Vinyl (Sara Sugarman, 2011): USA

Reviewed by Tyler Rowland.  Viewed at Santa Barbara Film Festival 2012.

Filmed in Wales, actress turned director Sara Sugarman delivers a delightful romp to music fans, especially those of punk, around the world.  She is mostly known for acting in television over the years, but appearing in such films as Sid and Nancy (1986), we see the transition of punk music from the pioneering days to the present day state of the rock and roll sub-genre.  This is not the first time in her directorial career that she focuses on music in her film.  Very Annie Mary (2001), Sugarman’s debut as a director, follow the ups and downs of a woman’s singing career.  Vinyl is a comedic look at a scenario based on real life events that ultimately undermines the rationalization behind the motives of the music industry.  Just as any other media industry, telling the fans what they want to hear, rather than letting the fans decide for themselves is a priority of the thought controlling corporations.

Phil Daniels, a well known British actor known most notably for his performance in The Who’s Quadrophenia (1979), plays Johnny Jones, a washed up singer for a defunct punk band.  Still holding onto the glory days, Johnny reunites with his old band mates at a funeral.  The drunken night that ensues produces, by a blacked out accident, they record a song that is quality enough for a single.  When a record company refuses to give airplay to a dinosaur band, Johnny develops a virtual persona for the group, recruiting a cast of young misfits lacking musical ability to perform together.  The ensuing events, while humorous, strike a heavy blow in regards to the music industry’s standards.

The film’s low budget is not much of a factor, as the locations, revealed in the Q&A,  were mostly complimentary thanks to knowing enough people.  Sugarman suggested anyone with a desire to film on a budget return to their hometown to film, knowing if there is any place to receive hospitality and cooperation as she did, it is where one’s roots are.  Thankfully, we are relieved of a sappy love story found in most comedies of this nature.  I think that there was not really any time for a story like that to develop.  The only love going on here is for the music.  That is what I came into the theater expecting to see, and that is what I received.

While not incredibly groundbreaking, Vinyl delivers an hour and a half of hilarious jokes revolving around a seemingly ridiculous scenario.  This fact based story holds some weight due to its relation to a real life event.  I hope this is an inspiration to aspiring musicians struggling to make a name for themselves.  Never give up on an artistic vision, even if it means struggling to get where they many want, do not sacrifice integrity and stay true to creative vision.  This is also a parallel to the independent filmmaking industry as compared to the Hollywood system.  Sugarman was able to get this film made and released without the attachment of a major studio.  This required a lot of self-producing, which paid off in the end, not having to jeopardize any of the original ideas of the film.  Overall, a very funny movie that I would recommend to any hard core fan of music.