A band of writers for an alternate Boston newspaper struggle to keep the paper afloat amid rumors that the paper will be sold to a big publisher.
Harry Lucas (John Heard) has been the Back Bay Mainline‘s top writer since it’s inception an the late ’60s. Abbie (Lindsay Crouse) is both Harry’s girlfriend and the paper’s lead photographer, and she’s getting restless. Michael (Stephen Collins) is peddling a manuscript and desperately wants to move from Boston to New York; Laura (Gwen Wells) is kind of in love with Michael, but has no interest in leaving Boston and the Mainline. Max (Jeff Goldblum) would be content to write in Boston forever, if he could just get a raise. Tensions rise as the takeover rumors intensify, both couples have a fight, Harry sleeps with Laura, and everyone waits for news. The movie really just kind of meanders to the finish.
Depending on which reviews you read, the Mainline is loosely based on the real-life Boston Phoenix, or Village Voice, or perhaps some other alt-weekly paper. Either way, it is interesting to see some stars in early leading roles. In addition to the aforementioned actors, Jill Eikenberry and Marilu Henner each appear in their first feature films. The movie takes place largely indoors so there isn’t a ton of Boston to see, but there are some shots.
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