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Rock Star [2002]
![Rock Star [2002]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51M0F7BY4JL._SL160_.jpg)
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Editorial
Amazon.co.uk Review
If you've ever indulged a rock & roll fantasy, Rock Star will give you the vicarious thrill of seeing it come to life. That's what happens when talented tribute-band singer Chris Cole (Mark Wahlberg) is tapped to replace his idol as frontman for 1980s metal gods Steel Dragon. Chris becomes the groupie-laden "Izzy", his manager/girlfriend (Jennifer Aniston) grows weary of sex 'n' drugs on tour, and Rock Star plays out its utterly conventional plot line. Despite the casting of real rockers to support Wahlberg's underrated performance (nicely matched by Aniston and Timothy Spall as Steel Dragon's road manager), his character is too rigidly written to follow an obligatory rise and fall, and even its basis in fact (inspired by Tim "Ripper" Owens' recruitment into Judas Priest) can't conceal the movie's predictable formula. As a cautionary tale it's routine, but as a leather-pants love story, Rock Star's got enough good karma to keep its dream alive (!). --Jeff Shannon, Amazon.com
fun and cool
Review date: 2006-09-05 Rating: 8 out of 10
this is a fun film, the plots not great but the concert scenes are well done and the musc is fantastic. the main comedy in the film the irony that can be missed easily. for example the two tribute bands getting ready to fight one another, each begins to fight there double. defnatly an entertaining film worth watching
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Reviews
Real Rock Stars Feature
Review date: 2004-12-12 Rating: 8 out of 10
This is just a short review to mention that fact that Zakk Wylde and Nick Cantanese from Black Label Society also had small casting roles in the film. Zakk plays the lead guitarist in steel dragon while nick is the lead guitarist from the tribute band who gets bollocked by Mark Wallberg for missing a pinch harmonic!
The Ultimate Rock Star!!
Review date: 2004-08-09 Rating: 10 out of 10
An absolutly amazing film about becoming your idol and realising your dreams. Superb acting and great directing makes this a must see for fans of heavy rock!!! Rock on!!
Will appeal to everyone's inner rock star
Review date: 2003-07-17 Rating: 6 out of 10
The problem with films featuring "live" concert sequences is that it always looks and sounds fake - the performances are obviously lip-synched to backing tracks and the result is somewhat less than convincing. This is the main problem with "Rock Star". The concert sequences are supposed to convey the excitement of a live gig - and to a certain extent they do - yet Mark Wahlberg is obviously miming to a voice that clearly is not his, and this ruins the effect altogether.
That niggle aside, there is much to enjoy here. Anyone who has ever daydreamed about swapping the drudgery of everyday life for the life of a rock star will relate to this tale, loosely based on the story of Tim "Ripper" Owens, who went from singing in a Judas Priest tribute band to actually replacing Rob Halford as lead singer of Judas Priest.
Mark Wahlberg surprises with a nearly convincing performance (I say nearly due to the aforementioned lip-synching discrepancies) as the dreamer plucked from a dead-end job and a part-time existence singing in a tribute band to his heroes, Steel Dragon, to actually replace his hero in the real Steel Dragon.
What follows in this 80's-set comedy drama is fairly predictable but fun nonetheless. Jennifer Aniston provides solid support as Wahlberg's grounded girlfriend who quickly tires of life on the road, and Timothy Spall is wonderful as ever as the wise (if a little lecherous) road manager.
For me, though, the most touching performance came from one of the film's non-actor stars - Jason Bonham, son of Led Zeppelin's John, a drummer who played on much of the film's soundtrack and appears as Steel Dragon's drummer. In a short scene between him and Wahlberg, he encourages him to "live the life" - whilst hooked up to the dialysis machine to which his "living the life" has led him. This short speech is delivered with such pathos and natural skill that he outshines his co-stars, and in many ways it sums up the general point of the film - that there is a definite dark side to the outwardly glamourous life of the rock star.
Other than that, it's formulaic but fun. There is many a cliche to be seen (yes, a TV does get thrown out of a window), and the 80's metal soundtrack will almost have you regretting chopping off your mullet.
But it does suffer from a sense of deja-vu - after all, after "Spinal Tap", what more can be said about the 80's rock scene? That, and Wahlberg's atrocious lip-synching (are we really expected to believe that it's actually his voice we are hearing?) let the film down. Otherwise, it's enjoyable fare and may well have you thinking "If only..."
Rock at it's Best
Review date: 2002-10-19 Rating: 8 out of 10
If you like rock music and you are a fan of Mark Wahlberg then this film is definatley for you. Mark plays a singer of a rock band who want's to make it big time in the music industry with his girlfriend, played by Jennifer, by his side. Things go to plan until problems happen within the band and between the couple. Look forward to the performances on stage and songs by Bon Jovi which is used within the band. I love it!!
Product Details/Specifications
Actor(s):
Jason Bonham
Mark Wahlberg
Jason Flemyng
Jennifer Aniston
Dominic West
Creators:
Mark Wahlberg (Primary Contributor)
Jennifer Aniston (Primary Contributor)
George Clooney (Producer)
Michael Fottrell (Producer)
Mike Ockrent (Producer)
Robert Lawrence (Producer)
Steven Reuther (Producer)
Toby Jaffe (Producer)
John Stockwell (Writer)
Director(s):
Recording label: Warner Home Video
Manufacturer: Warner Home Video
EAN: 7321900213271
Binding: DVD
Number of items: 1
Format: PAL,
Release date: 2002-07-01
Number of discs: 1
Audience rating: Suitable for 15 years and over
Region code: 2
Running time: 102 minutes
Theatrical release date: 2001-09-07
Language: English (Original Language)