SYNOPSICS
Vinyl (2012) is a movie. Sara Sugarman has directed this movie. Phil Daniels,Jamie Blackley,Perry Benson,Keith Allen are the starring of this movie. It was released in 2012. Vinyl (2012) is considered one of the best Comedy movie in India and around the world.
In 2004, has-been 80s punk rocker Johnny Jones makes a drunken comeback single with his old band Weapons of Happiness, after they meet up at a friend's funeral. He is sure the song, "Free Rock 'n' Roll" will be a hit, but in an industry obsessed with image, Johnny is viewed as irrelevant and over-the-hill by record company executives and DJs, who tell him he has the wrong demographic to be successful. Frustrated but determined, he decides to hire a group of photogenic, box-ticking, media-friendly teenagers to front a video for the song. He intends to swindle the music business into liking him, and come clean once the single is released. The youngsters mime to his music, contracts are signed and Free Rock 'n' Roll enters the UK singles chart. Unfortunately, the rest of the band want to be recognised for their part in this achievement. Following an argument between Johnny and band-mate Minto, the story is revealed to the press. As the media go into a frenzy, Johnny finds himself caught ...
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Vinyl (2012) Reviews
Anti Social Behaviour Order.
Splendid slice of British Rock Rock Rockery. Vinyl is based about a Rock "N" Roll Swindle perpetrated by Mike Peters and his band The Alarm in 2004. With the record companies only interested in imaged driven bands with which to cash in the coin, Peters recorded a single and got some pretty youngsters to pretend it was their song. The record company bought it wholesale, with Peters and chums chuckling away until the reveal caused much mirth in the industry. So a sort of Milli Vanilli meets Blue meets The Sex Pistols! Film is based in Wales and features Phil Daniels, Keith Allen, Perry Benson and Christopher Roy Turner as the middle aged punkers who meet up at a friends funeral. Their band The Weapons of Happiness is a long distant memory, gone are the days when they opened for U2 and toured with The Buzzcocks. Hooking up for drinks after the service, the men, in spite of having different ideals in life, get drunk and lay down a jam session, that amazingly in the morning sounds rather ace. But with the record company only interested in image based bands like The Jammie Dodgers and Bling Bling, Weapons of Happiness can't catch a break, that is until lead singer Johnny Jones (Daniels) hits on novel idea... The whole film pulses with a sense of fun and vibrancy, the cast having a great old time of it acting up as a rock band past their prime but still carrying around a torch for the glory days. Their hangs ups and past differences are still there, and much of the comedy is derived from these scenarios. Once the youngsters arrive to be the fake face of the band, fronted by a superb Jamie Blackley, the age divide also provides scope for humour that is utilised fully. A running thread of Johnny and his frustrated partner (Julia Ford) trying to start a family, also provides mirth, while there's one or two surprises in the story as well. It's no rocket science movie, it's very lighthearted and directed breezily by Sara Sugarman. However, the caustic asides inherent within the narrative (prejudices of the music industry/hanging on to the past being good or bad?) do strike the right chords. The soundtrack is kicking, the "band's" song "Free Rock and Roll" beautifully catchy, the comic performances mightily strong, and the serious undertones never cloy the frivolity. From a Ramones/Buzzcocks/The Saints inspired hit single, to Daniels' ass! Vinyl is a winner and worthy of seeking out by music fans of all ages. 9/10
Music industry fooled by ageing rockers
Plenty of laughs in this file which is loosely based on a true story (and full of in-jokes for those in the know). It could easily have fallen into the trap of being predictable but it doesn't. It comes over as fresh, quirky and fun. The serious moments are very natural, not forced, the music is good and the young band are very easy on the eye for the younger viewers. For the rest of us, there's Phil Daniels as the ever-optimistic Johnny Jones and Keith Allen, looking typically curmudgeonly as Minto, plus some well-aimed swipes at the contemporary record industry. Very much in the tradition of Very Annie Mary or The Full Monty.
Saw it at the Santa Barbara Film Festival
I managed to catch Vinyl at the Santa Barbara Film Festival. Wasn't expecting much from it as I'd not read anything about it and didn't recognize any of the cast. But I was so happy that I saw it. It was such a pleasant surprise. And it was based on a true story which made it feel even more charming. It follows an old British rock group trying to break back in to the music scene with no luck. So they audition and create a younger group who mime to their songs and become successful. The songs are great especially the main song, I guarantee you'll be singing it for days after you see it. A real crowd pleaser. Would love to see it again. Hope it comes out soon.
Great music, great story!
I recently watched this film at the Newport Beach Film Festival. It is such a fun story with great music and acting. A lot of fresh new faces. I love when the underdog triumphs, as in this story. I'm sure there are a lot of guys out there like this main character: searching for recognition and acknowledgment in an industry obsessed with youth. You don't have to love punk music to love this movie. I was surprised to learn from the director, writers and producer at the Q&A afterward that this was all based on a true story about The Alarm and Mike Peters. It wasn't even over yet and I wanted to watch it again! I hope this film has a wider distribution in the United States. I'm not sure if or when there is a general release date.
forget your preconceptions. You WILL love this film!
Whats not to like about this great film? The soundtrack? Phil Daniels? Perry Benson? Seeing the music biz being caught with their pants down? That last notion is worthy enough as a plot for a movie but watching the story unfold with Phil Daniels leading the charge, as only he can with his 100mph attack on life, makes this tidy little film truly worthy of your time watching it. The story will make you laugh, it may make you cry and it will definitely leave you feeling good and glad you watched it. It is a fun caper that never takes its self too seriously yet succeeds in showing all of us that rock n roll should always be 'by the people, for the people and of the people'. If you grew up in the 70s or 80s you will love it and many of its touch points. If you are still "growing up" watch and learn. FREE ROCK N ROLL