Prey for Rock & Roll : I Hated This Pandering Fake Movie.

Maybe I'm just too young to appreciate this movie (I am 24 and a musician myself). The story is contrived and tired. The dialogue is so forced and false that it causes this whole picture to reek of posuer. It remined me of the 'urban' dialogue portrayed in movies like 'save the last dance'. Nobody really talks like that, that is only what writers think people talk like.
I also hate how rapes, beatings, and deaths take place in this movie as random sidenotes, it makes and already lame story totally unbelievable..
Also a note to anyone who is considering watching this movie to hear some cool music: STOP!!!!!! BEFORE ITS TOO LATE!!!!! This music would be considered terrible even if it came out in the mid90's post-grunge psuedo-punk wannabe-riotgrrl period. It is beyond lame in every way imaginable.
Alright there is one cool lesbian make out scene, but even that happens 10 minutes into the flick, leaving you with another hour-and-a-half of 1-dimentional characters, retarded plot twists, and corny 'rocker-speak' to deal with.. do yourself a favor and rent Hedwig, or 24hour party people instead.

p.s. I guess there is a reason this movie ranks so high with the 45+ demo. sad. sad. sad.

This movie is based on Cheri Lovedog's life. Cheri Lovedog wrote it with her girlfriend. It started out as a play at CBGBs and then was made into this movie. I have yet to see the movie. I just ordered it and should have it in a few days. I can't wait to see it. I have the soundtrack and absolutely love it, I play guitar along with it all the time. I am a huge fan of punk rock and am very critical of it, especially with todays wannabe bands and this is probably the best punk I've heard in a long time. I wish I would've known of Cheri Lovedog when she had her band going, but I was too young then. The Queen of Rock and Roll, Joan Jett, had a lot to do with this movie in the begining. She helped Gina learn to play the guitar correctly. I think that it is awesome that Gina actually plays and sings as well, and that she's actually good. I would have loved to have had the chance to catch Gina when she was touring with Girls Agianst Boys in support of this movie. I can't wait to see this movie and I highly doubt that my opinion on it will change after I see it. And as far as the rapes, beatings, and deaths taking place as sidenotes, well the main story line is about Cheri's band and her quest to make it big, and those are things that just happened along the line.

I'm a fan of both Gina Gershon and Rock n' Roll, so maybe I'm bias. However, I thought the movie was fine. In fact, I thought it was good.

The story isn't unbelievable at all. Beyond the fact that it's based on Lovedog's real-life experience, many of the elements of the movie reminded me of a real all-woman band that I listen to. If you're aware of how many bands were swimming around L.A. in the 80's, you'll know that stories like this one are in fact quite common.

As far as the rape and murder goes, I didn't feel that it was treated as a sidenote, it was just immediatly assimilated into the music. That's how they dealt with it. The point of the movie is that music is their entire way of life. Therefore, rape isn't sidestepped at all, it's dealt with very effectively.

The movie is great!!! I am in my 40's and can totally relate to this movie - both with the dialog and the soundtrack. Thouroughly enjoyed it and would recommend it to any one who can appreciate someone who is 40 or almost!!

I was looking forward to this movie but it was just awful SO cliche. I listened to the commetary and the director is so earnest about it all but i don't think he sees what we see. He kept pointing out how certain parts got laughs and I thought certainly it was on a night when his family was in the audiance. I did not come close to laughing, not once. The movie cried out for humor. The girls took themselves so seriously. The acting is forced and self-conscious throughout Drea De Matteo is very good, natural and organic with whatever cliche thing she is called on to do. But the others do not rise above the tired storylines. Turning 40 and still rocking is an interesting idea but it was sandwiches between, a death and a rape and a drug addict gets clean plot line It reminded me of that Justine Bateman movie, Satisfaction. The musical numbers were hard to watch Everyone looked like they were PRETENDING to be rock stars. I grew up going to all the punk shows on sunset strip. These girls would have been kicked off the stage and quickly

I'm insulted by your poor review because you have no clue what' you're talking about. This movie is about passion a woman's passion of making it in the music business. People DO speak in the dialog that they do in this movie musicians do. this is a wonderful film, and if YOU like 24 Hour Party People and consider that music then you know nothing about it. Oh and you spelled riot GRRRL wrong.
you suck. "the lesbian scene was cool" how typical.

even i have to admit (as both a musician and a promoter) that this movie was rather poor
the dialog was very forced and "hard" and every pose seemed too practiced, but not only that the music itself comes across as rather ordinary 80's rock as opposed anything remotely punk rock
but that's my two cents

LPX
http://www.myspace.com/lpxireland

He spelled GRRRL wrong. That's too funny.

