Quadrophenia
It is always very hard to review a classic film, as there is no real point running through a well known synopsis, plus it is difficult to introduce a unique slant to the critique. Also there is a real chance that we could offend someone by not liking a classic film, luckily that's not the case with Quadrophenia, it is a classic and was admired by most members of the TNiFN panel, although the younger contingent was not impressed by this seminal piece of cinematography. Each to their own.
As you will all know, Quadrophenia follows the life of young Mod Jimmy, played superbly by a 19 year old Phil Daniels. Jimmy is a troubled young Mod, not sure of where he fits into life. He strives for acceptance from his peers, he tries hard to be somebody, to stand out from the crowd. Even though he asserts this outgoing persona, he becomes more and more insular as the film progresses. Fueled by a tapestry of amphetamines Jimmy starts to spiral into progressive ups and downs, riding a Lambretta style roller coaster to his own self destruction, not before having a right good go at the Rockers on Brighton beach.
There's not a great deal of story per se to the film, but there does not need to be, moreover it is a study on teenage angst, how it affects individuals and those that surround them. Does the pent up anguish and rebelliousness fuel love or hate? Do you fight the system or your family? Jimmy embodies all of this frustration and seems to rebel against everything in his fight for acknowledgement, either from the Mods he looks up to; Ace Face (played by Sting), or the "bird" he fancies; Steph, played by a young and rather lovely Leslie Ash. or indeed from his family. However, it seems that Jimmy alienates himself from everyone in the end, or those people that he looks up to have already sold out. This is particularly pertinent when Ace Face is exposed as a just Brighton hotel bellboy.
A lot of what is quintessentially good about Quadrophenia is where no action is taking place, or no dialogue is required, you just get a scene where Jimmy is just staring out to sea, or from a cliff, or on a train and the film tells its own story using the soundtrack brilliantly supplied by The Who with the gritty, meaningful and often melancholic lyrics of Pete Townsend.
The cast of Quadrophenia is a literal who's who of British drama and TV, almost half the cast have either subsequently appeared in Eastenders or The Bill or some such serial drama and the list is pretty endless. Ray Winstone makes an appearance as Kevin an old friend of Jimmy's, who in a bizarre juxtaposition turns out to be a Rocker and therefore an enemy, making it rather awkward for Jimmy. Toyah Willcox plays Monkey a Mod friend of Jimmy. We don't get to know much about Monkey and her life; indeed It's a Mystery.
Apologies.
There's also an early appearance from Timothy Spall. Along with some great acting from Michael Elphick and Kate Williams as Jimmy's parents. The list goes on and on, if you watch it make sure you have IMDB handy to look the actors up, as there will be a lot of "I know him from somewhere".
Quadrophenia is an 18 certificate from 1979, but although we have seen it before, the number of expletives were far in excess of what we remember, although we may have seen a cut version previously. However, viewers of a nervous disposition should be prepared for the exuding of various expletives to make your toes curl, but it's an essential element to a very gritty drama.
There we have it, not much synopsis as we all know, or at least should know the story. The film is a classic, there's no two ways about it and if you haven't seen it and are of that age who would appreciate it more, then we implore you to watch.
As for the scores, unfortunately the younger member of the panel did not agree with the classic status and failed to look beyond the superfluous storyline and delve into the inner workings of the mind of a juvenile delinquent, full of perturbation and unease. As a study of mental instabilities, this film is just a sublime example of how to do it right.
We digress, the scores;
TNiFN Rating 69%
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