"ME" - Jimmy shouts in that iconic neo-Thelma and Louise moment where his fleeting life meets Sting's scooter on the white coast of Britain. It is one of those final moments that is supposed to resonate with you long after the film had ended - it is there to show you the symbolic irony of the characters - it is there to say that Quadrophenia is more than just a jumbled mess of social anxiety fueled on a generation calmed by parties, non-sequitor jobs, and pills ... plenty of those blue little pills. Based, if one could use such a word, around the album released by "The Who" under the same name, this 1979 feature takes us on a incoherent ride through a disastrous blend of both sonic youth and James Dean. Jimmy is our stand-out character, yet he seems to fold to conform under any pressure. He is a weak character that this viewer had trouble watching for 114 minutes.
I want to say that I could understand the plight of this young heroine, but nothing could connect me to him. The voyage was set, I could see the wheels moving, but on this end this seemed more like a dated VHS film than anything close to being considered a cult classic. One of my bigger issues was with Sting, an obvious pull into the film for those merely stumbling upon it at a video store. This wasn't brilliant casting, it was necessary financing. Jumbled next to this acting mess is the structure of this film random plot - which contains everything every film has ever needed to survive. It has the deep rooted, yet unnecessary family struggle (Jimmy obvious returns at midnight cause parental distress), the Animal House structure parties that go all night and into the next day (sex is fluent and mandatory), and the mixed media concerning drugs. Again, it is a hodgepodge of disaster that cannot seem to focus on one central theme. Quadrophenia lacks within the detailing moments of the first and second act, but when Sting is uncovered, Jimmy's life in shambles, and that vibrant ending - it finally feels like a cult British film.
Steph meanders throughout the film, giving (literally) when she can to Jimmy, but isn't enough to save this disastrous film. For me, I could see the angst and woe of our character, the desire to live a unique and uncontrolled life. It is used in any 1940s/50s teen drama where one rival gang is plotted against the other. Outside of the glorified ending, the only other redeeming value to this film are the scooters - the number of side mirrors was a bit high-tech for this film (probably historically accurate, but personally funny). The power of these light little motorized terrors finally gave this film some jazz it was so desperately needed. This film took me three times to view, and it wasn't even the accents or the graininess of the VHS, it just didn't resonate with me. The characters, in final, were never developed. The dimmed lighting distracted from the actions of our characters. The non-full use of "The Who" songs from that album just feels like a cheap trick to me. Sure, they helped make it - but more was needed to connect the two.
I must say, it was nice to see Ray Winstone and Tim Spall before Hollywood.
Found in my TIME OUT FILM GUIDE #9 in the Qs, this is the second film to receive the illustrious yellow highlight with black mark. It isn't a film I would suggest to anyone. It isn't a film you could be proud of.
Found on VHS on eBay - it is going back on there. Let someone else take this as their pride and joy.
Well, three more to go in this book. Wish me luck, the Qs may have me by the end.
I want to say that I could understand the plight of this young heroine, but nothing could connect me to him. The voyage was set, I could see the wheels moving, but on this end this seemed more like a dated VHS film than anything close to being considered a cult classic. One of my bigger issues was with Sting, an obvious pull into the film for those merely stumbling upon it at a video store. This wasn't brilliant casting, it was necessary financing. Jumbled next to this acting mess is the structure of this film random plot - which contains everything every film has ever needed to survive. It has the deep rooted, yet unnecessary family struggle (Jimmy obvious returns at midnight cause parental distress), the Animal House structure parties that go all night and into the next day (sex is fluent and mandatory), and the mixed media concerning drugs. Again, it is a hodgepodge of disaster that cannot seem to focus on one central theme. Quadrophenia lacks within the detailing moments of the first and second act, but when Sting is uncovered, Jimmy's life in shambles, and that vibrant ending - it finally feels like a cult British film.
Steph meanders throughout the film, giving (literally) when she can to Jimmy, but isn't enough to save this disastrous film. For me, I could see the angst and woe of our character, the desire to live a unique and uncontrolled life. It is used in any 1940s/50s teen drama where one rival gang is plotted against the other. Outside of the glorified ending, the only other redeeming value to this film are the scooters - the number of side mirrors was a bit high-tech for this film (probably historically accurate, but personally funny). The power of these light little motorized terrors finally gave this film some jazz it was so desperately needed. This film took me three times to view, and it wasn't even the accents or the graininess of the VHS, it just didn't resonate with me. The characters, in final, were never developed. The dimmed lighting distracted from the actions of our characters. The non-full use of "The Who" songs from that album just feels like a cheap trick to me. Sure, they helped make it - but more was needed to connect the two.
I must say, it was nice to see Ray Winstone and Tim Spall before Hollywood.
Found in my TIME OUT FILM GUIDE #9 in the Qs, this is the second film to receive the illustrious yellow highlight with black mark. It isn't a film I would suggest to anyone. It isn't a film you could be proud of.
Found on VHS on eBay - it is going back on there. Let someone else take this as their pride and joy.
Well, three more to go in this book. Wish me luck, the Qs may have me by the end.
No comments:
Post a Comment