatience with the recording process - witness his habit of dashing off albums in one take; that wasn't the Elvis way either. However, some of the fake live footage of 'Billy' and his band is as good as Bob Live gets, even if Fiona spoils it with her Backwoods Suzi Quatro act.Bob Dylan made some of his worst albums in the Eighties; he also made this movie which is so bad it isn't bad, and which future Dylan fans will have to content themselves with as probably the best record of him as a working rock musician. Bob, as ever, has the last laugh. That's why we love him.

I am a Rupert Everett fan so I knew I had to see this despite a horrible memory of watching it years ago when I had no idea who R.E was. The main problem is that only R.E seems capable of acting and he's trying to hold himself back. What is even stranger is a folk star a girl who plays what I'd describe as heavy metal and a New Romantic are all supposed to be a mix that will work. The best thing you can do is read Rupert's description of this fool of a girl jumping out of bed when she hears he's gay .........a groupie who'd hung about with The Doors I read somewhere .Dylan is worse than awful , it's a mess with no story and no real idea of who it's trying to appeal to. I gave it 3 for Rupert's stand-out acting in one of the worst films ever.

Picture the scene; Dylan's early 80's career has stagnated. Prince has just released Purple Rain to a rapturous audience and critical acclaim. A die-hard fan gets the job of directing, and before you can say ego-massage, Hearts Of Fire is born.Yes it's a terrible movie but I have deep affection for it; I spent my teenage years with my best friend mooning over Bob Dylan-as-a-young-man and this was always a treat when it appeared late at night on BBC2. Hearts Of Fire generated countless corny catchphrases we still use today, which says something surely. Come on, back me up here...Briefly, the story goes: one-time rock star Billy Parker sweeps into town, chats up ambitious young waitress. Takes her to London. Enter up and coming heart throb James Colt to irritation of Parker and excitement of young girl. Girl and Colt get it together. Tug of love ensues. Young girl is mentored by old timer, young girl releases record of her own, a mild success. James Colt flakes. They all go their separate ways. Dylan is a loser in love but his integrity and dignity remain intact. The end.What became of the actress Fiona Flanagan is anyone's guess, she wasn't that bad, quite pretty, a bit over-theatrical but she was probably trying to make up for Dylan's stupor throughout. Rupert Everett burst out of the closet some ten years later, and Bob Dylan never appeared as Billy Parker the ramblin' bluesman every again. Actually I'm not sure he appeared on the silver screen ever again after that - the man is better behind a mic, I think even he would agree.To conclude? Hearts of Fire is the absolute guilty pleasure, watch it for the laughs, the tears, the hopes, the dreams; I for one will continue to scan the TV schedules in the hope of yet another cheesy viewing. Can you get it on DVD?

Ok, the story is cliche and basically not-so-good. What got me through the entire film was Fiona and Bob Dylan. Fiona's music was incredible! And I always love watching Dylan sing/play (if not act). And while Fiona's acting was passable, she is very telegenic; she looks quite good on screen.I never heard of Fiona, but apparently she made several albums, then disappeared from the music scene. Her full name is Fiona Flanagan. I'd love to find some more of her music. Actually, even as poor as the film was, I'd like to find a copy of the soundtrack. About half the tracks are suppose to be hers.