I'm a musician, and I've never talked like a moron to prove it. I think it's funny how so many musicians are scrawny, strung out on drugs and wear tight pants and makeup and talk like we're supposed to think they're badasses.

People like this ruined rock and roll. It's now more about attitude than music. Which is why 90% of the music out today makes me want to stab myself in the ear with scissors.

Well put, progfan-1.

Don't worry about those others ranting against your post They're obviously delusional.

This movie bit, hard. The plot was nearly non-existant, the writing was horrific- especially those god-awful songs they sang. I don't know who lied to Gina Gershon, but she can not sing. If they'd gotten rid of that grating voice-over, dubbed over her singing, cut out at least half of each of their performances (when in movies do they ever play the complete song? It slows the action down way too much, especially when the songs are as cheesy and lame as these) and got rid of one of the little subplots it might be ok. It's as if they tried to pack a lifetime into a months of these women's lives. Drug problems, rape, rape again, getting robbed, getting HIT BY A TRUCK?? but don't worry, they overcame all of their problems and still managed to keep their integrity.

The ending was a joke- that many people would NEVER show up to hear that band play. This movie made me embarrassed to be a woman.

PS - The girl-on-girl sex scene was also lame. Was she making out with the girl or checking her breasts for lumps?

i mean, i felt no empathy for the characters nor did i think that the script was that good. There was no character arc and well, the songs suck in my opinion. But it reminded me of The Sex Pistols in that way. But I think they are ok considering their songs mean something. Maybe I woulda felt more empathy of them not getting a record deal if they were actually good.

I will definetly try to post with no bias, but I can say that i really liked this movie.

This movie definetly had no plot. I've give that to people, and there were times that the dialogue was a bit cliche'd, but I foudn it to be enjoyable because it took more risks than it sucumbed to. Had this been a major movie, it would've been so dumbed down. You gotta take it in that stride, because the real way to truly experience the punk scene is get the bootleg videos people make at shows, and enjoy them for what they are. I'm definetly big into the punk scene, but i also recognized this movie isn't about the rock scene, it's a study on Jackie's life and her thoughts and what not. And come on, what big budget movie has really captured the essence of the scene? So for alot of people, expecting a decent rock and roll flick made them get dissappointed. I expected super chick flick just by alot of write ups I read of, so I was pleasantly surprised it wasn't bad on that level. It all comes down to expectations. I also was pleased this wasn't a stupid Good Charlotte movie.

The songsalot of them needed work. Had they had Bob Dylan write some of the songs (who taught Gina originally how to play guitar, but then Gina had Joan teacher her how to play punk for the role) she might've fared better. Singing I can't say is one of her strong suits, but I can appreciate a crappy singer who has some sort of passion, which I felt like Gina was definetly absorbed into her role and really tried to capture some sort of essence and not try to sit there and disrespect the scene.

And my final thing to really cap my big thoughts on this movie were that theres alot to not enjoy about it, but I felt liek the compellingness of the performances defiently pushed up some of the lacking of the movies plot (which really didn't exist). It's like with pop music. If someone has a nice voice, I might tolerate a *beep* song with a little more compassion than hearing Britney Sprears "singing" something. I felt like Gina gave a good performance, as did a few of the others, but this role definetly didn't do her any favors (she's gotten blasted left and right for her singing, for doing ANOTHER lesbian film, and fotr the movie itself being a huge bomb)


Baby, you're the finest, the finest I've seen. Baby, you're the finest dream.

This movie. is. terrible. I watched the entire documentary of "Rocked w/ Gina Gershon" and was actually looking forward to the movie

I didn't see the play, nor have I seen Lovedog perform, and I will not discount the story itself, because the story is rather interesting from a biopic perspective. However

Here's the main problem: Gina Gershon can't sing. Her voice is just plain awful. I am uncertain as to how she was even given this role, beyond having a 'rock-n-roll' look, per se. While I'm sure she is a cool chick, has talent in other areas, singing is NOT her forte, and should never be listed on her resume. She has to be tone deaf. I am not in the industry, but I really don't think it's not obivious how awful her voice sounds.

Going further, the screenplay is weak. The dialogue is cliche, contrived, and uninspired, as many have already commented here.

