Clubland

If you expected this film to be really "edge", its not - but it is actually better than one might expect from film aimed at 15-21 year olds. Production values are good; story, although not deep and philosophical, is entertaining and well paced.

Rock Group wants to play in L.A. clubs - find that clubs want money, not in it for "the music". Thugs and drugs on fringe of music scene cause problems for band members. "Nice" girls compete with groupies for band members attentions. Most of the music in this film is actually pretty mellow. Some implied sex, not graphic. Lots of foul language, some violence (mostly compressed into two scenes).

Acting is generally good, weaker performances from singers acting in the film (not a big surprise). Jimmy Tuckett (the lead singer in the band) several women assure me, is cute. Heather Stephens as the "good" female co-star is attractive, does a credible job. Lori Petty has a tough job trying to make something of a character who is always either high, drunk, or both - too bad that she didn't have a "cleaned up" phase to show in this movie.

Fortunate news - Song "Bisexual Chick" is actually only in the background, under the sounds of a party, i.e., you don't actually have to hear it.

After seeing big budget, mainline studio movies with massive ad budgets that still produce films like "Mod Squad" and "The Avengers", this low budget independent film has a lot to be said for it. And compared with some of the films that are screened and don't make it into the theaters at all, it ain't bad at all.

Too bad most people who would enjoy this on the big screen won't "discover" it until after it is playing on HBO and available on video tape.

This is a movie that could have been really good, but just didn't make it. If you actually make it through the first half, the rest isn't all that bad.

Written by songwriter Glen Ballard (Michael Jackson - "Man in the Mirror", Alanis Morisette - "You Oughta Know", dozens of other hits ) and featuring bit parts by Terrence Trent D'Arby & Steven Tyler of Aerosmith, CLUBLAND immediately carries an air of authenticity as only a rock'n'roll film made by musicians can do.

Throw into the mix the incomparable Lori Petty (remember Tank Girl??) and newcomer Jimmy Tuckett who looks like a young Michael Hutchence from INXS and sings like a soulful Kurt Cobain, and you've got even more worth seeing.

The story is gritty yet polished, violent yet moral, disturbing yet inspiring. In short, this film is as diverse as the musical styles on the soundtrack (grunge, punk, thrash, trance, rock, acoustic), so you need to take everything as it comes in order to enjoy it. If you're a musician, music lover or groupie I'm guessing you have a broad taste in music, and the songs in this movie are undoubtedly good. As an added bonus, the actors look like they know how to play (if you're like me, you probably hate it when the actors can't even hold a guitar, let alone make a convincing performance).

The vibe is pretty intense, focusing on the moral dilemmas of being a successful musician, hitting on themes of sex, drugs, rock'n'roll, betrayal, selling out, and of course the #1 theme of being a musician: being dirt poor (which, oddly, most r'n'r movies miss). It doesn't have much comedy unless you count the outrageously awesome performance of Lori Petty as the coked out, spaced out, angsty punk chick. Or Steven Tyler with his 1 line "Got a problem here." LOL

If you're on the lookout for entertaining rock movies, don't miss CLUBLAND. Other undiscovered gems worth seeing are: GARAGE DAYS (a stylish, surreal rock comedy from the director of THE CROW), the excellent film SYMPATHY FOR DELICIOUS (about a paralyzed rockstar, written by and starring a man who is a paraplegic in real life), and for comedy don't miss MUSIC & LYRICS (for the 80s pop crowd) and THE ROCKER (for the 80s metal crowd. And it should go without saying, the greatest rock films ever are SPINAL TAP and EDDIE & THE CRUISERS. Rock on \m/

This movie will hopefully die a quick death at the box office, or better yet, go straight to video. When I saw it at a test screening, myself and the audience couldn't help but laugh. But believe me this was no comedy! The acting is sub-standard, with Lori Petty's being the most sub-standard. However, Terrence Trent D'arby should recieve an honorary worst "non-actor" acknowledgement, as his performance is the most pathetic. The music is god awful, and belongs in the used soundtrack bin. My one question is why does "Hit Maker" Glen Ballard deserve to have a movie made? Can't be because of high quality. . . If it has anything to do with his contribution to Alanis Morissette's "Jagged Little Pill", somebody needs to think again!

Director Mary Lambert rules! The people who thought this movie was bad must have really missed the point. I suggest seeing it again with a more open mind. You won't regret it if you view it as a comedy. Where else do you get to see Terrance, Lori, and Alanis all in one strange place?