Seen: On dvd on my laptop, rented from Hollywood Express in Cambridge.
When Sasha described a musical from the 1980s with David Bowie that somehow I hadn't heard of, I knew it would be an Important Movie for me to see. So we had a live-tweet session as we watched it in honor of Bowie's 65th birthday this month! Goooood tiiiimes. Based loosely on the novel by Colin MacInnes, Absolute Beginners is a candy-colored peek into 1950s London subculture, following a naive young photographer (Eddie O'Connell) and his aspiring model girlfriend (Patsy Kensit) as they sell out and then fight against the adult mainstream. Also there are race riots because of NAZI GENTRIFICATION but it's not really a thing until the last 20 minutes.
On paper this movie sounds absolutely amazing: David Bowie, Ray Davies, pretty colors, punks vs mods, "Youth Culture", musical numbers, fashion shows; it's a goddamn beautiful thing. And in many ways it totally delivers. David Bowie's introductory musical sequence made me utterly, inescapably gleeful, and Ray Davies' song is a well-choreographed chunk of Kinksy beats. The costumes are gorgeous, as are the sets, and the neon color schemes and big hair makes everything feel like it's in the 80s even though it's set in the late 50s. Not that I have a problem with that. The songs are fun, the cinematography is stylish, and the cast is nothing if not enthusiastic. Eddie O'Connell is even a bit of a Bowie look-a-like, but less... alien. And less interesting.
Unfortunately, as with so many high-concept, awesome-sounding musicals, the script is really bad and the characters are mostly boring so it doesn't quite make the hype. I didn't care at all about the protagonist as he narrates with a misplaced smugness and looks around wide-eyed at everything like a big dope. The romance is dumb, the racial tension drama is stuck in at the end and handled really haphazardly, and there isn't much character delineation. Plus it's too long.
HOWEVER despite its drawbacks it has some truly incredible moments (a few Bowie-related), and I would totally watch it again for those times. It's a frivolous, ridiculous movie and I do appreciate that- it's at its weakest when it tries to be serious or sincere.
3.5/5
Pair This Movie With: My first thought is Hairspray for another colorful musical that clumsily deals with racial injustice. Or if you just want to see David Bowie dancing around and singing some more, I'd go with Labyrinth.
Monday, January 23, 2012
Absolute Beginners (1986)
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Wow, I'd never heard of this one either, but now I gotta watch it! I mean, I love that song 'Absolute Beginners' but I never knew it was attached to a film! I need to check it out, thanks for the heads from one Bowie fan to another.
ReplyDeleteBy the way, have you seen Bowies The Man Who Fell to Earth? He plays an alien in that one. It's a little slow, but still, I'd recommend it.
I agree that the film is sort of a mess where it becomes a very different movie by the third act. Still, it's a fun one.
ReplyDeleteI love some of the music in the film by the Style Council, Ray Davies, Sade, and most of all, Bowie!!!!
I just love his musical number for "That's Motivation!". And of course, the title track in its longest form. That was one of Bowie's better musical efforts in the 1980s and he last sang "Absolute Beginners" in the early 2000s.
You know you got somethin'
You know you got the style
We don't take much, just a little bit!
That's motivation!
I always wanted to see this but if the story's not that great I guess I'll wait a little longer. You ever see 'Quadrophenia'? It's along similar lines.
ReplyDeleteFilm Connoisseur: Yes AB is great for any Bowie fan, but be warned he doesn't come in until about half an hour in. And yes I have seen THE MAN WHO FELL TO EARTH, it's an interesting film!
ReplyDeletevoid99: "That's Motivation" is so awesome! The music in general is great, I think.
Rich: Like I said, the story isn't great but the film as a whole is worth it for some truly great scenes and songs. And no I haven't seen QUADROPHENIA but I've been meaning to!
Not a great movie, but man do I love that soundtrack to death! Bowie, Sade, Ray Davies, and none other than the great Gil Evans doing the incidental music!
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteSorry, dual post. Now I've added a third.
Delete