Eleven - if you will - rocktastic music movies
We go to 11 to celebrate Nigel Tufnel Day
Round-up 11 November 2011 - 11/11/11 - is Nigel Tufnel Day, a day to celebrate pushing the envelope as far as it can possibly be pushed - and then pushing it one step beyond that.
As Spinal Tap's lead guitarist would say: "An 'undred years ago, a great war - the greatest since the Romans - came to an end. It was all quiet on the Y Front. On the X Front. On the Z Front. On all the Fronts - and there were a lot o' Fronts.
"Silence reigned. The only sound to hear was the tweeting of little birds. I would like to fill that space with a nuclear barrage of rock to celebrate the power of 'eavy metal music to bring deadly enemies together in peace and quiet."
Who could disagree?
Here at Reg Hardware we're marking the need to turn the dials to - if you will - 11 by listing our ten - no, eleven - favourite rock films. Documentaries, bio-pics, comedies, tragedies - they're all here and they all mark the majesty of rock and the mystery of roll.
Missed one of your faves? Let us know in the comments.
24 Hour Party People
Loosely based on real events around the Madchester club scene of the late 1980s and early 1990s, 24 Hour Party People tells the rollercoaster tale of Factory Records, focusing on the career of head-honcho Tony Wilson, played by comedian Steve Coogan.
While some parts are clearly fictional to spice things up for the big screen, the story paints a graphic image of a city struck with rave fever. From Joy Division to New Order and, of course, the Happy Mondays, it illustrates a label that started as a nightclub and went on to conquer the UK music scene.
"Factory Records are not actually a company. We are an experiment in human nature," says Wilson during the film, which epitomises that very sentence, especially when human nature is skewed by excessive drug taking and egotistical mindsets.
Reg Rating 80%
More info IMDB
A Hard Days Night
The first film to feature the Fab Four, A Hard Days Night is a foundation for all rock films to come. A Hard Days Night follows The Beatles as they travel from Liverpool down to London for a TV appearance. With typical calamities along the way, such as rescuing Paul's weird grandfather and finding a missing Ringo Star, the film is an amusing look at a 'typical day' in the life of Britain's most famous band. It was also the first movie to ever be released on DVD. You learn something new every day.
Reg Rating 80%
More info IMDB
Next page: Almost Famous
COMMENTS
Still Crazy
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0149151/
Timothy Spall, Billy Connolly, Nill Nighy, Jimmy Nail, Phil Daniels, Bruce Robinson, about an aging rock band, getting together for one more gig.
And whilst not exactly about a band, Wayne's World is a love letter to Rock and Roll, and Wayne's World 2 shamelessly taking Danny The Dealer from Bruce Robinson's Withnail and making him a roadie. Classic.
Another Glaring Omission
Anvil: The Story Of Anvil
You start off thinking it is all bit of a joke as the 50 something members of the legendary 80's heavy metal band are shown delivering meals to school kids and other dreary day jobs while keeping the dream alive on the weekends, still trying to get that "big break" and reclaim their former glory.
Think a rock and roll version of "The Wrestler", only with real blokes .
By the end of the movie you are rooting for them to make it!
A true masterpiece.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1157605/
Anvil
Anvil! The Story of Anvil http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1157605/
Superb documentary. Could have been Spinal Tap lite but instead is genuinely fascinating. You really feel something for the band.
Both of the Biopics could be replaced
By a single movie:
Sid and Nancy
I don't see how you could overlook that one.
In addition to the excellent nominations of Blues Brothers, I would also suggest Crossroads (Steve Vai's performance as Lucifer is to be seen).
