In the colorful 80's the emphasis was on excess. It was a
time when school violence was unheard of, safe sex was a new
concept to many, and excess was the name of the game. The
"ME" decade as it was later to be known was a celebration
of fashion, music, and sex to many and the music of the time,
blended all of these elements in a new and extreme way that's
to the rise of music videos and MTV.
No longer did a fan have to content themselves with magazine
articles and concert appearances. Suddenly a fan could see
the favorite stars on their television any time of day or
night in a barrage of music videos. Many a young fan looked
at the glamorous lifestyle on screen and dreamed of someday
having it all.
While the bands may have changed over the years, the excess
of rock stars has remained and the desire for young people
to dream of having it all has not changed. While many fans
never do get their chance at rock stardom, as they grow and
experience life and create new dreams, that inner desire to
be the star up on stage never quite fades away as it is still
locked up deep inside.
The true-life story of Tim "Ripper" Owens is what
Hollywood dreams about, as it is a story of the dreamer who
lived his dream. For those who do not know of Tim, he was
a fan of Judas Priest who played in a variety of local bands
in the Akron Ohio area. He was in a Priest cover band named
British Steel when he was given the chance to replace Priest
Singer Rob Halford. It seems that a person who was dating
a band member had taped one of Tim's shows and shown the tape
to the members of Priest. They were so impressed that when
they needed a new singer, he was auditioned and given the
lead in the band he had followed for years.
The film "RockStar" is loosely based on the events
of Owens, as it follows a young man who is given his chance
to shine in the band he has worshipped for years. The filmmakers
bought the rights to the Owens story but decided to go in
their own direction leaving a film that is very loosely based
on the factual events.
The film stars Mark Wahlberg as Chris Cole, a copy repair
tech by day that fronts a tribute band by night. Chris is
obsessed with his favorite band Steel Dragon and knows all
there is to know about them and takes playing their music
very seriously. At one point he implies that if it is not
done correctly and with respect then it should not be done.
Chris has his world upended when his bandmates remove him
from the band he started when they grow tired of his perfectionist
ways and desire to play original material. The following morning
Chris is called by Kurt Kuddy, guitarist for Steel Dragons.
At first Chris thinks it is an elaborate hoax, but soon he
is flying to LA with his manager/girlfriend Emily(Jennifer
Aniston) and before long, he is given the job of lead singer
of Steel Dragon to replace the recently departed former singer.
What follows is a very predictable story for anyone who has
ever seen a film about Showbusiness. The wild lifestyle and
women soon surround Chris at every turn, as he learns that
reality and fantasy are in fact two different things. The
story becomes the old tale of drugs, alcohol, lost days, and
endless women. Of course there will be a strain on the relationship
between Chris and Emily and of course, people will mention
how Chris is no longer being himself and is lost in his rock
persona.
It seems that the film is unsure what it wants to be. Does
it want to be a tale of a man who rose from nothing to the
top, and found he has choices to make? Or is the film trying
to be a morality play of be happy of who you are and what
you have as bigger is not always better? Sadly the film never
does answer the questions, or delve into what would turn an
otherwise normal person into someone he is not. We know the
price of fame can be high and it can corrupt people, but through
it all Chris still remains a nice guy. There is no drug-induced
tirade, no violence, no overdose or other accident. Instead
we see Chris as a person who still signs autographs, who takes
the time for people in his life and respects those around
him.
The balance seems to come from showing that even while keeping
himself, Chris is pulled in to the lifestyle and while his
core elements remain, he is living a fantasy detached from
the world, and becomes a different person in his rock persona.
Anniston is little more than the token rock girlfriend as
she is supportive of her man and stands by him, but even she
has her limits and is pulled into the lifestyle leaving her
to make a choice about the lifestyle. It is said that test
audiences did not like her character much and as a result,
her scenes were diminished. My only fault was that Anniston
seemed a bit old and high brow to be believable as a Rocker
Chic.
Is Rock Star a great film? In a word, no, however it is at
times an entertaining movie and Wahlberg is good in the role
of Chris. While it will not make you forget "Almost Famous"
it will entertain and show people that having is not always
as good as wanting.
3 stars out of 5
Gareth Von Kallenbach
Gareth@nwlink.com
|