Spinning Gold

I didn't know anything about this movie going into it. But I was not pleasantly surprised, more so unpleasantly annoyed.

I gave it a 5 stars because it is not a terrible movie, some of the musical scenes I enjoyed a bit. And I generally do see a lot of work has been put into making this film hence I don't like to give it lower. However I didn't enjoy this movie at all.

The whole film I found myself annoyed with the main character (forgot his name, I think he was called bogard, which I know is ironic since It is even mentioned in the movie that everybody knows kiss but nobody knows this guys name). I'll just proceed to cal him bogard in this review. Normally I could enjoy a movie about a flawed character and since it's a biopic I was willing to give it a go. But the writing of this character is just laughable, I felt as if the movie wasn't aware of the way the viewer would feel about this character. And then in the end I felt it getting better but then there was this horrible scene made to make us feel pity for him but it was done in such a unsubtle, forced and rushed way.

Everybody in this movie is overacting, nothing feels genuine and real. I felt no connection to the characters and lost interest in the story very soon.

I didn't understand what was happening Sometimes, I didn't know what the movie wanted to be or wanted me to feel. One second it felt like a drama, the next like a comedy, then it had some darker crime moments and none of it blended together to make one cohesive film.

I wouldn't recommend watching it in cinemas.

A mediocre film that is neither overly bad nor overly good.

The casting is mediocre, some actors are solid in their roles and some are simply miscast. We follow the life of music producer Neil Bogart, his rise, as well as some famous musicians who collaborated with him.

The film is interesting at times, but it's simply mediocre, it's not that bad overall, but unfortunately it didn't live up to its potential.

Some of the supporting characters are interesting, like Big Joey, played by the excellent Vincent Pastore. But there is too little of him in the film, which simply doesn't look cinematic enough, it lacks the look that a different camera or perhaps a better director would give it.

The movie isn't a complete failure, but it's not the kind of movie you watch and think you'll watch again. This is a movie that you watch once and that's it.

There was a lot of potential, the seventies, the music, various famous musicians, but none of it was fully exploited. I don't know how to explain it other than that the film is too polished, it doesn't have the intensity it should have.

Jeremy Jordan isn't that bad as the main character, but he isn't great either. Some actors are unconvincing in their roles and don't even look like the famous characters they portray.

The film also lacks a bit more original music from the period and the story is incoherent at certain points, the script just isn't good enough. It's watchable, but that's all, it leaves the impression of another mediocre achievement that could have been much better.

In the end, it's a shame that this movie didn't live up to the potential it had.

It's a biopic of Neil Bogart (Jeremy Jordan) who co-founded Casablanca Records. In 1974, they are a new company with only one act on their roster. It's KISS. Neil is having an affair with KISS manager Joyce Biawitz (Lyndsy Fonseca) while his wife Beth (Michelle Monaghan) is at home with the kids.

It's an interesting story that I'm not familiar with. I do know all the songs, but they are a little before my time. The lead needs to be a star. Jeremy Jordan does a fine job. In fact, he's probably very close to the real Neil Bogart. A leading man role does require the biggest star that they can get. As for directing and writing, it's a mistake for Neil's son to do the job. He's also not the most experienced. It's a bit of his father's gambling mentality. He's betting on himself, but the film would benefit from someone better than him. In the end, the songs are great and the story is compelling. The filmmaking is average at best. It's a passable biopic.

I will give the director (son of the man this movie is about) credit. Watching this movie from beginning to end (or rather listening to the narration, A clear sign this movie was bad) made me interested in his dad. Ironically, I became so interested that I felt this man deserved a better movie about himself.

It was over bloated with too much stuff that could not be gel together well. Possibly would have been better as a series of episodes in which each musical act was on focus (If it was a series, I would give it a higher rating simply because of the Kiss episode).

Its funny that the movie is about the filmmaker's father because it felt like the man himself directed it as a stoke to his own ego.

Literally, the film was a man telling me how awesome he is and realistic that could have been done in a podcast or Youtube video. These days listening to some one talk for over two hours seems like better time management than watching a boring biopic.

A colorful and moving tribute to Neil Bogart, "Spinning Gold" is about fulfilling dreams and life itself. A somewhat sedate and less manic "Vinyl" the movie is a cruise through mid - 20th Century America and the ascent of a young Jewish man from humble and troubled beginnings in New York to the pinnacle of success in Hollywood and beyond. Jeremy Jordan livens the party as the glib and amiable Bogart who navigates his way through debt and hairy personal situations in making his record label Casablanca Records the most successful independent music company. Along the way we're witness to music history as Bogart discovers or signs KISS, Donna Summer, Gladys Knight, The Village People, Parliament, etc.., and the rest is music history. One aspect missing here is the failure to bring life to the times and the music. Too much focus on the interpersonal relationships charts this tale into tunnel vision that misses the fun parts of a fun time. Perhaps the most glaring sin is the miscasting of the music legends featured. The actors are either too tall, too short or too fat. Considering the nature of the film they should have damn well made the actors look like their characters as much as possible. All in all a fine tribute to a man and a time that altered and enriched and whose legacy endures potently to this day.