A fifteen year old blags his way in to writing about an up-and-coming rock band (Stillwater) with Rolling Stone magazine.
An Oscar winning screenplay is one thing, but this a film that never found its audience. Chief problem: There is not a recognisable name on the billing. Brad Pitt was due to be the lead guitarist, but (in the best catholic tradition) pull out at the last minute saying he "didn't get it."
What was 1973 like for you? Well I was a little young, but I remember it as a low year for music. We were still living the lazy hippie hangover and drugs/drink had killed Hendrix, Morrison and Joplin. The Beatles were gone and the Rolling Stones were laid up in mansions somewhere. Yes - this was the B Leaguers big moment, if only they had know it.
The band in the movie are like the Allman Brothers meets Free meets Crosby, Stills and Nash. We don't hear a lot of their music (which is surprising) so a lot of that description it is based on haircuts and attitude. Drink and drugs are introduced early and without preaching, but doesn't seem to effect the band's performance.
The soundtrack album seems to be important and features tracks of the time (some a little after!) that don't get played too often on the radio. If you think they are weak - and plenty is rock and pop dirge - well that supports what I said about the times.
How clever of writer/director to use a child as our guide. Not a hip and cool one either. A nerdy - but bright - kid (Patrick Fugit) who loves music and already writes about it for underground mags.
(What did Lou Reed say about music journalists? "People that cannot write, writing for people that cannot read." Hated because they were the only ones around not telling them they are great. )
As a child in an "adult" world he can tell people what they don't want to hear: Groupie (or "band aid") Penny Lane is informed that she is just being used and needs to wake up and smell the coffee. That the drugged up shouldn't take any more (hey, we have all been there or been on the end of that speech). That peeing infront of people is not polite.
One problem with this movie is that plenty of gags are private references (David Crosby was reputed to have the best dope, hence "I know this good stuff because Crosby gave it to me.") and how many young audience members knows that Peggy Sue was a Buddy Holly song? Or even how he died?
All such movies have to avoid being Spinal Tap nowadays and we are getting close in the "Aeroplane", "T-shirt" and "this is the man from the record company" scenes; but all have the ring of truth.
Fugit gets laid (by the groupies - who else!) and we are supposed to be pleased for him. Why? They are sleeping with everyone and we don't see any use of condoms - so how do we know he is not catching a dose? Would we have been pleased if the band had underage sex with a girl?
In case you are worried, drugs are shown as not "all of a good thing" - but I'll not spoil it for those that haven't seen the film.
Sadly this is just a superior made-for-TV movie that would collapse if it were not for the youthful sheen of Fugit and careful period detail.
An Oscar winning screenplay is one thing, but this a film that never found its audience. Chief problem: There is not a recognisable name on the billing. Brad Pitt was due to be the lead guitarist, but (in the best catholic tradition) pull out at the last minute saying he "didn't get it."
What was 1973 like for you? Well I was a little young, but I remember it as a low year for music. We were still living the lazy hippie hangover and drugs/drink had killed Hendrix, Morrison and Joplin. The Beatles were gone and the Rolling Stones were laid up in mansions somewhere. Yes - this was the B Leaguers big moment, if only they had know it.
The band in the movie are like the Allman Brothers meets Free meets Crosby, Stills and Nash. We don't hear a lot of their music (which is surprising) so a lot of that description it is based on haircuts and attitude. Drink and drugs are introduced early and without preaching, but doesn't seem to effect the band's performance.
The soundtrack album seems to be important and features tracks of the time (some a little after!) that don't get played too often on the radio. If you think they are weak - and plenty is rock and pop dirge - well that supports what I said about the times.
How clever of writer/director to use a child as our guide. Not a hip and cool one either. A nerdy - but bright - kid (Patrick Fugit) who loves music and already writes about it for underground mags.
(What did Lou Reed say about music journalists? "People that cannot write, writing for people that cannot read." Hated because they were the only ones around not telling them they are great. )
As a child in an "adult" world he can tell people what they don't want to hear: Groupie (or "band aid") Penny Lane is informed that she is just being used and needs to wake up and smell the coffee. That the drugged up shouldn't take any more (hey, we have all been there or been on the end of that speech). That peeing infront of people is not polite.
One problem with this movie is that plenty of gags are private references (David Crosby was reputed to have the best dope, hence "I know this good stuff because Crosby gave it to me.") and how many young audience members knows that Peggy Sue was a Buddy Holly song? Or even how he died?
All such movies have to avoid being Spinal Tap nowadays and we are getting close in the "Aeroplane", "T-shirt" and "this is the man from the record company" scenes; but all have the ring of truth.
Fugit gets laid (by the groupies - who else!) and we are supposed to be pleased for him. Why? They are sleeping with everyone and we don't see any use of condoms - so how do we know he is not catching a dose? Would we have been pleased if the band had underage sex with a girl?
In case you are worried, drugs are shown as not "all of a good thing" - but I'll not spoil it for those that haven't seen the film.
Sadly this is just a superior made-for-TV movie that would collapse if it were not for the youthful sheen of Fugit and careful period detail.