Rock n' Roll Cinema

[chiqui]

What are your favorite movies with rock n' roll soundtracks, or about rock n' roll? My faves are A Hard Days' Night (for the obvious -- the Beatles at the height of their hype), the glam goth fantasy Phantom of the Paradise, and for sheer fun, Elvis and Ann-Margaret in Viva Las Vegas.

Stinkers include pinch-faced, spastic Kevin Bacon as a rebellious 'teen' in white-bread boy Footloose and the first version of Heavy Metal, which, while I admire the quality of some of its animation, has about the corniest, most derivative late 70s soundtrack you can think of and a cheesy, gratuitous animated cameo by the rock band Devo inserted in among the cartoon ta-ta's.

[kafka]

chiqui said:

Stinkers include pinch-faced, spastic Kevin Bacon as a rebellious 'teen' in white-bread boy Footloose

Awwww, I loved Footloose. LOVED! I might as well add another unpopular opinion: that I adored Eddie and the Cruisers when it came out in the 80s. I think most of that had to do with the gorgeous Michael Paré though.

[starskin]

Velvet Goldmine. Ewan. JRM. Christian Bale. Nudity. Glitter. Gayness.

That is all.

[groovethang]

When I was in high school (mid-80s), I was into the light punk, new wave stage and was all about the movie Times Square. The soundtrack was excellent with the Ramones, the Pretenders, Gary Numan, and Lou Reed.

I also think I must have had a girlcrush (although didn't know it had a label back then) on one of the actresses in the movie, Robin Johnson. She had that tough persona I wished I had.

[slanderous]

Times Square is an amazing movie! I'm a damn dog! Your daughter is one!

[chiqui]

I just for Stoned about the death of Brian Jones, and I can't wait to see it.

Has anyone seen The Hours and the Times about the relationship of John Lennon and Brian Epstein? What did you think?

[slanderous]

Even though I dislike both bands featured (was it Brian Jonestown Massacre and Dandy Warhols?), I think Dig! is a really fascinating portrait of the rock 'n' roll scene in the late '90s. The music is secondary (for me) to the drama and conflict. Everyone comes off looking like an ass, really.

[Deleted]

Dude, watch the DVD with the commentaries! When the Dandys are watching somthing assy that BJM does, they laugh, when BJM watches the Dandys making asses of themselves, hoo-boy! Nastay! In one scene there's a fight and Dandy's lead singer Courtney Taylor-Taylor dashes offstage. In his commentary he says he dashed off to kick someone's ass. In the BJM commentary, they reveal that Courtney was running away.

I have great fondness for Rock 'n' Roll High School. Oh, come on! The Ramones and PJ Soles? Mary Woronov and Paul Barthel?

[GirlyGhoul]

Yes! Love me some Rock 'N' Roll Highschool as well as Phantom of the Paradise and Velvet Goldmine (Not for the plot. But for the PRETTY!)

But for sheer snarkability, you can't beat Kiss Meets the Phantom of the Park. It's so deliciously awful! Gut-Bustingly bad! (Though I'll admit I once thought it was the greatest movie ever.... when I was 7.)

[chiqui]

I liked Dig! a lot, but agree everyone came off as unpleasant, deluded poseurs, and I wouldn't watch it again. Especially the lone chick in the Dandys. No, your naked boobies did not add as much to your stage performance as you think.