ROCK STAR
Released: Steptember 7, 2001
Being a compulsive music fan and having lived through the era of the glam heavy metal band in the 80s, I rather enjoyed "Rock Star". Marky Mark Wahlberg, having transformed himself from the campy rapper to the porn star/aspiring singer ("Boogie Nights") now comes full circle as we witness his character become a full fledged rock star. Set in the same universe and time of another good rock music movie "Almost Famous", the story of "Rock Star" is equal parts of that brilliant Cameron Crowe epic and the rock spoof "This Is Spinal Tap". Director Stephen Herek ("Bill And Ted's Excellent Adventure" and "Mr. Holland's Opus") soaks us in the feel of the mid-80s hard rock touring band and never lets up. Wahlberg plays Chris (or his rock name "Izzy") a singer in a popular (fictional) metal tribute band who is drafted in as the singer of the actual band he was celebrating. Initially, he and girlfiend Emily (played by "Friends" star Jennifer Aniston) are totally happy riding the wave of rock success but crisis develops and some sad truths come forward to Chris when he discovers there is no short cut to happiness in any career. The support from all the actors is amazing, especially the guys in the band Steel Dragon. Wahlberg proves he can open a movie on his own and Aniston demonstrates that although she has a busy TV schedule with "Friends", she does find time in her hiatus from the series to take on some interesting movie roles (see "Office Space" for example). "Rock Star" is good and is worth your dollars to see with the thundering sound of a movie theatre setting, not only with the staged band performances but also soundtrack mastermind Budd Carr offering us a plethora of memorable hits from the 80's. Co-produced by George Clooney, who has acted with Wahlberg in two previous movies - "Three Kings" and "The Perfect Storm".
116 Minutes
Bel-Air Entertainment/Warner Bros.