A Fun Film to Check out

Rating: 8/10 (1 February 2012)

The sub genre of biographies on the most glorious musicians of our time has grown much over time. One of my favorites has to be "The Temptations" (directed by ), and this film is up there for me. Now like all genres, these films have a fairly general chain of events. A nobody craves to share talent with world, manages to reach limelight, but then is consumed by drugs and falls. Do I find this a weakness? No not necessarily, for every genre has its own tendencies. The super hero must save his love interest, Tom Cruise must dance in almost every movie he's in, Godzilla has to stomp on Tokyo, and every horror has the dumbass who calls out to the darkness expecting a friend. Don't even get me started on the near pointlessness of romantic comedies. These conventions aren't always present, but still often are and it's not always where you're going with a film but just how you get there. And also consider the fact this film and others like it are more or less pieces of history, so running into these conventions isn't really avoidable. Celebrities have a tendency to do stupid things.
For this film, the very enjoyable aspects lie in its sensuality and casting choices. The jail bait Dakota Fanning is bound to draw attention, and this is probably the only film in which I can partake starring Kristen Stewart. They're well aware their playing guitar legends, and so they both do quite well. And Michael Shannonas is just cool. The performances are pretty good and the soundtrack, if you're a fan of Joan Jett and her work, is damn good. Be sure to check this one out.