Cruising (1980) | How Woke Is It?

Our VerdictNot Woke

13%

Cruising1980

In a free society the right to critique art is essential and protected speech. These reviews reflect personal opinions and not statements of fact.

What We Think

Cruising is about as far from modern 'woke' cinema as you can get, unapologetic, rough-edged, and more interested in gritty drama than checkboxes. There’s little evidence of narrative or cultural subversion, and certainly no ideological monoculture at play.

Score Breakdown

Compromised:Narrative Integrity

Not Woke

What is this?

Cruising focuses on a detective's undercover investigation in the gay subculture of 1980s New York, prioritizing gritty realism and traditional plot over identity-driven narrative departures. Characters serve the story's tension rather than ideological representation, so forced representation is essentially nonexistent.

Compromised:Cultural Foundations

Not Woke

What is this?

The film centers on mature, traditional themes: crime, masculinity, and moral ambiguity. It doesn't uplift or moralize about modern identity politics and largely avoids undermining cultural foundations. If anything, it leans into a rougher, more old-school portrayal of gender and societal order.

Compromised:Ideological Monoculture

Not Woke

What is this?

Perspectives in the film are complex, with both the police and the subculture depicted showing a range of motivations and flaws. There isn’t a clear political message or consensus, and dissenting views are shown as part of the human messiness, not simple villainy.

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Disclaimer: In a free society the right to critique art is essential and protected as a form of free speech and freedom of expression. The reviews and commentary on this site represent personal opinions and interpretations. They are not statements of fact and should not be taken as factual claims about any individual, company, or creative work.