I was hoping for something more along the lines of the movie Smithereens, with good, edgy, '80s punk overtones. Nothing in this movie reminded me of the time it is supposedly reminicent of, there was nothing that struck me as fiercely inpendent about the storyline or made me care about any of these characters. Throwing rape, lesbianism, music, drugs, felons, tattoos, booze, and LA into one movie just seems to easy to me. What is unique about Cheri Lovedog's biography? Cause this movie certainly didn't showcase it.

I can see why the movie tanked like it did during the promotion tour that was included in the "Rocked" documentary.

Gina Gershon is most definately not tone deaf. Sure, she doesn't have the greatest voice in the world but she can hold her own. She most probably did get the role because of how she looks, but there is also a reason why she sang in the movie and on the soundtrack

we in the entertainment industry like to call it a GIMMICK (ooooOOOOOoooo aaaaAAAAHhhhh). It's alot like actors doing their own stunts, it's just something that will make people stand up and take notice of the film. And don't try and tell me that doing your own stunts and singing some songs are not the same thing! If you think so you ought to trying getting up in front of people and singing, that is, without the benefit of a karaoke machine and tons of booze in your system. Sure singing isn't frought with peril but it's just as hard to take that intial step!

It's just a good little indie movie about 4 girls doing what they like - music. Obviously we get enough music oriented material in this film, after all you knew what the movie was going to be about right? It wasnt going to be about stolen diamonds or a serial killer with a traumatic childhood. They deal with their little problems, they sing and that's that for a movie that tried to eat just what's on its plate. Nothing more and nothing less.

Okay, here's the deal: This movie is not awful but not great and here's why.

People do get beat and raped, they do go to prison and get out, they do get addicted to drugs and get clean, they do get hit by trucks and die, and I'm sure all of these things are based on events that really happened in someones life. But when you take 20 years of experiences and compress them into a brief period of time (the movie appreared to take place in matter of months around Jackie's B'day) it starts to feel a littlecontrived.

The performances are all very good but the characters are drawn with fairly broad strokes so the cast didn't have a lot of room to run. Still, the performances are good and worth watching.

The dialogue is cliched in spots, but tolerable by-and-large.

Discussion of the quality of the music and Gina Gerson's voice are probably inappropriate for a movie site. Likes and dislikes in music are even more subjective and a matter of stylistic preference than in movies. That being said, if you think Gina can't sing, go to a record store and buy any CD by the '80s group The Pretenders. The similarity to Chrissie Hynde is remarkable and they sold records by the truck-load. Probably better to say you personally don't care for her voice than to say she can't sing.

This movie's okay. Not brilliant. Okay.

While you have sited several good points, editbayrat, comparing Gershon to Hynde is irresponsible, and honestly, and insult to Hynde.

There are similarities, sure. However, just because they are "similar" does not equate that one or the other should be give the same praise for the other's accomplishments. That's a stretch that I'm sure most die-hard Pretenders fans would combat immediately.

That said, I personally don't care for Gershon's voice, and I personally think many would agree.

This board is completely the appropriate place to discuss the film's music, because that's what the movie is ABOUT. Without the music, this movie wouldn't exist. That's like saying we shouldn't discuss the animation of "Finding Nemo" on it's appropriate board, because it's subjective. Isn't that what a critique, by very definition, is? A subjective opinion of one person's feelings on a subject?

I have to agree with champion
Tho I love Gina Gershon as much as the next guy/girl, she was better in "Bound".much better, more complex movie
It was however, better than showgirlsbut that was the worst movie in the history of movies
The story was totally contrived and forced and it seemed to be a big vehicle for hot lesbo sex to megranted, the chick who played gina's lover at the beginning was oh so hot,..and their scene was definitely hotit's almost worth watching for that.but not quite..
I don't understand why people would want to make or watch a movie like this when you could watch "The Last Waltz" or The newest Led Zep DVD and see real musicians in actionor even just get off the couch and go to a freakin concert I guess some people must want to see this stuffbut not me
Maybe kids would like it or somethinwho knowsanyone who knows anything much about music will run screaming the other wayI don't think there's any "subjective" about ityou could only like this music if your taste in music sucks

You're not too young Champion, you're just right. I'm 30 and spent from 16 to 28 in an (eventually) professional, quasi-succesful band, and I concur with everything you said.

I thought Gina was beautiful in this movie, as in any other movie, I loved her hair, I liked her singing and her whole style thoughout. Animal was the hottest one in the whole movie!!!! Give me an hour with him.meow!

