Unlike Cameron Crowe’s Almost Famous, which tried to convince us that “Sex, Drugs and Rock’n’roll” had been just a myth even in ultra-hedonistic 1970s, Rock Star, 2001 film directed by Stephen Herek, tries to tell why so many young men in 1980s had a dream of becoming singer in a rock band. One of those is Chris Cole (played by Mark Wahlberg), photocopier technician from Pittsburgh who is fanatical devotee of heavy metal band Steel Dragon. He spends all of his free time playing in Blood Pollution, its tribute band. When Steel Dragon fires its lead singer Bobby Beers (played by Jason Flemyng) Chris is invited to audition as his replacement. He impresses other band members so much that he gets the job and fame during which he enjoys things he had only dreamed of. But increasing amounts of alcohol, drugs and legions of groupies that hop into his bed manage to wreck relationship with his girlfriend Emily (played by Jennifer Aniston). Chris gradually begins to wonder whether he has lost his own identity and whether the life in Steel Dragon is really what he wants.
Script for Rock Star was inspired by true story of Tim “Ripper” Owens, ordinary fan of Judas Priest who in 1996 became its lead singer following departure of Rob Halford. This real life fairytale was a little bit too Hollywood-like to be seen as true and, thanks to the usual Hollywood treatment (with Judas Priest publicly distancing from the project), was rejected by critics and public alike. That fate was, on the other hand, unjustified. Stephen Herek directs film well and successfully reconstructs 1980s. Rock Star at times works as very entertaining comedy, mainly thanks to the script by John Stockwell which gets right balance between glorification and satire on rock culture and its excesses. Mark Wahlberg seems at home while playing the role of ordinary man in extraordinary situation, while the rest of the cast is also good, especially Timothy Spall as Chris’ new bandmate and mentor Mats. The film is also quite honest in showing excesses of rock star lifestyle, which includes scenes with sex and nudity which are at odds with prudishness of early 2000s mainstream Hollywood. However, somewhere in the middle comedy gives way to more serious and at times preachy drama about negative effects of fame and positive sides of ordinary life, leading to predictably melodramatic ending. Despite those flaws, Rock Star is entertaining film that could be recommended to those stumble into it.
RATING: 5/10 (++)
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