The WELL: inkwell.vue.411: Richie Unterberger, "Won't Get Fooled Again"

#110: Gail Williams (gail) Thu 4 Aug 11 10:53

Thu, 04 Aug 2011 10:53:00 PDT

"Sunshine at Midnight"! Now that's a theme for a film series. [Read entire topic]

#109: Ned Wall (nedwall) Thu 4 Aug 11 01:42

Thu, 04 Aug 2011 01:42:00 PDT

If you're in or around New York City, "Quadrophenia" is playing as a midnight movie this Friday and Saturday at Landmark's Sunshine Cinema on East Houston Street. <http://www.landmarktheatres.com/Market/NewYork/NewYork_frameset.htm> and scroll down.

"All "Sunshine at Midnight" Movies Only $10! Aug 5 & 6: Quadrophenia, featuring music by The Who!"

It's also playing in some other theaters around the US: <http://www.landmarktheatres.com/Films/films_frameset.asp?id=26351>. [Read entire topic]

#108: Sharon Lynne Fisher (slf) Sat 23 Jul 11 16:48

Sat, 23 Jul 2011 16:48:00 PDT

hmm. yes. [Read entire topic]

#107: Kevin Wheeler (krome) Sat 23 Jul 11 15:45

Sat, 23 Jul 2011 15:45:00 PDT

The first 5:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZzLky4U-xCg [Read entire topic]

#106: Sharon Lynne Fisher (slf) Sat 23 Jul 11 11:26

Sat, 23 Jul 2011 11:26:00 PDT

I had always thought about the ambiguous endinging

that he didn't, but I had a bunch of people disagree with me.

Interesting point about the opening shot. Now I want to watch the first five minutes again. :)

Also interesting point about having Jimmy's friend looking like Roger Daltrey. [Read entire topic]

#105: Richie Unterberger (folkrocks) Fri 22 Jul 11 14:24

Fri, 22 Jul 2011 14:24:00 PDT

It's important to note that the Who didn't have the kind of direct involvement in "Quadrophenia" that they would have had if "Lifehouse" had been made into the film (for which Pete Townshend actually wrote, or said he wrote, prospective scripts). It's a separate project than the album, though many songs from the album are heard on its soundtrack. It has quite a few more specific characters than the album, and the story is considerably more elaborate in the film than on the album (where the story is fairly sketchy). But none of this is meant as criticism. It's an excellent film that stays faithful to the core of the album, building upon it intelligently and flamboyantly.

I think how well known "Quadrophenia" is depends on where you were when it came out, who you were hanging out with, and where you were when it made the rounds of rep houses for years afterward. "Quadrophenia" seemed extremely widely known to me and many of my friends in the early and mid-1980s. But it's a cult film whose reach into the general public isn't as wide as those familiar with it might assume. [Read entire topic]

#104: Scott Underwood (esau) Fri 22 Jul 11 08:37

Fri, 22 Jul 2011 08:37:00 PDT

Sting does a pretty good job in his brief scenes, and that scene is a great payoff for the courtroom scene earlier ("I'll pay now").

It's really quite a well-made movie, and not as widely known as it should be. Whether that's because people connect it with a Who album they don't know very well or because of its deep Englishness (Americans generally don't do well with thick British accents), I don't know.

Also, it's a "rock movie" that's really just an English dramatic film with a Who soundtrack. No one plays music in it, and music is only in the forefront of a couple scenes (I think: the party and the great scene when he's watching the Who on television and his dad gives him a hard time).

I think I should watch it again -- it's been a while! Looking it up on IMDb, I'd forgotten that Jimmy's Rocker friend is Ray Winstone. And IMDb says that John Lydon screen-tested for the role of Jimmy! [Read entire topic]

#103: Richie Unterberger (folkrocks) Thu 21 Jul 11 22:14

Thu, 21 Jul 2011 22:14:00 PDT

My favorite moment is when Jimmy/Phil Daniels derisively yells "Bell Boy!" at Sting when he discovers Sting (whom he'd looked up to as the epitome of the ultra-cool mod) is a bell boy at a Brighton hotel, taking orders from rich cads all day. [Read entire topic]

#102: Gail Williams (gail) Thu 21 Jul 11 09:07

Thu, 21 Jul 2011 09:07:00 PDT

Now I want to see it. [Read entire topic]

#101: Scott Underwood (esau) Thu 21 Jul 11 07:43

Thu, 21 Jul 2011 07:43:00 PDT

I agree. I loved a number of small touches in the movie, like having Jimmy's friend look like a young Roger Daltrey, or that scene at the party during "MY Generation" when everyone shots "FUCK OFF!" Great performances, too. [Read entire topic]