My Generation

Turns out the crumbling of crusty upper class Britain was engineered by a bunch of long haired art hooligans who made dreary old London swing with a rainbow of colours. And who better to flashback to the mid-sixties than Michael Caine?

Don't answer that, just see the movie.

With a bevy of jovial (off screen) interviews, Caine reminisces revolution with old pals McCartney, Daltrey, Twiggy and Marianne. The stories are great, and we are treated to some primo era footage, but it all rests on Caine's ample shoulders. As a Cockney in a princely movie industry, he helped usher in the working class bloke as a screen presence. A significant moment, aligned with the rock and roll explosion, contemporary art and fashion waves, it signalled a way out of the stodgy career paths previously devoid of any detours.

More of a history lesson than exploitation flick, a classy bit of cinema this.

It's always a treat to see Michael Caine being interviewed; he has so many stories and they're all funny. But for a comprehensive statement about what Britain in the 60's was all about, we need more. The painters who refashioned the visual arts are barely mentioned: David Hockney, Richard Hamilton (whose Just What is it that Makes Today's Homes...? blasted its way into my teenaged mind), R. B. Kitaj and more all deserve more coverage. Instead we get lots of footage of David Bailey, Brian Duffy and other photogs--frankly it just isn't that interesting. If there was a novel or book of poems published during this decade we never hear of it.

The political turmoil of the time isn't mentioned. Tariq Ali, Caroline Coon and Michael X don't get name-checked; you'd never know that Godard made One plus one/Sympathy for the Devil with the Stones and all the London activists he could find. But you can ignore these criticisms and just sit back and enjoy a well-constructed time capsule.

A very easy-to-watch reminisce of swinging 60s London, with old mate Michael Caine. For those like me, who always wished we experienced the 60s, this is as close as we'll ever get.

There's a lot to like here: Michael Caine, the 1960s, Britain, Beatles, The Who, The Stones, attractive models. It captures the feel and atmosphere of the 1960s well, albeit while being a bit all over the place. But weren't the 60s like that anyway?

It's also a documentary about youth. Something to put on whenever you feel like you're turning into a grumpy old nag. "My Generation" has a killer soundtrack and interesting footage - is like having a time machine back to the 60s, featuring the ingredients that brought about change.

It was fascinating to hear how Michael came up with his "Michael Caine" name, as well as the challenges he faced due to his cockney accent (forced to get rid of it for his first role!). At times it felt like there was too much emphasis on 60s fashion, modeling and photography - though if you're into that, this is the film for you.

Fairly sure I fell in love with every 1960s girl during in this.

The fast montages towards the end made me feel like John Lennon had slipped some LSD into my cup of tea - which I guess was the point while covering drug use of 1960s culture. It wraps up with Michael Caine giving us a mini-inspirational pep talk:

"Never ever look back in anger, always look forward in hope - and never dream small"

I want to go binge Michael Caine's filmography now!

This is simply nostalgia... those looking for a plot or a point just won't get it, and they're likely under 60 as well. For those of us who were alive and experiencing all this first hand, prepare for a delightful evening with the beloved Michael Caine.

I thought this was going to be an interview with Michael Caine and some clips; it turned out to be a superb documentary on the social revolution I happened to experience. It is the best history of the Swinging Sixties I can imagine. From the social revolution of that time - which is what it was - I found my own history and development. I worked with Duffy, Donovan, Alan Aldridge. Okay, I was on the periphery of so much depicted here, but I was also a classic illustration of it; a working class lad who went to Art School, became an Advertising man, a successful DADA Silver Award winning Art Director, a prize winning illustrator, copywriter, author and painter. Caine was his brilliant self, not showing off, just telling it straight. This has to come out on dvd. And when it does I shall buy it.