The over-ambitious "Absolute Beginners" is one of those films that is difficult because it frustrates you of its potential to be excellent. And while it had excellent parts, those parts were better than the whole. The performances were fine, although one never finds oneself caring too much about any of the characters. That point would be irrelevant in some other film. But, in the last thirty minutes or so (at the beginning of the race riots), that caring would be the drive that would keep the viewer from turning it off. While I did not stop the film, I did fast forward it. Ten minutes would have been more than enough, as it never needed to be that redundant. Even at ten minutes, it would have felt tacked on, much less over thirty. It left a bad taste on a film that, so far, was pretty decent. A large musical number at the end would have been appropriate, not a half-hour parade of blood, fire, and broken glass.
But let us draw on some of its virtues, which it has as many as it does faults. The opening shot is wonderful, showing us a colorful "Swinging London" with choreographed movements by the streetwalkers (some of them anyway). The songs, unlike a large amount of film musicals, have been welded with the story. They flow. They need to be there. The songs express what words cannot. The actors SHOULD be breaking out into song. And further than that, they are good. The color is another main enjoyment, as the whole story had to do with glitter, flash, and things that are attractive. Crammed, stuffed with color, as it should be. Examples of this are the opening shot, the wonderful "unveiling" of Suzette at the fashion show, the first club scene, etc. While the characters are very two dimensional, they are well acted, and their motivations are always very clear. Yes, the characters never emerge from plot points to actual human beings, but that is a minor drawback.
The songs. When mentioning "Absolute Beginners," one must mention Ray Davies and the Kinks' number, "Quiet Life." One of the most brilliant musical numbers in the film is not crucial to the story. However, I am most glad that it was left in. Painful, mildly disturbing, and darkly funny at times, it is catchy and simply excellent. The songs performed by the child rock star were quite annoying, but then again, I find a fourteen year old boy singing irritating in itself. "Having it All," as well as Colin's song following, are both very good and, as I see it, essential to the story. "Selling Out" is wonderful, and essential to making the motivations of Colin more clear. The David Bowie number, "Motivation," is more visually stimulating than musically. The song is nothing special, while its Busbey Berkely style complemented by quick editing is the main attraction. "Killer Blow," performed onscreen by Sade (a nice bonus), is a fine song/sequence. Besides it not being available on widescreen DVD, it is a shame that the CD is not available, as it would be a nice listen every once in a while.
It could have been SO much better. It should have been so much better. Whatever made the writers/director feel that the didactic anti-racism message needed to be crammed in at the end I'll never know. (Note: It's not the message I mind a bit, but the cramming in of 30 minutes of yelling and violence. It's a musical, and one which racism wasn't even its main focus.) And the ending (SPOILER AHEAD) about Colin and Suzette back together hasn't any basis on which it should be considered a happy ending. Aren't they, at heart, two different people?
But, if you see it for rental at your video store, do get it. I own it. I just know where to stop the film isn't necessarily at the end credits.
But let us draw on some of its virtues, which it has as many as it does faults. The opening shot is wonderful, showing us a colorful "Swinging London" with choreographed movements by the streetwalkers (some of them anyway). The songs, unlike a large amount of film musicals, have been welded with the story. They flow. They need to be there. The songs express what words cannot. The actors SHOULD be breaking out into song. And further than that, they are good. The color is another main enjoyment, as the whole story had to do with glitter, flash, and things that are attractive. Crammed, stuffed with color, as it should be. Examples of this are the opening shot, the wonderful "unveiling" of Suzette at the fashion show, the first club scene, etc. While the characters are very two dimensional, they are well acted, and their motivations are always very clear. Yes, the characters never emerge from plot points to actual human beings, but that is a minor drawback.
The songs. When mentioning "Absolute Beginners," one must mention Ray Davies and the Kinks' number, "Quiet Life." One of the most brilliant musical numbers in the film is not crucial to the story. However, I am most glad that it was left in. Painful, mildly disturbing, and darkly funny at times, it is catchy and simply excellent. The songs performed by the child rock star were quite annoying, but then again, I find a fourteen year old boy singing irritating in itself. "Having it All," as well as Colin's song following, are both very good and, as I see it, essential to the story. "Selling Out" is wonderful, and essential to making the motivations of Colin more clear. The David Bowie number, "Motivation," is more visually stimulating than musically. The song is nothing special, while its Busbey Berkely style complemented by quick editing is the main attraction. "Killer Blow," performed onscreen by Sade (a nice bonus), is a fine song/sequence. Besides it not being available on widescreen DVD, it is a shame that the CD is not available, as it would be a nice listen every once in a while.
It could have been SO much better. It should have been so much better. Whatever made the writers/director feel that the didactic anti-racism message needed to be crammed in at the end I'll never know. (Note: It's not the message I mind a bit, but the cramming in of 30 minutes of yelling and violence. It's a musical, and one which racism wasn't even its main focus.) And the ending (SPOILER AHEAD) about Colin and Suzette back together hasn't any basis on which it should be considered a happy ending. Aren't they, at heart, two different people?
But, if you see it for rental at your video store, do get it. I own it. I just know where to stop the film isn't necessarily at the end credits.