Well, I have to agree, I love Gina Gershon, but the movie made me laugh. Well, in general i love to see anything on TV that has something to do with the punk scene, but I just can't believe that Gina or Drea with great make up and fake tattoos, with clothes designed by professionals have anything to do with punk. I still miss "Repo Man", if anyone can remember that movie. Nevertheless, I went to IMDB to see what people think of the movie:)

I agree. Plus the man-hating sentiment bothered me.

-L31

Movie quality wasnt that great but Gina and Marc Blucas made this film worth my while, UH HUH

Honestly, ive never heard abou most of the actors in here except for Lori, Marc and Gina. I loved it, when I first saw that it was there I didnt want to watch it because it looked dumb, but it turned out to have an amazing story to it. And by the way, Im a film maker and I prolly would never have written the words like with all the slang, but it turned out to be masterful, its true not alot of peopel do talk liek that but lots actually do, I hear it. So honestly, I would give this movie a 5 star. It wasn't really predictable. And I loved that!!

I'm 22, and I watched this movie a couple years ago and thought it was fantastic! I just re-watched it yesterday and it is still fantastic.

It touched me, and I liked the side-stories in it as well. Not a dull moment in this movie. <33

The 'corny rocker speak' was unfortunately real (penned by a substandard rocker as it was). People talk cheeseball *beep* in real life. How do you think these cliches come into being?

OH YOUR REAL NICE..
THIS WAS A GOOD MOVIE.
THIS COULD BE HOW A BANDS LIFE REALLY IS.

POT, ROUGH TIMES, EVERYTHING ITS TRUE
~

champion253, I agree. This movie is just a fake story about pozer white chicks who hate men and make crappy music. The 90's are over indeed.

-L31

I kind of agree with you. I really disliked this movie. There wasn't much to it at all. It didn't have depth. I think it tried to, but nothing happened. Oh wow, and did the music ever suck. Baaaaaaad.

Really disappointing movie. I wanted to like it but it was just bad. Really terrible music. I thought the acting of Marc Blucas couldn't get any worse than it was in tvs buffy but I was wrong.

I hated this movie.

I agree. The concept looks interesting but the execution thoroughly fails. A lot of it seemed forced, and yes, it reeked of poseurism. The language seemed more appropriate for a guy band than a girl band. I'm not saying that women don't about grooss stuff andcurse, but this exagerated. Also, the band member's lives seemed so trashy and trailer like. Maybe this was Cheri Lovedog's experience but it is not representative of all struggling rock bands, and yes, I have many friends that have been or are in a rock band.
Not sure if the writers see this as an ode to Joan Jett. I also felt bad for Lori Petty; after "Tank Girl" her career basically went downhill qand now she's working in stuff like this. Not even Gina Gershon, looking smoking hot, can save this one.
www.poeticmotherlover.com

I have to say I was all poised to hate this movie. I am a Lori Petty fan so I was curious at least. There were things that I found completely cliche about the film. The way they dressed was a little strange. You mean to tell me you haven't updated your style in 20 years madam? You don't look in the mirror at 40 and think, 'Yeah I am a musician and all but I look stupid like this.' I wanted to puke with Lori in the green sweatpants with the red thong showing and high heel boots???? WHO THE HELL WAS THEIR COSTUMER???? I mean they are rockers but they also need cohesion too. I mean so they don't look like total tragic fools.

I was in Seattle in the 90's and there were plenty of stuggling girl groups in the scene not getting signed. And you know what? They are now 40 years old and still playing local gigs. So I get the Gershon character. Being 40 myself I understand completely. Violence happens in women's lives, it's a fact. So that was the one thing that saved the film, that they dealt with it. The emotions of it. Having Animal want to be the protector was poiniant as well.

I was a bit annoyed at the lesbian angle, because as we all know there is a stereotype that if you play rock you hate men cause you wanna be one. But there isn't anything that can be done about that being is how the story is based on someones real life and they were probably lesbian. But how cliche can you get really.

Not bad, but not good by any stretch of the imagination.

Whoa, anyone who thinks having a "cool lesbian make out scene" is something to better a serious movie (for their own titillation, not a movie essential) isn't a very credible movie reviewer. Juvenile lust is no reason to like or dislike a serious film. Go get movies dedicated to sex scenes, Or a teenage movie that panders to teens sexual needs. Nothing wrong with sexy, but when you mention it was the ONLY part you liked, you weren't looking for a serious movie.
I would give the movie a C+ ; and why can't dialogue be varied, not everyone talks exactly alike. Most movies don't have realistic dialogue, but it serves a purpose since it's a two hr (mol)look and the plot must be served. It seemed real enough to me. The movie probably would have benefited from being shorter, tighter.

