Review of Clubland

Clubland (1999)
Not Bad for an independent film aimed at 15-21 year olds
20 April 1999
If you expected this film to be really "edge", its not - but it is actually better than one might expect from film aimed at 15-21 year olds. Production values are good; story, although not deep and philosophical, is entertaining and well paced.

Rock Group wants to play in L.A. clubs - find that clubs want money, not in it for "the music". Thugs and drugs on fringe of music scene cause problems for band members. "Nice" girls compete with groupies for band members attentions. Most of the music in this film is actually pretty mellow. Some implied sex, not graphic. Lots of foul language, some violence (mostly compressed into two scenes).

Acting is generally good, weaker performances from singers acting in the film (not a big surprise). Jimmy Tuckett (the lead singer in the band) several women assure me, is cute. Heather Stephens as the "good" female co-star is attractive, does a credible job. Lori Petty has a tough job trying to make something of a character who is always either high, drunk, or both - too bad that she didn't have a "cleaned up" phase to show in this movie.

Fortunate news - Song "Bisexual Chick" is actually only in the background, under the sounds of a party, i.e., you don't actually have to hear it.

After seeing big budget, mainline studio movies with massive ad budgets that still produce films like "Mod Squad" and "The Avengers", this low budget independent film has a lot to be said for it. And compared with some of the films that are screened and don't make it into the theaters at all, it ain't bad at all.

Too bad most people who would enjoy this on the big screen won't "discover" it until after it is playing on HBO and available on video tape.
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