From: dholdswo@adelphi.ua.oz.au (Dave Holdsworth)
Newsgroups: aus.films
Subject: Re: Singles (was Forthcoming films)
Date: 29 Sep 92 07:08:56 GMT
Reply-To: dholdswo@adelphi.ua.oz.au (Dave Holdsworth)
Distribution: aus
Organization: Department of Physics, University of Adelaide, South Australia
NNTP-Posting-Host: adelphi.physics.adelaide.edu.au

Paul Dudley wrote:

>Seeing as I have recently purchased the soundtracks for the films "Singles"
>and "Twin Peaks:Fire Walk With Me" , I wondered if anyone would know when
>these films will be released ?
>
>Also , does anyone know the basic storyline behind "Singles" ?

"Singles" opened in the US a fortnight ago. I've got no idea when it will open
in Aus.

As for the basic storyline, this is what a friend in the US sent me.....


                  MATT DILLON ROCKS OUT

   "Making movies is like trying to hit a moving target," says Cameron
Crowe.  "You've got to try and guess where it's going to be when the film's
released."  Crowe's aim is true.  Written in 1989, the 34-year-old
writer/director's new film Singles stands to profit hugely from the
attentions that's been lavished on Seattle these past six months.

   Set among the city's aspiring musicians and postgraduate slackers,
Singles is an ambitious ensemble piece which sees local luminaries rubbing
shoulders with Hollywood talents like Bridget Fonda and Matt Dillon.
(Music lover Dillon was last seen trying to get a phone number for My
Bloody Valentine's bassist Belinda after the group's New York show.)

   A teenage prodigy at Rolling Stone magazine in the Seventies, Seattle
born Crowe rarely misses a beat of American youth culture.  His first
screenplay, Fast Times At Ridgemont High (Sean Penn's career peak), is
virtually the only watchable remnant from American cinema's early
Eighties teen boom.  Say Anything, Crowes 1989 directorial debut, was a
bittersweet romance that made John Cusack's Lloyd Dobler an instant
twentysomething icon, Goldie Caulfield in a Clash T-shirt.

   The research for Singles began in 1988 when Cameron Crowe spent
several months in the company of Seattle's Mother Love Bone.  Their
dedication proved a real eye-opener: "A lot of these guys were pulling
espresso, working four jobs so they could stay in their band."
Crowe recalls.  When the group's charismatic frontman Andy Wood died
of a heroin overdose in 1990, Crowe was astonished at the reaction
within Seattle's music community: "Those guys were very supportive of
each other," he says.  "It was really inspiring to be around them and not
see that LA attitude of, 'Gee, I'm sorry about that, I guess the guy
was really fucked up. Listen, I have this tape.....'"

   Mother Love Bone's Stone Gossard and Jeff Ament went on to form
Pearl Jam, who appear in Singles as Citizen Dick, the grungy backing
band of Matt Dillon's character Cliff Poncier.  (Their big number is
"Touch Me, I'm Dick".)  The Replacements' Paul Westerberg and
Soundgarden's chris Cornell scored the film; when Cornell saw a mock
sleeve for Cliff Poncier's solo EP, he went and recorded the songs as
a joke just for the film's director.  The cult of Citizen Dick is giving
Singles a healthy dose of advanced publicity - Supermodel Cindy Crawford
was recently spotted shopping in LA wearing a "Touch Me, I'm Dick"
T-shirt.


                              'Singles'
                 written and directed by Cameron Crowe


   What can I say?  I must have hyped this movie beyond any reasonable
expectations.  I mean, I've waited for this movie since last winter, when I
first heard about it.  I practically salivated every time I listened to the
soundtrack.  I mean, *no* movie could be as good as I'd hoped it would be.
   So I was greatly surprised when I found out that it WAS as good as I'd
hoped.  I loved it from the first second I sat down in the theatre.  Cameron
Crowe has achieved a level of godhood in my eyes now.  I have to say, I loved
both of his last two films (Say Anything, Fast Times at Ridgemont High), but
I've got a new favorite now.
   Of course, I wouldn't have liked it near as much, if it weren't based in
Seattle.  The movie centers around the tenants of a small apartment complex
and their skirmishes with romance.  Campbell Scott has probably the largest
role in the film, and does a splendid job with it.  Bridget Fonda plays his
friend, ex-flame, and neighbor who is madly in love with Matt Dillon's Cliff
Poncier.  Cliff Poncier is the front man of Citizen Dick (played by Eddie
Vedder, Jeff Ament, and Stone Gossard from Pearl Jam), who gets some truly
gruesome reviews.
   Both Alice in Chains and Soundgarden have performances in the movie, at
various clubs that the main characters visit.  Mudhoney and Mother Love Bone
t-shirts abound.  Watch for Chris Cornell's cameo, and keep a close eye on
Eddie Vedder - he has great fun with his part.
   This is one of the first movies this year that I would actually feel good
about paying full price for, which is about as good a recommendation as any
movie gets.  I'd give it five stars, but let's not be cliche.
   Anyways, if you like romance or comedy, this is a movie for you.  If you
like Seattle music, this is equally a movie for you, regardless of what you
think of the story.

*************************************************************************

     Dave Holdsworth. email: dholdswo@physics.adelaide.edu.au
       Dept. Physics & Math Physics, University of Adelaide
--
*************************************************************************

     Dave Holdsworth. email: dholdswo@physics.adelaide.edu.au
       Dept. Physics & Math Physics, University of Adelaide