You can dislike the movie, the acting, dialogue etc all you want. That's all a matter of opinion (I for one thought it was great).

But in terms of the rape scene, Faith's death, and Tracy's drug and alcohol problems, if you pay close attention to Jacki's monologues and narration you'll realize that those scenes did serve a purpose for the movie.

Jacki ponders constantly about getting older and still being involved in the music scene, and keeps thinking that its basically the end of her life that she's a 40 year old tattooed woman still playing in a rock band. Jacki not only realizes in the end how important being in the band is to her and how important her bandmates are to her as friends, but that in the grand scheme of all the crap they've been through, she actually has it pretty good overall and has had a good life. That combined with the fact that maybe just being a musician who plays shows with her band instead of being a rock star with tons of adoring fans is just as good. I felt that the end of the movie ultimately coincides with Jacki's realization that she has it better than she thought and she can actually be happy with her life.

I can see how you'd skip over that if you watched it just once, and maybe it's easier for me to see that since I've seen this movie several times.

I've spent most of my life (I'm about to hit 40) playing in a professional touring rock/metal band and I can tell you this much

About the only film I've ever seen that came close to the reality of being a musician is 'This is Spinal Tap'.


Really.

I don't have much of an opinion of this film other than Gina Gershon is smokin' hot. The fact that she's actually singing and playing the guitar (and playing it pretty well!) is a major turn on.

The film is worth seeing just to watch her.

But for my money I'd rather watch her in the 'Get Rocked' footage.
:)

I agree about it being contrived, forced, and false. There was nothing punk rock about this movie. A lot of people that don't understand real punk seem to think that rock and roll, Hot Topic dressed types like the girls in this movie are punk, when alas that is not the case.

Wanna see a movie about real punks? Watch Suburbia.

(Edit for spelling.)

I'm honestly curious as to where everyone is even getting the idea that the women were in a punk band or that this was even about punk rock. The only association I saw with punk at all was at the end when Jacki wrote the song poking fun at Faith's guitar student girl. Never once was there a mention of them being punk aside from that one song (which again, was clearly a joke aimed at the comment Faith's student made about them being better if their songs were faster).


The movie had to do with women playing in a band, yes, but I watch this again and again and I fail to see where it has any real mention whatsoever of punk rock. If you're getting that idea based solely on the last song the band played in the movie, well, I don't know what to tell you there.

This movie is derivative, exploitative and over the top. That's what I expected from the title, and it delivered exactly what it seemed to promise.

I think that alot of the people who really hate the movie thought it was going to be a realistic take on the punk scene. On that score it's going to disappoint.

But if you go in looking at it as a fun diversion with hot girls it's actually pretty fun. Some movies are not great works of art. Does not make them devoid of entertainment.

Respect the crueller; tame the donut!

The music was what it was. It had its moments. Heck that it chaffed some goes to show that songwriting isn't the easiest thing in the world. Hell go back to the 90s era & see how much of it still holds up. Most doesn't.
Still the movie's songs suited the story. Overall, I felt underwhelmed by the flick. The screenplay could've been better. Prior to Faith's fate, her character could've been better developed so that the impact of her fate would've carried greater weight. I felt more sympathy for the drummer given her backstory & what she endures during the film.

My guitarist, femme & les that she is, felt pretty underwhelmed as well (tho she gave the les lovemaking "2 thumbs up!!". She eagerly wanted to see the flick but, for her, the biggest letdown was Jackie proving to be bi rather than les, lol! Hunky guy Marc seemed more like a prop than a character. "Somethin' for the ladies" if you will, though his & Jackie's "relationship" felt forced. It would've been better had the story not attempted to hook them up.

Overall, there were some good story ideas here but they were underdeveloped. The film felt low-budget & dragged at points. The ending would've worked better if it'd been clearer that a greater amount of time had passed since the accident. It almost felt like it was only a few days. Still, its an ok film.

Best advice: rent it!!

I do agree. This movie is very fake and is clearly anti-male. Every man actor was made out to be either dumb or a criminal, but truthfully the women were the losers.
Hedwig was much better and thought-provoking. Not much thought was put into this mess.

Connect With Fans Of UP ALL NIGHT
http://drop.io/usaupallnight