Matt Dillon, born in 1964, began his career in the late 1970s with a breakout role in Over the Edge (1979), where he embodied the rebellious youth of the era. His transition into more complex characters is evident in The Big Town (1987), where he navigates the gritty world of gambling and ambition. Dillon's work in Target (1985) further solidified his status as a versatile actor capable of moving between genres. His contributions to these cult classics reflect a unique blend of youthful charisma and dramatic depth, making him a significant figure in the realm of exploitation and grindhouse cinema.
The Big Town
In 1957, J. C. Cullen is a small-town crapshooter who heads to Chicago, Illinois, to seek his fortune. There he becomes the pawn of two high-rolling professional gamblers, Mr. and Mrs. Edwards. He later gets mixed-up in a revenge scheme cooked up by Lorry Dane, the embittered stripper wife of strip-joint owner George Cole. Before he knows what's happened, Cullen is embroiled in two torrid romances: one with Dane and the other with nice girl Aggie Donaldson. He also nearly loses his life by ending up in the middle of a deadly feud between Edwards, Cole, and Phil Carpenter, the man Mr. Edwards accuses of causing him to lose his eyesight.
