Some friends and I were discussing our favorite movies about Rock music. “Spinal Tap” was mentioned often but my all time favorite is this British film. The acting, the music, the story…..it all works. If you’re at all interested in the music and want to be thoroughly entertained, make it a point to see this one.
During an outdoor music festival lightning strikes the stage and that’s when “Strange Fruit” called it quits. Twenty years later the keyboard player organizes a reunion. One of the singers died from drugs, one member is a roofer being chased by a groupie, another is a gardner, one a hotel clerk and another lives in a mansion with his wife.
Getting everyone together and trying to get back into shape in a music scene that passed them by is absolutely terrific. Billy Connolly as their manager/bus driver is a lot of fun to watch.
Stephen Rea is Tony the keyboard player. The highlight of the movie is Bill Nighy as lead singer Ray Simms. He gives an incredible performance .
It was nominated for a Golden Globe as Best Picture-Comedy/Musical and Best Original Song-“The Flame Still Burns.” Bill Nighy won the Evening Standard British Film Peter Sellers Award for Comedy.
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