BLAZE

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Groupthink doesn't live here, critical thought does. This ad-free website is dedicated to Agnès Varda and to Luis Buñuel. Punk heart still beating.

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Director Ethan Hawke does justice to the memory of Texas Outlaw Blues singer/songwriter Blaze Foley in this transfixing biopic.

Co-written with Blaze Foley's widow Sybil Rosen, Ethan Hawke employs a satisfying elliptical story form. The method proves especially practical in keeping the complex narrative grounded in the poetry and integrity of Blaze Foley's gentle demeanor and keen philosophies. 

Ben Foley's heartfelt songs take center stage.

Ben Dickey is a revelation in the role of Blaze; this is not your run-of-the-mill biopic performance. Damn this actor/musician is good — really fuckin' good.

Charlie Sexton brings illuminating thematic and character ballast as singer/songwriter Townes Van Sandt, in a portrayal that is wry as it is weathered.

Still, the role proves to be a thankless task in light of the grave-robbing that Van Sandt committed in order to get the pawn ticket out of Blaze Foley's jacket pocket that Van Sandt could redeem for Foley's last guitar.

Classy.

Sybil Rosen seems to take direct aim at Townes Van Sandt as being a class-A asshole who contributed to Foley's failed music career. Backstabber? Seems like.

The deep love connection between Blaze and his actress girlfriend Sybil (Alia Shawkat) gives this impressive film its emotional core.

The roots of American social themes and attitudes run through "Blaze" like a twisting river.

The life of a troubadour is always a difficult one. Blaze Foley proves up to the challenge.

Damn, this is a great movie.

Rated R. 129 mins.

THE FUTURE IS UNWRITTEN

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Groupthink doesn't live here, critical thought does.This ad-free website is dedicated to Agnès Varda and to Luis Buñuel. Punk heart still beating.

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Cannes, France — Julien Temple, the director of the notable Sex Pistols documentary "Filth and the Fury," proves the right man to make a documentary about the Clash's late frontman.

From Joe Strummer's (a.k.a. John Mellors) unsettled childhood as the son of a diplomat, and brother to a boy who committed suicide, through his teenage days spent as a bohemian squatter in London, and on to his life with the Clash (and later the Mascaleros, Temple brings Joe Strummer's life full-circle.

Martin Scorsese, Bono, Johnny Depp, John Cusack, and Mick Jones are among those interviewed to share their memories of one of the most influential singer/songwriters of the Punk movement.

The cumulative effect of this great documentary is to give viewers a strong sense of Strummer's uncompromising humanitarian ideals, his warm personality, and his musically adroit everyman vision of civilization. 

You'll laugh, you'll cheer, you'll shed a tear, and perhaps wonder where the next Joe Strummer will come from. You don't have to be a fan of Punk Rock, or even The Clash, to take away deeply held personal values that can inspire the viewer to make adjustments in his or her daily life. 

Indeed, "Joe Strummer: The Future Is Unwritten" is intellectually satisfying as it is entertaining. Cheers Joe.  

This is the shit.

Not Rated. 125 mins.

ROCK 'N' ROLL HIGH SCHOOL

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Groupthink doesn't live here, critical thought does. This ad-free website is dedicated to Agnès Varda and to Luis Buñuel. Punk heart still beating.

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"Rock, rock, rock, rock, Rock 'n' Roll High School!"

Those immortal words, written by The Ramones, kick off a super-charged coming-of-age comedy as chaperoned by, well yes ladies and gentlemen, The Ramones.

'70s era cultural signifiers abound in this Roger Corman-produced bonanza of low budget delights.

"Fun, fun, rock 'n' roll high school.

Fun, fun, oh baby.

Fun, fun, fun, fun.

Rock, rock, rock, rock, rock 'n' roll high school."

That the Punk band from NYC were soaking up California rays while making the movie, only adds to its fun vibe. The Ramones are at the height of their powers, tearing up the screen with determined musical attitudes shaped by Girl Groups of the '60s. Think, The Shangri-Las.

Who knew Punk was so sincerely romantic?

The proof in the Punk pudding nods toward be the beautifully innocent romantic intent in The Ramones' fantastic songs.

The teen dreams of the '70s are in roaring display, squeezed into every frame like a super yummy PB&J.

P.J. Soles is awesome as Riff Randall, The Ramones' biggest fan, or groupie if you will or if you won't. Romantic sparks fly in an out-of-this-world musical fantasy sequence with Joey singing "I Want You Around" to Riff in her bedroom.

Hot.

A girl's Punk dream comes to life, with Johnny playing acoustic guitar accompaniment to Joey's intimate love ballad.

I had the good fortune to be at Richmond Va's radio station-awarded "Rock 'n' roll high school, Richmond Open High School. Aimee Mann was in the equivalent of my home room. As such, the radio station gave us a free screening of "Rock 'n' Roll High School" at the Biograph Cinema in my VCU college neighborhood, the Fan District.

They gave us these great hot pink lettering on black t-shirts.

Oh, the memories of things teenaged Cole did in that t-shirt in 1979, my sophomore year at Open High. And yes, we did claim to get high openly.

Chills baby, straight up chills.

Mary Warnov gives a next level performance as Miss Togar, the high school's evil school principal. It's notable that Mary Warnov and her co-star Paul Bartel went on to make the romping BDSM sex comedy "Eating Raoul" together three years later.

It's clear that everyone involved with this miraculous Punk Rock document, is having a great time really going for it with everything they've got.

That the "Rock 'n' Roll High School" soundtrack is a truly perfect record, goes with the territory.

Rock out kids, "school's out for summer, school's out forever."

"I hate the teachers and the principal
Don't wanna be taught to be no fool
Rock, rock, rock, rock, rock 'n' roll high school."

Rated PG. 93 mins.