Almost an ethnographic study of US teen culture in the early 80s. You can definitely see its influences upon future films/series with Dazed and Confused and Stranger Things.
Sean Penn and Judge Reinhold would have been vying for White Boy of the Month upon its release, for sure.
Soundtrack is so so good!
To use a football term, this film really was a game of two halves.
First half was exciting and gripping. Second half lost all momentum and the display was sloppy and disappointing.
Regarding how annoying the second part was to sit through, I’m going to quote José Mourinho and say “I prefer not to speak”. I have thoughts and I don’t want high blood pressure.
On a positive note, score and sound design are terrific. Guy Pearce offers lots and should be claiming more acclaim than he is for his performance. I won’t get into why I think he isn’t.
There is a lot of mumblecore and creative license/contrivance.
But…. I loved it.
Timothée deftly inhabits Bob Dylan without bordering into ‘Bobothée Dylamet’ caricature. The accent is not an impression and he pronounces “Time Magazine” at one stage and perfectly captures the Dylan nasal vowel elongation without needlessly exaggerating.
The songs are sung/performed with sincerity and I left the screening enthusiastically whistling along to ‘Blowin’ in the Wind’. I also want to pick up my guitar and embrace the callouses for the next while whilst delving into Dylan’s back catalogue.
