Quadrophenia

A feast of future C-list celebs and also rans remind us why Punk was so vital in resuscitating the corpse of British music and why that cadaver needs more help than ever today; Quadrophenia demonstrates the absolute misery created by the fascist regime, that left the youths of the day with no future, with little to look forward to once they'd outgrown their primitive street gang days, and an underground movement that left them in a bit of a Jam.

Ultimately a culture destroyed by technology, as the Vespa riders, and just about all alternative identifiers of the day have chosen to play in the abstract digital world. A forgotten adolescent mainstream dispersed and scattered to the margins like so many other traditions and cultures of yesteryear. A classic British film - bring on the Bank Holiday!

I love this movie. Hell, I'd marry it if I could. It's my favorite rock movie with some British actors, who I really like, where in their younger acting years, they really impress, in a movie that can only be described as a faultless rock musical, masterpiece. Jimmy (Daniels) is a sixties rebel, who's so frustrated with his place in life. He has a courier job, is taking flack from his parents, that results in arguments, and he wants the girl his mate's doin'. We can relate with this character so well, us loners, where Jimmy's got a lot of bad energy, and it's going in the wrong places. Near the end of the film, he becomes such a desperate and pathetic mess, finally driving him to steal Sting's flashy scooter and total it off a cliff. Watch all the anger that pours out of Jimmy when he crashes his bike with a truck. But this is what Jimmy is, a very angry driven teen, and Daniels (one of my favorite British actors, and a bloody underrated one at that) plays him to a tee. I was thankful too, for the time a young Ray Winstone had in this, an old friend of Jimmy's who's popped back in town, and has decided to become a punk rocker, much to other people's disapproval, including Daniels. Two other actors from Scum have brief roles in this too. I loved the scene with Winstone, explaining and defending himself to Daniels in his backyard, a seasoned professional. The film, heavy on rock, is just one music pounding experience with a lot of bad language, where there are a couple of frighteningly violent moments. There's a foreboding of what crazy s..t, our unstable Daniels is gonna do next, but it's him, who sells this film. One notable feature is Sting's haircut. He's another rebel here with his own posse. Quadrophenia just managed to entertain me all the way through. It doesn't have fancy shots, though the long shots of a bleak Brighton were memorable, I felt so cold watching this town. It doesn't have fancy color, and the dialogue, isn't t the best I've heard. What it does have are engaging performances, amongst 60's culture, the environment, and it's conditions. With Daniels taking us through the story, it's one cool ride, and a cult rocker classic.

Quadrophenia is about British Mods from the 1965 era and the struggles of young adults, which could be from any era. Mods were a subculture of youths that wore tailored suits, road scooters and popped pills. They liked bands like The Who, The Kinks and The Yardbirds. Mods also listened to some 1960s ska music, soul and R&B. If you like this sort of music, the movie has a good soundtrack attached to it.

The main character in the film is Jimmy (Phil Daniels) he doesn't have a long term plan for his life or the future, his life is all about next weekend. Jimmy is a Mod and frustrated with his boring life, working as an office boy and living at home with his parents. The only time he feels alive is with his Mod friends, who aimlessly drink, fight and party their weekends away. The Mods enemies are the Rockers who they physically clash with at times.

The highlight of the Mods calendar is a big dance coming up at Brighton. Jimmy and his Mod friends go to a big dance at Brighton with much anticipation. Its the absolute high point of Jimmy's life. He see's the top Mod (Sting) at the dance, who seems to be everything a Mod should aspire to be. However things aren't what they seem, and Jimmy learns the top Mod is just another young man with his struggles. Jimmy finds a fleeting love but the outcome is far from what he desires.

With his boring life and let downs, Jimmy becomes even more frustrated and reckless. Its a sad film to see how young people can get so caught up in the moment and let little things burn them up, that would mean nothing in 5 years time. Phil Daniels is really good as Jimmy, the support cast and settings are good as well.

From the creator of Masterchef, here is something Franc Roddam made earlier.

A film about being young in the 1960s, being part of the Mod subculture and alienation and angst with some good tunes. There are a lot of future cast members of Eastenders and The Bill.

Phil Daniels gives a career defining performance that should had got an Oscar nomination as Jimmy who has a mundane job, boring home life with parents who do not understand him. Jimmy lives for the weekend clubbing with friends, popping pills and getting into scrapes with his mates.

Jimmy and his friends go off to a bank holiday weekend in Brighton, he wants to get close with girlfriend Steph (Lesley Ash.) He is in awe of cool dude Ace Face (Sting) and gets in a rumble with Greasers.

However Jimmy gets more disillusioned losing his job, friends and family. Seeing Ace face as just an ordinary bell boy sends him to the edge.

The film quickly became a cult classic, This Who produced film led to the revival of the late 1970s & early 1980s mod scene.

It has some cool tracks, a lot of humour, earthy language and a cast of now familiar actors. In a sense it's like a British version of Saturday Night Fever.

Director Franc Roddam gives this drama a sense of rawness and some vitality when you see the action scenes in Brighton.

I hated this film when I saw it as a teenager back in 1979. The reason was the movie was realistic--too realistic! I identified (in some respects) with the main character Jimmy, and his life was bleak and depressing. Seeing it over 20 years later, I love it! It's a superb mix of the 1960s British "Angry Young Men" films, the Who's great album and 1979 sensibilities. It's about Jimmy (excellent performance by Phil Daniels) and his friends. It takes place in 1964 London and there are constant battles between the Mods (Jimmy and friends) and the Rockers. The film is full of violence, sex, VERY strong language (good luck with the accents), anger, alienation...the works. However, there is a strong sense of humor (a break in at a drug store is hilarious) and it does have a (sort of) happy ending. But it is very dark and depressing.

The music score is excellent. It's not just the Who, but other 1960s groups are used also. The direction by Franc Roddam is wonderful--it perfectly merges the music, imagery and story (especially with "Love, Reign Over Me"). My only real complaint--why not use the whole album "Quadrophenia"? Only about 1/8 of the two record set is used! Also interesting to see Sting in his first movie. Don't miss this one!